Sonoma, CA, April 1, 2026 - Free Flow Wines today announced that Richard Bouwer has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Robert Perman as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Richard Bouwer has led Free Flow Wines since 2018, guiding the organization through growth, expansion, and meeting the milestone of over 2 million keg shipments across the US. The Board thanks him for his leadership and contributions to the company and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors. Robert Perman brings 15 years of operations leadership, with a demonstrated ability to scale complex organizations, enhance production and supply chain performance, and maintain rigorous quality and safety standards. He previously served as Vice President of Operations. “I am honored to take on the role of President and Chief Operating Officer and look forward to continuing to drive operational excellence and long-term growt

Winegrowers are nothing if not adaptable, given that the grape is a harbinger crop, or in more prosaic terms, the canary in the coal mine for agriculture. As a result, when climate shifts generate more frequent heat waves of higher temperatures and longer duration, viticulturists swing into action with a toolbox of methods to mitigate the effects.  Growers use misters to cool the air around the grapes, irrigate in advance of heat waves to prevent dehydration, and even apply anti-transpirants that work like sunscreen to protect from sun damage. Medium-term options include changing canopy management to delay ripening and using regenerative farming techniques to boost water retention in the soil.  The most aggressive strategies involve relocating vineyards to cooler microclimates or pulling up and replacing less heat-tolerant varietals. However, vineyard owners are unlikely to invest in these approaches while consumption and demand are declining.  A better alternative wou