Over the past few years, wineries have seen tasting room visits decline as consumer habits shift. With more options than ever, visitors are looking for something special—experiences that go beyond just sampling wine. For many wineries, this means rethinking how they engage guests and creating a place people want to come back to. This guide explores how wineries across the country are turning their tasting rooms into destinations—balancing local charm, modern convenience, and genuine hospitality. Create Unique, Social Experiences In today’s market, wineries that stand out provide more than just a tasting—they create memorable, shareable experiences that make guests want to stay longer and come back. Enhancing the Atmosphere with Music: Music adds energy and can make an ordinary tasting feel like an event. Hosting live music, whether it’s a local band or acoustic performer, brings people together and keeps them engaged. Many wineries schedule music on weeke

We love the Midwest winemaking community! This past summer Laffort® USA have been lucky enough to visit and share information about our innovations with talented winemakers from Wisconsin to Illinois to Indiana to Michigan. We've tasted fantastic expressions of everything from Seyval Blanc to Cabernet Franc.  And did we mention the ciders, fruit wines, and canned cocktails? The beverage scene in the Midwest is such a dream. Here's wishing all our winemaking friends in the Midwest a fantastic harvest! We’re proud to support your work to produce the best wines possible. Here’s to continued innovation, collaboration, and raising a glass together in the heart of the Midwest!  Special shout outs to Wollersheim Winery and Distillery, Butler Winery and Vineyards, and Lake Michigan College's Wine & Viticulture Program! Thank you all so much for hosting us!

Afternoon Brief: Washington Welcomes It's 21st American Viticultural Area

On October 29, 2024, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published the final rule for the Beverly, Washington appellation to officially define it as a designated wine grape-growing region...

Afternoon Brief, April 29th

Labor Department Sets Sweeping New H-2A Foreign Guestworker Rule: The U.S. Department of Labor has adopted a new rule it said will protect foreign seasonal farmworkers from being abused, imposing sweeping regulations the head of an agricultural employers association called "offensive."...

This February, wine club members of nearly 30 wine brands across four California counties and Michigan State can claim two complimentary tastings at any other participating club’s tasting room. Why? Because these tasting rooms have joined ReSIProcal February! Participating tasting rooms’ wines are made with SIP Certified® sustainable grapes, cultivated by sustainable farming practices that show care for the people and the planet. ReSIProcal February is a way to connect these like-minded brands and spread awareness of their good work. Participating locations include Baileyana Winery, Cambria Winery, Castoro Cellars, Niner Wine Estates, Vina Robles, Foxen Vineyard, McIntyre Tasting Studio, Shady Lane Cellars, and many others. Wondering if you’re a member of a participating wine club and can claim these complimentary tastings? Visit the ReSIProcal February event page at https://sipcertified.org/resiprocal2024 to see a list of all participating brands. Tasters have

Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir Takes Top Honors November 17, 2023 — Winners have been announced in the 2023 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best Red Wine and Best of Anderson Valley AVA (Mendocino County, Calif.). Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “rich, ripe” and for its “Bing cherry,” and “hint of orange peel.”  Lula Cellars is a boutique winery located in California’s Anderson Valley. Its focus is on world-class Pinot Noirs both from its estate and across Anderson Valley, as well as other single-vineyard offerings from the greater Mendocino County. When preparing to plant their own vines, Lula owners discovered some-1,000 old vines “literally lying down, as if waiting to be rescued.” Lots of TLC later, these mystery Pinot Noir grapes have thrived. There’s no in

Find Shady Lane Cellars, More Michigan Wines at New Up North Wine Tasting Room

New Geneva, Illinois business to open May 6 3 May – Taste your way through the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas of Michigan – in downtown Geneva, Illinois. That’s just […]

Michigan Riesling and California Rosé Share Top Honors March 1, 2021 (Santa Rosa, Calif.) -- On a crisp midwinter day, 24 judges met to determine a winner in the International East Meets West Wine Challenge. For the first time in its storied history, two wines tied for top honors. A 2019 Bowers Harbor Vineyards Riesling (Michigan) took the top Eastern prize and a 2020 Trecini Rosé of Grenache was named Best of the West. In a direct face off, judges were equally impressed by both, and a tie was declared. Founded in 1975, the International Eastern Wine Competition is the oldest competition still in existence. Eligible wines can come from Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Mexico (mainland), Canada (except British Columbia), and all U.S. states not listed below. The West Coast Wine Competition was established in 1982 and is open to wines from Australia, China, India, Japan, Middle East, New Zealand, Pacific Rim nations, Russia, Tasmania, British Columbia (Canada), B

Standing out on the store shelf can be challenging in the crowded wine and spirits market. Wine and spirts makers must choose bottles that represent their brand while enticing the customer. A toast to these three brands for succeeding with unique packaging that puts them on the top shelf! Michael David Winery: History in a Bottle Michael David is more than just a winery; it’s part of the history and culture of Lodi, California. The Phillips family has been farming the land there since the 1850s and cultivating wine grapes since the 20th century. Winery founders Michael and David Phillips are fifth-generation grape growers who have raised their families on their Lodi vineyard. The Phillips, and the brand they’ve created, live according to the local values. They nurture relationships with their growers, develop partnerships within their community, and harvest their land responsibly and sustainably. It’s a family legacy they hope to pass on to future generations. Whe