Why It’s Time to Take Control of Chain Retail Pricing In the wine & spirits business, the difference between a best-seller and a case that never sees the shelf often comes down to something so mundane, it’s almost embarrassing to say out loud: Pricing. Not the actual price point — the accuracy of it. There are already plenty of reasons your product might not make it to the shelf — a buyer reorg, a freight delay, the seasonal shuffle, or simply the chaos of modern retail. So when you’ve beaten the odds and secured a coveted placement with one of the nation’s top chain retailers, the last thing that should kill the momentum is a clerical error. And yet, that’s exactly what happens when the price on the invoice doesn’t match the price in the retailer’s system. One mismatch, and the product gets refused at the dock — benched before it ever had a shot. No match = no receiving. No receiving = no shelf placement. No pl

Imagine your VP of Sales announcing they’ve ditched CRM for a Rolodex. Or your finance director saying Excel is too modern, so they’re switching to chalkboard.  And yet, here we are — 2025 — squinting at billbacks for hours on end and sending reps to visit every retail account like the entire industry is running for sheriff. Automation isn’t new, but for the wine & spirits world, it might as well be black magic. We love to talk about efficiency, scaling, and modernizing — right up until someone proposes replacing busywork with bots. Suddenly, it’s “But our rep relationships!” or “This is how we’ve always done it.” As if nostalgia for manual labor is part of our brand identity. Let’s get one thing straight: no one’s asking you to hand your label design to Midjourney or let ChatGPT pick your clones. We’re talking about automating the parts of your business that drain time, w

It is time to dust off the employee handbook, review your policies and procedures, and make sure they comply with all the new laws, regulations, and interpretations that went into effect during 2025, became effective in late 2025, or January 1, 2026. Below, we have identified our “top 10” changes.  Please keep in mind there were hundreds of laws, regulations, and changes implemented at the local, state, and federal levels throughout 2025. This summary highlights selected changes most likely to impact California employers and is not intended to be exhaustive. So, if you need a handbook/policy review or have any questions, please call us! 1 – Minimum Wage Update: Updates happen every year.  It’s best to put a calendar reminder in November, to make sure your payroll is ready! Action: Review your payroll to ensure all employees are being paid the new minimum wage, send written notice of the wage change to affected hourly employees, and be sure your salari

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

Join us to explore how pollinator conservation, hedgerows, and innovative technology can enhance vineyard health and productivity. Learn practical strategies to protect beneficial species, reduce pesticide impacts, and attract birds that support your vines. Experience a guided hedgerow walk at McIntyre Vineyard, gain insights from an expert panel discussion, and witness a demonstration of beneficial insect release. REGISTER Speakers: Madeline Kangas, Xerces Society Sara Frazer, Monterey Pacific Jazmin Lopez, Pisoni Vineyards Jaclyn Bennett, Parabug Sam Earnshaw, Hedgerows Unlimited JoAnn Baumgartner, Wild Farm Alliance CE Approved: DPR 1.5 - O; CA 2 - S

Online reviews aren’t fluff. They’re not nice-to-haves, and they shouldn’t be afterthoughts. They are critical, high-impact marketing assets that shape consumer perception, affect your search rankings, and—let’s be honest—determine whether or not someone walks through your tasting room door. You don’t need hundreds of reviews overnight, and you definitely don’t need to beg for them. What you need is a plan. Here’s how to approach winery reviews strategically—and professionally. Why Reviews Matter So Much Online reviews are today’s word of mouth but with a larger megaphone. They don’t just impact reputation—they influence your visibility, credibility, and revenue. The key platforms are: Google: This is the baseline. You’re losing ground in local SEO if you’re not actively managing your Google reviews. More reviews = better ranking = more foot traffic. Yelp: High purchase intent lives here. 80% of

Learn innovative methods for managing bird and vertebrate pests in vineyards. Bart Haycraft (Jackson Family Wines) and falconer Pogerof Scott discuss using falconry to deter birds. Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) shares his use of an autonomous bird laser deterrent. Kevin Garcia Lopez and Sarah Lord (Cal Poly) will present their barn owl research, focusing on nest box occupancy and how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. The event will feature a live falconry demonstration and give attendees the opportunity to view a bird laser, including the autonomous bird laser deterrent system. Speakers: Bart Haycraft, Jackson Family Wines Pogerof Scott, Falconer Chad Foster, Maverick Farming  Joseph Traut, Cypress Agritech Graham Evans, Cypress Agritech Riley Boylan, Cypress Agritech Kevin Garcia Lopez, Cal Poly Sarah Lord, Cal Poly CE Approved: DPR 2 - O; CCA 2 - IPM