The California Department of Food & Agriculture has announced it has certified the votes on the referendum to continue the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, also known as the Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), for another five years.  Garnering 85.77% percent of the vote, winegrape growers strongly supported continuation of the organization.  The Commission was established in 2006 and is required by California law to conduct a grower vote every five years to determine if they want to continue to be assessed to fund the organization.    “It is very gratifying to see the efforts of the Commission recognized and supported by the very people who fund it and make all the great work possible,” said Bret Munselle, chairman of the SCW board of directors and owner of Munselle Vineyards.  He added, “Through the assessment, the growers have been personally investing in promoting Sonoma County for nearly 20 years and with this vote, SCW will continue

Every month, 165,000+ people search for “winery near me.” If your winery isn’t showing up, you could be missing out on visitors and sales. We recently hosted a webinar with Connor from Kru Marketing, an SEO expert who helps wineries rank higher on Google, increase tasting room reservations, and drive more online wine sales. To help wineries take action, we’ve put together a blog covering: ✅ The top 3 SEO strategies every winery should focus on ✅ Why your Google Business Profile is critical for search rankings ✅ How to create content that attracts more visitors ✅ The role of online reviews in getting more customers  If you’re looking to grow your wine sales and bring in more visitors, this blog is a great place to start. Click the link to read the blog.

Sonoma County Winegrowers Focus on Creating Experiences to Engage New and Existing Wine Lovers SANTA ROSA, Calif. (January 17, 2025) – For over a decade, Sonoma County Winegrowers has been at the forefront of innovation, forging powerful partnerships with iconic brands like John Deere, Ford Pro, Wilbur Ellis, Landry’s, and the San Francisco Giants. As unveiled at this week’s annual Dollars & $ense meeting, held virtually, 2025 marks a year dedicated to “Renewing, Building, and Growing” these renowned programs, expanding their reach, amplifying the Sonoma County story, and setting new benchmarks in excellence. As Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, started her presentation with a review of the past twelve years since she joined the organization, it was clear that the results in building the brand’s visibility over the years has been successful. From being world leaders in sustainability, to sports ma

Unlock the secrets to creating SEO content that brings more customers to your site and tasting room that converts them into loyal customers! In this Partner Webinar with Kru Marketing, we’ll explore the fundamentals of keyword research, selecting the best topics, writing content that ranks, and formatting for maximum impact.  Jan 15, 2025 10-11am PST Register Now

Planned Activations Will Bring Sonoma County Wines to Game Day and Beyond SANTA ROSA, Calif. (November 7, 2024) – Continuing on their growing success in bringing its world-class wines to new and divergent audiences, Sonoma County Winegrowers is teaming up with one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, the Chicago Bears, to introduce, share and immerse fans in Chicagoland with all things about Sonoma County wine. This is the latest sports partnership and the first NFL team sponsorship for Sonoma County Winegrowers which also has collaborations ongoing with the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Rockets. “We are very excited to partner with the Chicago Bears and share our Sonoma County wines with their legendary fans and team,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We love to reach new audiences in memorable ways and let them experience all that makes Sonoma County a world-class region for g

Every winery wants more sales, more revenue, and most importantly more profit. But how do you do that? The short answer is more traffic. Presented by Connor Widder, Kru Marketing Tuesday, September 24th @ 10:00am PST  For more details or to register to attend our Learn Events go to www.orderport.net/learn

By Connor Widder, Kru Marketing The wine industry is at a critical turning point in many ways, including on the digital frontier. Today’s wine drinker likes to buy and drink at home, but they’re willing to try little-known wineries from across the country. This trend towards curious, adventurous wine buying is a potential bonus for your wine business. But to make the most of wine buying trends, you’ll need an easy-to-operate eCommerce wine website that’s optimized to rank higher in search engine results. Wineries that embrace an optimized online presence will thrive, attracting wine buyers who are enthusiastic about your products and loyal to your winery. So for your winery to meet wine buyers where they are (at home!), you’ll need to adapt your business and your selling techniques. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the master key that unlocks the potential for growth as a winery in a digital world. But what is it? And where to start? We&rsquo

The winery eCommerce landscape is constantly evolving, creating both challenges and opportunities for wineries looking to boost their online sales. With the rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channels, wineries have a golden opportunity to expand their reach and connect with their customers in more meaningful ways. Below are some tips to help wineries enhance their online presence and sales. Understanding the Current eCommerce Landscape The global pandemic has significantly accelerated eCommerce adoption across various industries, including the wine industry. Consumers now expect a seamless online shopping experience, whether they’re buying clothes, groceries, or wine. For wineries, this shift presents a unique opportunity to expand their reach beyond the tasting room and into the homes of wine lovers worldwide. The Rise of Wine Clubs Models: Winery eCommerce Staples Wine clubs are at the forefront of winery eCommerce strategies, offering a steady revenue stream and a dire

Local Growers Gather to Celebrate Ten Years of Sustainable Winegrowing  SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (January 31, 2024) – Each year, when many of Sonoma County’s 1,800 certified sustainable winegrape growers gather for the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ (SCW) annual meeting, they want to know what is next for one of the world’s most sustainable winegrowing regions. Today, they learned the answer to their question: Sonoma County Winegrowers will embark on a major collaboration with one of the world’s most iconic brands, John Deere Company. The collaboration with John Deere will be an addition to SCW’s innovative Farm of the Future, a living lab for the future of agriculture and an innovation accelerator. Through this living lab, Sonoma County winegrowers and innovative companies can pilot concepts that may eventually result in game-changing solutions that can be shared with farmers across the country and around the world. John Deere is the latest co

Afternoon Brief, December 29th

What Were Wine's Biggest Deals of 2023?: In uncertain times for wine, stronger players are scooping up small but promising vintners...