Leeann Froese, co-owner of Town Hall Brands, has been honoured with the ‘Master Marketer Award’ at the annual BC Wine Industry Insight Conference hosted by Wine Growers BC in Penticton, BC. This distinguished award recognizes outstanding marketing innovation in the promotion of BC wines and highlights individuals and organizations that think outside the box to advance the industry. Leeann was celebrated alongside other key figures in the BC wine industry during the awards luncheon at the conference. In addition to her win, she was also a finalist for the Leadership Excellence Award, which honours individuals who strengthen industry relationships, foster growth, and demonstrate exceptional leadership. With over 25 years of experience, Leeann has played a pivotal role in shaping the marketing landscape for BC wineries and beverage brands. As a branding and communications expert, her strategic vision and innovative approach have contributed to the success of countless busin

Dec. 16, 2024; Rutherford, CA – The Coeur de Vigne, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon produced by the historic Sullivan Rutherford Estate, continues to gain quality recognition and demand in key U.S. markets. Notably, the most recent vintage of Coeur de Vigne was one of just a handful of Napa Valley Cabernets recently included in Wine Spectator Magazine’s 2024 “Top 100.” To support this increasing market demand, the winery has appointed two new allocation managers in the South/Central U.S. and Eastern U.S. regions to oversee key placements of the historic Napa wine... Continue Reading

2022 Sunset International Wine Competition Awards Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to Wapato Point Cellars’ 2018 Cabernet Franc Santa Rosa, Calif., — June 14, 2022—Boasting a record number of entries, the 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition awarded Best of the Best and Best Red Wine to a Cabernet Franc from Wapato Point Cellars (Manson, Wash.). Judges raved: “Beautiful oak”; “Blackberry”; “Righteous herbal”; “Focused.” This is the first time a Washington State wine has taken top prize at this prestigious competition. “It was unexpected but well deserved,” says Debra Del Fiorentino, founder and president of Wine Competitions Management & Productions. “We had some really great wines in the final sweepstakes rounds, and Wapato Point Cellars swoops in and takes it all. Results like this are why competitions are so valuable.” To win Best of Show Red Wine, the Wapato Point Cab Franc ha

Brian Baker is well known in the wine industry as a Sales and Profitability specialist and has given many talks and workshops on the subject. He is also a managing partner of Cultivar Marketing, which provides wine sales and marketing consulting. We recently reached out to Brian to discuss the future of the tasting room, especially in the face of COVID-19 quarantine.   Milton Cornwell: Thank you for agreeing to the interview, Brian! There is a lot I want to discuss with you, especially with all the changes we’re seeing with coronavirus [COVID-19] and how wineries are embracing technology. I can’t help but compare this to Y2K—that event fundamentally changed how companies embraced technology. Are we in a similar kind of moment now?   Brian Baker: It is a pivotal moment, if that’s what you mean. Disruptive events like these have disruptive consequences. They also create opportunities. Coming out of this crisis, winery-owned tasting rooms have a c