We proudly announced the recipients of the inaugural WISE Rising Stars Scholarships during a live presentation at the DTC Wine Symposium last week, celebrating the next generation of DTC wine industry leaders in front of more than 500 winery professionals. As one of the event’s original sponsors, WISE continues to invest in the Symposium’s mission of education, collaboration, and forward‑thinking leadership. The Rising Stars Scholarships extend that commitment—supporting people, developing leadership, and strengthening the DTC community across the industry. The Rising Stars Scholarships received an overwhelming response from across the country. The strength of applications prompted Commerce7 to step in and match one of the scholarships, allowing WISE to expand the program and support additional recipients. Join us as we raise a glass towards this year's recipients! Kelsey Gomes is the DTC Marketing Manager at Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards. Upon re

Wine and Spirits Makers Have Access to 75% of US Market May 12, 2025 – LibDib, the leading digital alcohol distribution platform, in partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), proudly announces the expansion of RNDC On Demand to six new markets: Florida, Virginia (wine only), Washington D.C., Maryland, Colorado, Illinois, and South Carolina. This strategic rollout provides wine and spirits producers—from emerging brands to established suppliers—with more choices to access key markets through a flexible, tech-enabled distribution model. “Suppliers deserve options, and RNDC On Demand provides flexibility and control,” said Dean Parker, Director of the On Demand program for LibDib and RNDC. “Together, we’re expanding a modern path to market that empowers suppliers to grow at their own pace, backed by RNDC’s logistics and service excellence.” Powered by LibDib’s proven digita

Cost-Effective Fencing for Small and Medium Vineyards For small and medium vineyards, balancing crop protection with budget constraints can be a challenging task. Wildlife damage, particularly from deer, can significantly impact yields and threaten a vineyard’s bottom line. While large-scale vineyards often have the resources to invest in high-tech solutions, smaller wineries need affordable yet reliable options to safeguard their vines. The Challenges of Wildlife Management for Small and Medium Vineyards Smaller vineyards often face unique challenges when it comes to wildlife management. Limited budgets can make it difficult to invest in extensive control systems, while the smaller scale of operations means even minimal wildlife damage can result in significant revenue loss. Additionally, managing labor and maintenance costs further stretches already limited resources, leaving vineyards vulnerable to the impact of deer and other wildlife. “We’ve seen time and time ag

One of the larger industry trends reflected here at LibDib is the proliferation of craft tequila and mezcal brands. These brands have amazing stories behind them and we love supporting small importers and distilleries. So do our retail, bar and restaurant customers throughout our 15 states.   Here’s a sample of a few of the most amazing craft tequila and mezcal brands: Black Sheep Tequila: For spirits connoisseurs craving a taste for something new, yet extraordinarily steeped in tradition, Black Sheep Tequila provides a line of tequilas produced entirely from the labor-intensive, centuries-old, hands-on process. This tequila is sourced from only the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave and is traditionally handcrafted to create the perfect balance of flavors. Additive free, Black Sheep shares clean unique styles of tequila, including the famous Still Strength Aged 15 Year Extra Añejo, Barrel Strength Extra Añejo, Extra Añejo, Añejo, Reposa

Dr. Anisya Fritz  Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Wine Business Institute (WBI) announces the return of its highly acclaimed Wine Entrepreneurship Certificate program, led by renowned strategist Dr. Anisya Fritz. This eight-week certificate program aims to empower leaders in small wine enterprises with the tools for success, whether it’s launching a new product, starting a venture, or advancing a career in the wine industry. Participants will delve into key aspects of the wine business, including setting clear objectives, assessing emerging opportunities, leveraging strengths, building strong financial strategies, and exploring various profitability models. You’ll also benefit from valuable insights shared by industry experts with years of experience. “Dr. Fritz’s visionary work in advancing the field of innovation in the beverage and wine industries make her a true exemplar of the CSU Sonoma State University spirit and it is an honor to have her

The Crossvines: Maryland’s All Encompassing Custom Crush Debuts

Groundbreaking multipurpose facility set to enhance the state’s wine industry. By Paul Vigna About a decade ago, Keith Miller, CEO of Maryland’s Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA), and county executive […]

Q&A with Kevin Atticks, Maryland’s New Secretary of Agriculture

Wine industry veteran Kevin Atticks steps into a new role. By Paul Vigna   Kevin Atticks worked for several decades on behalf of Maryland wineries and grape growers. He founded […]

In our continuing series of reviewing the issues around compliant direct sales and shipping, we review the topic of tax calculation, collection, and remittance that are perhaps the most important considerations for state regulators in the alcoholic beverage industry at all levels of government.   Taxes are one of four focus areas for regulators. Others include Age Verification, Licensing and Compliance, and Auditability.  Think of the four areas as ALTA.   Wineries and other producers must navigate a complex maze of sales and excise taxes. With more than 3,800 individual tax rates across local, state, and federal jurisdictions, with a maze of over 2.6 million zip codes, there is a lot to manage. This means there are endless ways to incorrectly calculate what is owed to stay legally compliant. Being delinquent in tax payments is a serious threat to any enterprise and can lead to nightmare scenarios that push the most honest, well-intentioned business owners

The company celebrates the day the industry was changed forever with a new and efficient three tier e-commerce marketplace for all wine and spirits brands  San Jose, CA, March 22, 2022 — LibDib today celebrates the fifth anniversary of the launch of its groundbreaking wholesale alcohol distribution business and e-commerce platform. On March 22, 2017, LibDib forever transformed three-tier distribution when the industry’s first web-based distribution platform went live at 9am PST. Open to all wine and spirits Makers, LibDib has grown significantly over the past five years and now distributes more than 10,000 wines and spirits to Buyers across the U.S. LibDib reaches almost 50% of the U.S. population in nine states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. “The past five years have been an incredible journey,” said LibDib founder and CEO, Cheryl Durzy. “We set out to give ALL brands a path

The founders of Michael Lavelle Wines set out to change the way people of color experience wine and disrupt the overwhelmingly white wine industry. The wine label goes a long way in making this happen. The brand has a few inches of space and a few seconds of time to catch a consumer’s eye, make them feel something, and have them make the decision to purchase the product.  When creating the label for the Iris Collection’s Rosé and Zinfandel, the Michael Lavelle team considered all design aspects— color, size, texture, finishings (foils, glass, varnishes, etc.), and more—to ensure the labels best represented the high-quality wine inside of the bottle. Aaron Coad, Head of Creative at Michael Lavelle Wines, said, “As most customers purchase with their eyes, we wanted to be intentional about ensuring the full aesthetic of our bottles, including the label, was beautiful yet minimalistic in design to catch the attention of curious cus