Wine Road Elects Six New Board Members, Including New President Infusion of leadership marks one of the largest board transitions in recent years Healdsburg, CA, May 30, 2025 — Wine Road, the premier association of wineries and lodgings in Northern Sonoma County, is pleased to announce the election of six new members to its Board of Directors—one of the largest board transitions in the organization’s recent history. Typically electing just two new members per term, this year’s changes reflect a unique and exciting chapter for Wine Road, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to its mission of promoting Northern Sonoma County as a world-class wine destination. The newly elected board members are: Julie Pedroncelli St. John, President, Pedroncelli Winery As a third-generation member of one of Sonoma County’s iconic Italian winemaking families, Julie brings decades of experience and deep roots in Dry Creek Valley. Pedroncellis have farmed the region s

It’s the same conversation in boardrooms, discussion boards, symposiums, and industry reports: “Younger consumers just aren’t drinking wine like previous generations.” Sure, the concern is valid. But the narrative misses key nuances. The reality is that younger consumers are still just that—young. Their drinking habits, lifestyle priorities, and financial realities don’t yet match those of past generations at the same life stage. But instead of writing off Gen Z or younger Millennials, the wine industry needs to adjust its approach. The traditional playbook doesn’t account for how younger consumers live, what they value, or how they engage with brands. If wineries want to stay relevant, it’s time to rewrite the script. 1. Younger Consumers Will Age Into Wine—Just Like Boomers Did A common misstep in the industry’s current panic is comparing a 23-year-old Gen Zer to a 45-year-old Gen Xer. The latter has had decades to develop

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for flowers and chocolates—it’s also a prime opportunity for wineries to boost sales, attract new customers, and strengthen existing relationships. This holiday of love lends itself perfectly to creative marketing initiatives that showcase wine as the ultimate romantic gift or experience. Here’s how wineries can make the most of Valentine’s Day.  1. Embrace Online Sales with a Valentine's Day Theme Ensure your website is ready to entice Valentine’s shoppers. Update your homepage with romantic visuals and feature special offers prominently. Simplify navigation to make shopping easy, especially for those making last-minute purchases. Incorporate Valentine’s Day-themed SEO keywords to improve search visibility and draw in gift-seekers. Don’t forget to clearly display shipping deadlines and offer expedited options to capture late buyers. Tip: Use Corksy’s personalization tools to create pop-ups

Every year, Pinterest Predicts drops its trend report, and this year’s insights are bigger than just what’s trending on the platform—they reflect broader cultural shifts that wineries can tap into across their marketing, experiences, and product development. With Pinterest’s track record of predicting trends with 80% accuracy, these insights are worth paying attention to, not just on Pinterest but across platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and even in your tasting room. Here’s how wineries can creatively use these 2025 trends to attract attention, engage audiences, and stay ahead of the curve. Why Pinterest Trends Matter for Wineries Trends aren’t just fleeting moments—they shape what your customers are looking for and how they connect with your brand. Pinterest isn’t just a visual discovery platform; it’s where people go to dream, plan, and shop. With over 500 million monthly users, it’s a massive pool of inspiration.

The wine industry is steeped in tradition, but let’s be real—it’s time to shake things up. Younger demographics aren’t buying into the same old wine marketing tricks or outdated experiences. Want to grab their attention (and their dollars)? Then it’s time to think bold, fun, and modern. You Don’t Have to Do It All—Start Small and Stay True to Your Brand Attracting younger wine lovers doesn’t mean you need to overhaul everything or abandon your roots. Instead, consider making a few strategic shifts that align with your brand. Maybe your website keeps the traditional tasting notes, but you have fun with social media. Maybe your weekends are reserved for 21+ reservation-only tastings, but your weekdays are more relaxed and family-friendly. The key is finding what works for you and your audience. Now, let’s dive into some ideas. 1. Flex Your Wine Club Options Your wine club isn’t working for everyone. Sure, your loyal members lov

While winery eCommerce has been around for a while, many wineries did not fully embrace this direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel until they were forced to during the pandemic. Some wineries have adapted quickly, leveraging modern technology and eCommerce platforms to thrive, while others have struggled to keep up with the fast-paced world of digital marketing and SEO. Thanks to the rise of eCommerce giants like Amazon, consumers expect seamless, fast, and personalized experiences. Wineries face the added challenge of shipping regulations, compliance, and managing perishable goods like wine, but SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can help them stand out and thrive in this competitive market. In the United States, the eCommerce share of wine sales grew from only 0.3% in 2018 to nearly 3% in 2022. The eCommerce channel promises to be lucrative, too. The top five wine and liquor online stores in the U.S. together generated more than one billion dollars in eCommerce net sales in 2022. For long-t

SPRUCE UP YOUR FEED WITH THESE SIMPLE TECHNIQUES Hashtags, once dismissed as mere digital decoration, have evolved into indispensable tools for social media optimization. Understanding their significance entails recognizing their role as navigational aids for users seeking specific content within the vast expanse of social media platforms. In this blog post, we delve into the strategic implementation of hashtags, delineating their capacity to amplify visibility or, conversely, engender confusion. THE PURPOSE OF HASHTAGS: At their core, hashtags serve as categorical signposts, facilitating content discovery and audience engagement. By affixing relevant hashtags to posts, content creators align their material with thematic threads, thereby enhancing a post’s discoverability to interested audiences. But they do warrant thought, as inadequate or misapplied hashtags may obfuscate content, diminishing visibility within the digital noise. RESEARCH AND SELECTION OF HASHTAGS: Effective

Join us Thursday, March 28 at 10am PST for our upcoming webinar: Social Media Ads for Wineries: How to Get Started. Hosted by Ashton, Director of Growth Marketing at Corksy and a seasoned marketing strategist, this webinar will explore actionable strategies for engaging with your target audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, creating compliant and compelling ads, and analytics for measurable success.   Some key takeaways: Effective Advertising Foundation: Gain an understanding of the basics of advertising and how it can significantly benefit your winery’s growth and success. Targeted Audience Engagement: Learn strategies to identify and connect with the right audience who are genuinely interested in your wines, leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Measurable Results and Compliance: Discover how to create compelling ads that resonate with your audience while adhering to legal regulations, and learn how to track and m

     Wine Road Unveils Exciting New Ambassador Program to Celebrate Sonoma County!  For Immediate Release  February 15, 2024  Northern Sonoma County, CA – It's not just any road; it's the Wine Road! We're thrilled to announce a new way for wine lovers, educators, and hospitality heroes to dive deep into the world of Sonoma County's liquid treasures. Drumroll, please... introducing the Wine Road Ambassador Program! 🍇🎉  Almost as rich as a glass of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Road's history stretches back nearly half a century. We've spent decades helping folks saunter through Sonoma County's awe-inspiring vineyards, and now we’re serving up an opportunity to get even closer to the magic that makes our corner of the world so sip-worthy.  Whether you're a local hospitality maestro, a wine educator with a thirst for viticulture knowledge, or a wine enthusiast plotting your next escapade among the vin

Make sure you have the right information for the intended audience By Leeann Froese If you are a brand or person hoping to gain earned media and get your name in the press, you are going to want to put together a press information kit, or “press kit”, as a supporting tool. In the past, these were called “media kits – a name derived from the fact that they serve as a source of information for members of the media. However, in today’s environment of digital creators, rate sheets combined with a creator’s information is now also called a media kit. While some of the information may overlap, they are very different things. In 2013, I spoke on this to a room full of YVR bloggers and explained what a media kit is and why they need it, and at the same time, shared what a media kit means in the world of publicists.  At Town Hall Brands, we create both for clients. So, let’s compare the two so you can develop the information package you need. PRESS