Why Wine Clubs Aren’t Working, And What’s Replacing Them For many wineries, the biggest challenge today isn’t attracting new customers; it’s keeping the ones they already have. Wine clubs once represented the most stable revenue engine for wineries. Members signed up, shipments went out quarterly, and predictable revenue flowed in. It was the foundation of direct-to-consumer success. But that foundation is cracking. Recent industry data reveals a troubling trend: nearly 40% of wine club members cancel within the first year. In a market where customer acquisition costs are climbing, and competition for attention has never been fiercer, losing members at this rate isn’t just a retention problem; it’s a profitability crisis. The math is unforgiving. If acquiring a new club member costs hundreds of dollars in marketing, tasting room labor, and incentives, losing them before they’ve generated meaningful lifetime value means wineries are bleeding money with every signup. And yet, some winer

Spending a weekend sipping superb wines while savoring the perfect food pairing sounds like heaven. Add in breathtaking scenery and the relaxing ambiance of Sonoma County’s Wine Country, and now you have paradise perfected! This magical wine and food weekend becomes reality on November 1st and 2nd as the Wine Road hosts the 27th annual Wine & Food Affair. A Sneak Peek at the Food Pairings With 50 wineries to select from, there are too many food pairings to list, so here are just a few highlights. If you love Italian-based comfort food, check out: Mushroom and Winter Squash Risotto at Pedroncelli Winery Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce at Pech Merle Winery Tatiana’s Famous Lasagna at Colagrossi Wines If you’d rather pair Mexican, French or Cajun with delicious wines, here are some options: Roger’s Colorado Pork Green Chili at J. Cage Cellars Creamy Mushroom Chicken Facon Grand Mère at GC Lurton Vineyards Alison’s Jambalaya at Mat

Afternoon Brief, March 27th

The Oregon Vineyard and Wine Industry’s New Economic Impact Report Shows Continued Growth and Increased Contribution to the State’s Economy: With an $8 billion economic impact, Oregon’s vineyards and wine businesses continue to be an economic driver deeply rooted in the state’s agriculture, offering high-value tourism experiences despite fewer tasting room visits...

Afternoon Brief, October 19th

Vintners union vows to stop cheap imports from entering French market and says the government ‘bears a heavy responsibility’...

Afternoon Brief, March 30th

North Coast Wineries Should Prep for More Diverse Tasting Room Visitors: North Coast vintners should prepare for tasting-room visitors who are younger and more ethnically and financially diverse than they may be used to, according to a panel of tourism and wine industry experts Tuesday...