Why Wineries Need Influencer Marketing Now Here's a number that should reshape how you think about marketing: 69% of consumers trust influencer recommendations more than information coming directly from a brand That's not a slight edge. That's a fundamental shift in how people decide what to buy. For wineries, this matters more than it does for most industries. Wine is a considered purchase wrapped in uncertainty. Your potential customer is standing in a tasting room or scrolling through an online store, wondering: Will I like this? Is it worth the price? Am I making the right choice? Influencer content answers those questions in ways traditional marketing cannot. When a trusted voice says "I tried this Pinot and it's incredible with grilled salmon," that carries weight. It's a peer recommendation disguised as content. Instagram and TikTok now drive wine discovery among younger audiences, and 87% of Gen Z consumers say they're willing to buy products

76 Restaurants from across the country and Mexico receive inaugural ‘Magnum Award’  SANTA ROSA, Calif. (September 2, 2025) – Seventy-six restaurants spanning from Graton, California, to Greenwich, Connecticut, are being honored with the 2025 Sonoma County Magnum Award for their exceptional support and promotion of Sonoma County wines.  Earlier this year, Sonoma County Winegrowers launched this new initiative to recognize restaurants that demonstrate outstanding support for Sonoma County wines and showcasing Sonoma County as a world-class wine region. Each restaurant will receive a uniquely etched magnum bottle, symbolizing their role as an ambassador for Sonoma County’s farmers, winemakers, and wines. During the year, Sonoma County wineries submitted nominations of restaurants they felt were deserving of recognition. Input was also provided by partners, trade, and sommeliers from throughout the country. Restaurants were selected based on key crit

Summer winery marketing strategies are essential for staying competitive during travel season and warmer weather. As customer habits shift and traditional foot traffic slows, wineries must find new ways to stand out. The good news? With the right mix of creativity, personalization, and tech-driven tools, summer can be one of your most profitable seasons yet. Here are five innovative, customer-centric strategies to help your winery sell more and build deeper relationships this summer. 1. Rethink Summer Shipping: Flexibility Is the New Fast Wine and heat don’t mix. But neither do frustrated customers nor surprise shipping delays. In 2025, the most successful wineries are leaning into flexibility, clear communication, and smarter logistics to keep orders flowing and customers happy. 🔄 Give Customers Control Let your customers decide when and how they receive their wine. Integrate tools that allow post-purchase adjustments, like scheduling a fall delivery or choosing a local picku

Planning a year’s worth of winery marketing campaigns might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! This guide offers 60 winery marketing campaigns—a mix of traditional ideas, trending concepts, and fresh ways to tie into wine holidays and cultural moments. Whether you tackle five campaigns or all 60, you’ll find plenty of ways to connect with your audience, build loyalty, and sell more wine. January – Fresh Starts and Cozy Comfort Start the year by replenishing wine racks, embracing wellness trends, and celebrating comfort. Restock the Wine Rack: Give customers a reason to restock their post-holiday shelves with irresistible case discounts. January Blues Buster: Warm up dreary winter days with a winery marketing campaign focused on bold reds and bubbly wines paired with hearty recipes. Dry January Wellness Kits: Stay on-trend with non-alcoholic bundles featuring sparkling water, herbal teas, and a voucher for tastings next month. Super Bowl Prep: Fo

The Final Summer Wine Pairing: Bordeaux Blend! Acta Winery & Vineyards 2021 DEEDS Bordeaux varietal blend is a must-try. With only six barrels produced, this blend of 66% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot is perfect for pairing with a succulent grilled ribeye.  Discover more about this delightful combination and other delectable wine pairings on the blog! https://www.wineroad.com/.../best-summer-wine-pairings/

Afternoon Brief, June 5th

Feds Grill Ex-Workers from Iconic NYC Wine Shop Sherry-Lehmann as Fraud Probe Heats Up: The feds may be close to putting a cork in their year-long probe of iconic wine shop Sherry-Lehmann — and potentially bringing charges against its former owners for allegedly scamming customers out of their vintage bottles...

With grapes for sparkling and some whites soon on their way, please see a special focus on the two brothers' Burgundy coopers: TONNELLERIE BILLON SA from Beaune managed by Vincent DAMY, and Tonnellerie Damy from Meursault managed by Jérôme DAMY. When it comes to specific barrels for white wines, the BILLON Select and DAMY Exclusive represent an extremely tight grain selection of Allier and Vosges staves with proprietary toast levels ranging between Light Long, and Medium. Because of the extremely tight grain selection, these barrels work best for longer aging and powerful white wines. When it comes to forest-origin barrels, Allier, Vosges, Jura, and Acacia perform extremely well. Allier is structural-driven and provides grilled bread, brioche, spiciness, and popery aromas. Vosges is more mineral and tension driven and provides floral, chamomile, and honey aromas. Jura is texturally driven and provides fresh alpine aromas. Acacia (not oak) does not have tannin therefore

Inspiration from one of the World’s Top Restaurants – Don Julio One of our WISE employees, Tristyne, was traveling last month and filling up her ‘hospitality well’. She just returned from an amazing trip to Argentina and came back with some great insights. This trip was full of amazing wines and steak from Mendoza, but one of her favorite experiences was the opportunity to dine at Don Julio, 2020’s “Best Restaurant in Latin America”. This restaurant is currently rated the 2nd best in Latin America and #14 in the world, but these accolades weren’t just given to this restaurant. They were earned through hard work. But what is it about this restaurant that sets them apart and how does this relate to the wine industry? “The new luxury has nothing to do with whether [a restaurant] is expensive or not. It has to do with the work that is done to show a terroir through its flavours. This is an award to a gastronomic culture more than to a