For most wineries, marketing still follows a familiar path: email campaigns, wine clubs, tasting room experiences, and social media. These channels continue to drive direct-to-consumer sales, but they are also becoming increasingly saturated. Reaching new customers often requires more content, more spend, and more competition for the same audience. At the same time, another force is shaping consumer behavior at scale—film and television. A single streaming series can influence travel, dining, fashion, and brand awareness almost overnight. Within those moments, wine is already present. It appears in dinner scenes, celebrations, restaurants, and quiet evenings at home, serving as a natural extension of lifestyle and hospitality. Historically, however, the bottles used on screen have rarely represented real wineries. That is beginning to change. Wine product placement is emerging as a viable and strategic marketing channel for wineries looking to expand beyond traditional touchpoin

On February 20, 2026, in a victory for American beer, wine, and spirits importers, the Supreme Court in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 US ____, Slip Op., February 20, 2026 (“Learning Resources”) struck down President Trump’s imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). The Trump administration had used IEEPA to justify certain tariffs imposed on imported goods from various countries in 2025, including beer, wine and spirits. Despite the decision in the importers’ favor, no one is popping the Champagne quite yet. First, while the Court’s opinion invalidated the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs, it has no effect on the administrations’ ability to rely on other statutes to impose tariffs. Second, on the same day that the Supreme Court issued its decision, the President issued a proclamation imposing a 10% worldwide tariff under a different federal law (discussed in more detail belo

THERMIC™ Barrel Alternatives Available in French Oak—Expanded Options. Same Precision. After three years of research and development, we are excited to launch French Oak versions of our Oaklab THERMIC oak barrel alternatives, now available in cubes, fan packs, and barrel inserts. With this launch, three new and unique toast profiles will join our existing American Oak portfolio.   REQUEST SAMPLES  THERMIC Innovation Continues The Oaklab’s proprietary THERMIC™ oven toasting delivers consistent, targeted oak impact with precision and control. Now available in French oak, winemakers can explore refined flavor profiles with the same trusted performance.     Light + Toast   Highlights varietal fruit with subtle notes of butterscotch and almond. Adds finesse and length to the finish without overpowering.   Medium Toast   Delivers classic caramel and vanilla aromas with enhanced mouthfeel. Offers a sweet oak fin

November 13, 2025 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Soper Reese Theater 275 S. Main St., Lakeport Join us for an engaging afternoon that brings together growers, winemakers, and industry professionals to explore what makes Lake County winegrapes truly distinctive. Through guided tastings, insightful discussions, and expert-led panels, this event will highlight the character, variety, and innovation that define our region. Register now to secure your seat for this special half-day tasting and learning experience. Program highlights: Aromatic Whites – Explore how Lake County’s high elevations and varied microclimates shape these fragrant, expressive wines. Sauvignon Blanc Comparison – Side-by-side tastings that reveal how Lake County terroir and grower–winemaker collaboration define the region’s signature variety. Alternative Reds – Discover lesser-known reds that thrive in Lake County’s volcanic soils and diverse vineyard sites. Cabernet Sauvignon Co

Pre-fermentation bioprotection tools can help control unwanted yeast and bacteria, limiting off-odors and flavors, and setting the stage for a clean fermentation. With so many options available, choosing the right tool for your winemaking style isn't always as straightforward.   Basic Protection LEVEL2 INITIA™ (for whites and rosés) and IOC GAIA™ (for reds) are broad-spectrum Non-Saccharomyces yeasts that are ideal for protecting healthy fruit. They help control spoilage microbes and support a clean start to fermentation. Advanced Protection For damaged fruit or higher microbial pressure, stronger tools are needed. LEVEL2 SALVA™ (Suhomyces pyralidae) helps guard against Brettanomyces pre-fermentation. ALLIANCE™ (chitosan + yeast cell wall blend) is ideal when rot is present and spoilage organisms are unknown. Check out our entire portfolio of bioprotection tools and see how they may fit into your winemaking approach. Learn More

Why Proper Fermentation Mixing is Essential It’s a common myth that fermentations “self-mix" when in fact this is only true during the most active stages of fermentation. Recent research (Schwinn et al., 2019) has shown that without manual mixing, yeast can struggle to stay in suspension, causing yeast stress and other unwanted impacts. The Benefits of Mixing LIMIT STRATIFICATION Without mixing, yeast and nutrients can crowd the bottom of the tank, leading to different fermentation rates and progression in different parts of the vessel.  PREVENT OFF-AROMAS Ensuring even distribution of yeast and nutrients limits stress, reducing the risk of off-aromas like hydrogen sulfide, acetic acid, and acetaldehyde.  IMPROVE YEAST PERFORMANCE Even distribution of yeast and nutrients also keeps yeast healthy, active, and efficient, improving fermentation kinetics and tank turnover. WHEN TO MIX Mixing is most important during early fermentation and near the end. At both o

  System Account System Account 0x010100043A3A8B2F2ED841920AEAB92B93F32F       Non-Saccharomyces Yeast   Bioprotection and more   Once overlooked, non-Saccharomyces yeasts have emerged as versatile tools that can significantly enhance wine aroma, acidity, mouthfeel, and overall quality. Discover how these unique yeasts are as varied in their applications and strain differences as their Saccharomyces cousins.   READ MORE     LEVEL2 SALVA™ BIOPROTECTION   SALVA offers specific bioprotection against Brettanomyces, including SOâ‚‚ resistant strains.   Learn More LEVEL2 FLAVIA™ ENHANCE AROMA AND TEXTURE   FLAVIA increases expression of terpenes and thiols (varietal aromas), increases roundness due to mannoprotein release.   Learn More   LEVEL2 INITIA™ BIOPROTECTION   INITIA consumes oxygen, suppressing the growth of microorganism and

In January 2025, the U.S. Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a final rule to add 13 additional standards of fill (i.e., the amount of liquid in a container) for wine and 15 additional standards of fill for distilled spirits, allowing new packaging sizes and formats (e.g., glass for single-serve spirits-based drinks). This rule may reshape market dynamics, foster innovation, and enhance consumer choice. Expanding the range of allowable container sizes enables the U.S. to align with global packaging standards, making it easier for domestic producers to compete internationally and for imported products to enter the market without costly repackaging. This regulatory shift also allows brands more agility to innovate with new product formats, particularly in response to trends such as premiumization and sustainability. From a consumer standpoint, the expanded standards of fill offer an enhanced purchasing experience. Smaller formats cater to health-conscio

Afternoon Brief: Alecia Moore, Winemaker and Two Wolves Wine Founder, Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium is proud to welcome Alecia Moore, winemaker and founder of Two Wolves Wine, as the keynote luncheon speaker to kick off the 2025 show on Tuesday, January 28...

Are you seeing high VA in reds this year? (We are 🙄) We've received a lot of feedback about high volatile acidity (VA) in red grapes, especially in Northern California. We don't have a full understanding of why this is happening. We're seeing high VA with and without visible signs of rot. We're also seeing high VA with and without the presence of spoilage organisms. However, we do have some best practices on how to mitigate the effects. Why is VA a problem? 👉 Acetic acid is inhibitory to yeast and can cause stuck fermentations 👉 Negative sensory impacts 👉 Legal limitations in wine What can you do about it? 🤔 Our technical team has put together a guide to managing high VA. Click below to check it out!  Click Here to Open