HOW TO KEEP YOUR BRAND TOP OF MIND WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE DROWNING IN HOLIDAY EMAILS The inbox in December isn’t a communication tool—it’s a full-contact sport. Every brand, from the global megastore to the local dog bakery, is shouting their way into people’s attention span with flashing subject lines, endless exclamation points, and “40% OFF” hysteria that blurs into static. Consumers don’t read; they scan for relief. According to Mailjet’s 2024 BFCM report, holiday email volume jumps nearly 80% between Thanksgiving and Christmas, while average open rates drop to 13–15%—a statistical cry for help. But the real problem isn’t quantity—it’s tone. Every brand is talking at their audience instead of with them. The louder the messaging, the less people listen. Leading with prices and panic doesn’t inspire trust; it triggers fatigue. That’s your opportunity. The brands that win the inbox aren’t the

AWG Wine Advisors and Women for WineSense: November's Wine Business Group Roundtable Last week, AWG Wine Advisors and Women for WineSense put on another successful Wine Business Group Roundtable.  Hosted by PEJU Winery near rows of freshly harvested vines, a group of forty-or-so wine industry enthusiasts gathered around to enjoy complimentary bites, drinks, and a Q&A run by our guest speaker, Mario Zepponi. Welcome to the Wine Business Group (formerly the Wine Financial Group)!  We are a collaborative network for anyone interested in Wine Business, no matter how long you've been in the industry.  Each quarter, we get together to discuss the latest industry trends, tackle emerging business topics, and build valuable connections.   Email sdengler@awgwine.com to subscribe and receive announcements about future WBG events!

Second-Year Sponsorship Highlights American Wine Industry’s Economic Impact and Community Building Mission  WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, announced today its proud sponsorship of the 2025 Come Over October Congressional Wine Caucus press conference and reception, taking place on October 8th in Washington, D.C. This marks the second consecutive year WineAmerica has supported this important invitation-only industry event, demonstrating the organization’s continued commitment to fostering bipartisan support for America’s burgeoning wine industry.  The reception will showcase wines from across many states, celebrating the breadth, diversity and quality of American wine production from coast to coast. This comprehensive representation underscores the truly national scope of the American wine industry, which now includes 10,637 wine producers operating in every state. Economic Powerhouse Supporting American Communities WineAmerica&r

In today’s wine industry, running lean has become the norm. Wineries are navigating tighter margins, shifting consumer demand, and limited resources all while trying to maintain the exceptional service their customers expect. In a market where every shipment counts, having the right fulfillment partner is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity. At WineDirect Fulfillment, we understand the pressure to do more with less. That’s why we’ve built our operations and tools to support your business through every challenge, helping you protect your brand, deliver a top-tier customer experience, and keep things running smoothly. Choosing the Right Partner  When you're operating with a smaller team and fewer resources, there’s no room for error. Delays in shipping, inventory mishaps, or damaged wine can quickly erode customer trust and impact your brand’s reputation. And with limited time to chase down support or resolve issues, wineries need a par

Every so often, we get a very cool chance to co-lead a webinar with wine industry thought leaders and colleagues, on a topic that matters to us all. Please consider this your official invitation to join us, for a special webinar two weeks from today. The co-lead? Geni Whitehouse of BD&Co in Napa, a team of finance experts with a laser focus on the wine industry. Geni herself has been named one of the 25 most powerful women in accounting, and she brings very deep expertise to the table along with high-level thought leadership. Your colleagues? Sandra Demaria, Director of Sales and Marketing at Ehlers Estate, and Erika Boudreaux, Director of Membership and Sales at Peju Winery, who will speak from their boots-on-the-ground perspective. Our topic? How to bridge the gap between a winery's sales team and their finance team. "Too often," Geni says, "sales and accounting teams operate with two different sets of numbers and little shared understanding. The result? Mi

Background PEJU Winery, a renowned Napa Valley leader on Highway 29, sought to enhance its user experience, increase revenue, update the brand, and enhance its wine club and e-commerce services. However, PEJU needed to retain its legacy accounting system, AMS.  Angelsmith’s vision was to provide a highly personalized, white-glove experience for visitors through an advanced and streamlined tech stack integration. Angelsmith, a leading eCommerce and MarTech web agency, designed and built the front end of the project. This quick case study explores this web development's challenges, solutions, and outcomes. “We went beyond the standard Commerce7’s already excellent personalization features to create a next-level individualized experience for PEJU’s website visitors,” said Eric Oliver, Angelsmith's president. He continues, “After experiencing the winery’s hospitality, we knew we wanted to create an online experience that matched its le

Afternoon Brief, November 21st

Angry French Winemakers Plan Mass Protest in Narbonne: Tension has been running high in southern France and winemakers are planning a major protest in Narbonne later this month over a crisis facing the industry...

Afternoon Brief, June 16th

Global Alcoholic Drinks Market to Reach Us$2,001 Billion by 2031: The global alcoholic drinks market size is projected to reach US$2,001 billion by 2031, according to a new research report...

Afternoon Brief, June 15th

Peju Winery Founder and Napa Valley Pioneer Tony Peju Dies at 85: Anthony “Tony” Peju, wine industry pioneer and founder of PEJU Winery, passed away in his Calistoga home on June 10, 2023 at the age of 85...