Small but mighty. That's the phrase that kept coming back to me throughout last week's webinar. The three panelists who joined us are running lean DTC teams — Chelsea Leniart, Wine Club Manager at Scheid Family Wines, Hilary Berkey, Director of Sales, Marketing and Operations at Emeritus Vineyards, and Kristy Quigley, Operations Manager at Alma Rosa Winery. "Lean teams" meaning two or three people deep. At the most. The outsized results they're seeing, in a market that everyone agrees is hard, are genuinely remarkable. Here's some highlights and takeaways from  what they shared in last week's webinar. On Wine Club Customization The fear is that if you give members flexibility, they'll race to the bottom and swap out for your cheapest wines.  What Chelsea actually found was the opposite.  By studying what members customized in the previous year's March run, she reshaped this year's offering mor

“What can I do right now to help my winery sell more wine and, frankly, stay in business?” We know how many of our colleagues and friends are asking this question. We see and to hear it as an urgent problem that needs immediate attention. Which is exactly why we put together tomorrow’s FREE webinar, on better tools and strategies for navigating a tough market. There’s still time to sign up here. We’re particularly excited to shine the spotlight on three smart industry pros as they share their own strategies and toolkits. Here are some highlights to start: Chelsea Leniart, Wine Club Manager at Scheid Family Wines, will talk about inventory management and boosting Club revenue through projected customizations. Hilary Berkey, Director of Sales, Marketing and Operations at Emeritus Vineyards, will talk about hyper-segmentation in outbound sales, and the "side effects" of ideation for different teams. Kristy Quigley, Operations Manager

Wineries that are finding traction aren't just grinding harder. They're leaning on better tools. Tools, that is, that do the heavy lifting so that the wineries can focus on what they do best: making great wine and building real relationships with their customers. That's what this free webinar is all about, on Thursday, April 9 at 11 am PST / 2 pm EST. We'll walk you through the specific tools and strategies that are helping wineries grow — even in a down market. Here's a preview of what we'll cover: AI-driven sales suggestions. Our machine learning algorithms look at your customer data and tell you exactly who to call, what wine to pitch them, and when. These are smart, predictive tools for both sales and customer retention that lead directly to increased revenue. Marketing automation that actually works. Set up a highly targeted campaign in about five minutes (minus writing the actual message), with built-in safeguards so you don't overserve your

At Copper Peak Logistics, our strength comes not just from the work we do, but from the people who show up every day committed to excellence. This Women’s History Month, we are proud to recognize four women whose leadership has helped shape Copper Peak into the company it is today: Stacey Heuer, Merilee Anderson, Katiria “Kay” Rodriguez, and Heidi Grooms. Together, these four leaders represent 64 years of dedication working for the Lane Family. Their collective experience, leadership styles, and commitment to meaningful relationships have been instrumental in building the culture, standards, and reputation that define Copper Peak. While each of them leads in different areas of the organization, they share a common belief: great logistics isn’t just about moving product. It’s about people, partnerships, and the responsibility of representing our winery partners with care and precision. Leadership Rooted in Experience and Passion Each of these women brings

Perspective is Everything: Are You Waiting or Winning? There are two ways to look at today’s tasting room traffic rollercoaster: You can dwell on empty seats, tight budgets, and yesterday’s numbers—or you can embrace uncertainty as the spark that ignites innovation, focus, and results. At WISE, we believe this is our chance to lean in, not lean back. It’s time for a bias for action. The most successful winery leaders don’t wait for the doors to swing open—they open new doors, every day, with intention and creativity. If you’re ready to shift gears, here are 10 proven, actionable ways to sell more wine DTC—no matter what your foot traffic looks like this week. 1. Leverage Your Data Goldmine Segment your existing customer data. Reach out to top buyers, club members, and those who haven’t purchased lately with a personalized offer. Don’t let leads grow cold—your database is your secret weapon. It goes without saying, this

From blog posts and email campaigns to Instagram Reels and virtual tastings, the content you create sets the tone for how people discover, engage with, and connect to your winery. Great content isn’t just filler for your website or social media—it’s a powerhouse tool for growing your winery’s audience, converting casual visitors into loyal wine club members, and driving revenue.  Even better, content works double-duty: it supports inbound marketing, by attracting new customers who find you organically, and outbound marketing, by amplifying your message through ads, email, and other promotional efforts. Whether you’re sharing your winemaking journey, crafting a how-to wine pairing guide, or highlighting your latest release, well-planned content is key to building your brand and boosting your sales. Here’s how to create winery content that attracts, engages, and converts your audience into loyal customers and club members. What Is Inbound Marketi

Affordable text marketing for alcohol merchants – starting @ $19/mo As competition grows, SMS wine marketing continues outperforming all other DTC channels with superior deliverability, precise targeting, higher response, and more consumer engagement for merchants embracing text messaging. That’s why VinterActive built a new 2025 lineup of SMS wine marketing tools, making it easier than ever for alcohol merchants to profit from text messaging with compliant tools starting @ $19/mo.   Meet Our 2025 All-Star Team A perfect way to start building a compliant list of opt-in SMS contacts Great for sending club updates & outbound sales promotions Real-time integration with Vinoshipper, Commerce7, or WineDirect Too busy to manage SMS marketing? Let VinterActive handle the details Starting @ $19/mo Starting @ $39/mo Starting @ $59/mo Starting @ $699/mo VinterActive - Providing the Right Tools for the Job Text marketing for alcohol merchants

SimpleTexting for Classic WineDirect Classic WineDirect users looking to leverage their existing opt-in SMS lists now have an easy option to start messaging their customers: SimpleTexting for Classic WineDirect. This recently updated solution powers outbound SMS marketing campaigns, transactional messages like order confirmation & wine club sign-up, and 1-to-1 SMS conversations with wine customers. Pricing starts @ $98/mo, and onboarding takes less than a week, so you'll still be ready to profit from SMS messaging this holiday season. Place an order here or request a demo here. Happy Selling! VinterActive LLC

June 3, 2024 – Erica Harrop, Founder and CEO of Global Package, is thrilled to announce the addition of her son, Daniel, to the Global Package sales team. “Needless to say, Daniel has been immersed in the wine and spirits industry since childhood, and I am so happy he wanted to continue that interest as a professional,” says Harrop. Daniel graduated from Sonoma State in May 2021 with a B.A. in Business Administration and a concentration in Wine Business Strategies, including a WSET certification, bestowed by The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which is a global organization that arranges courses and exams in the fields of wine, spirits, beer, and sake. Upon graduation, Daniel worked for Advantage Solutions Marketing Partners as Business Development Representative for Anheuser-Busch LLC, where he introduced and grew their new Seltzer brands and Cutwater Cocktails, overseeing all facets of these launches. According to Daniel, “that experience cemented my a

Much has been written about the intense consolidation of US wine and spirits wholesalers. Until recently, it’s been a tale of the rich getting richer. But there is a palpable change in the air: the rise of small and midsize independent distributors.  Nature Abhors a Vacuum In today's three-tier system, there is a striking imbalance in the ratio of suppliers to distributors, and the natural self-correction process has already begun. The law of supply and demand cannot be suppressed for long.  Because there are too many brands and far too few distributors, many small and medium-sized suppliers are getting left out in the cold regarding distributors’ share of mind.  To fill the vacuum, a new breed of distributor is emerging: the Small and Midsize Independent Distributor. We at Andavi are watching this trend closely, and today, we offer a few nuggets of wisdom to small, independent distributors everywhere looking to exploit the opportunities that await