For years, discounting has been the default lever wineries pull to spark sales and reward loyal customers. But in today’s crowded marketplace, deep discounts can erode brand value and condition customers to buy only when the price drops. There’s a better way: loyalty points programs. Retention, without discounting, comes from making customers feel known, valued, and part of something special. They’ll stay not because it’s cheaper, but because it’s theirs. Instead of discounting away margin, wineries can encourage repeat visits and purchases by offering rewards that feel aspirational, personalized, and memorable. Loyalty points add up over time, giving guests a reason to come back again and again, all the while protecting your brand’s premium image. 10 Reasons Why Loyalty Points Work Shift from price to experience. Points reward frequency and engagement, not bargain hunting. The program should reinforce experience, access, and emotional loyalty, not

Afternoon Brief, September 25

What Happens When a Wine Goes Viral? How does a wine go viral? Is it pure luck, or a predictable equation?

At Peregrine Mobile Bottling, we believe that the final stage of winemaking - the bottling line - shouldn't be a compromise. Instead, it should be an opportunity to elevate your product, preserving all the hard work, nuance, and care that went into every vintage. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how integrating advanced Gas Management using a KH Tec Membrane Technology into the bottling process makes an undeniable difference in wine cost savings, quality, shelf stability, and consumer experience. This is our story - and the story of the wineries who trust us to help them tell theirs.  Where Technology Meets Terroir When we started offering gas management services alongside our mobile bottling, we weren’t just adding a feature. We were responding to a real need in the industry. Too often, wineries saw excellent wines lose their luster after bottling. Subtle aromatics would flatten. Effervescence would fade. Shelf life suffered. The common culprit? CO₂ and Oxyge

The ninth annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Emily Hodson, the winemaker at Veritas Vineyards and Winery, a co-owner of Flying Fox Vineyards and Winery, and an active leader in the Virginia wine industry. Members of the Smith family and sponsoring organizations present the Rich Smith award to Emily Hodson (third from left). The prestigious award annually reflects the spirit and accomplishments of the late Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management and Smith Family Wines in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands wine region in Monterey County. Rich was first and foremost a family man, but also a successful grape grower and winery owner, and a highly respected colleague known for the combination of passion, commitment and collaboration which helped advance the American grape and wine industry. Ever since Rich passed away in December 2015, three organizations—WineAmerica, N

More Than 220,000 Acres in California are Enrolled in FFF Program  NAPA, Calif. (November 25, 2024) – Thirty-two winegrape growers and wineries from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties have been recognized with the Founders’ Award from the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program for achieving and maintaining certification for more than 20 years. In 1999, the Fish Friendly Farming Certification program was created to protect and enhance the Russian River watershed in Sonoma County. Soon, it was expanded with a specific program tailored for Napa County and other regions. Today, more than 220,000 acres located in thirteen counties in California are enrolled in the innovative program that improves water quality and wildlife habitat. “The Fish Friendly Farming certification has become very popular among winegrowers as a sustainable certification program because it is highly effective in improving water quality and restoring fish and wildlife habitat,&rd

Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, CA is hiring a Guest Services Associate Responsibilities are similar to those of a tasting room associate. You must be able to properly convey their message to visitors in an enjoyable, informative and professional manner. Click Here to Learn More

Afternoon Brief, May 28th

US Wine Industry Fights Back with New Marketing Campaigns: It might feel like it's all gloom and doom in the wine industry right now, but two separate groups are creating positive energy around wine. Felicity Carter reports...