The later-than-usual release of the Grape Crush Report had everyone doing what this industry does best: guessing. And when the number finally dropped, it landed somewhere between “not great” and “not nearly low enough to matter.” At approximately 2.6 million tons, the 2025 crush came in higher than most had hoped, and, more importantly, higher than many believe the market actually needs. The Facts: What the Crush Report Tells Us Data released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture shows that the 2025 grape crush totaled approximately 2.6 million tons. That represents a decline of just over 8% from the prior year and marks the smallest crop since the late 1990s. On the surface, that’s a meaningful shift. After several years where production consistently exceeded 3 million tons, supply is clearly beginning to respond. But the details matter. Key premium varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir all declined, while certain

The 2026 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento earlier this year was a great success for R-Biopharm! We connected with so many of our colleagues from nearly thirty years of being in Wine Production Technical Support, a thriving diaspora of so much talent and expertise. And we made some amazing new connections where we could offer support and solutions for Winery Labs and businesses that support Wine Production.  So what were the Top Three R-Biopharm Products that were most discussed? #1 The RIDA®CUBE Scan - small, precise, single sample, semi-automated enzymatic test system for the following wine components: L-Malic Acid, Acetic Acid, Glucose/Fructose, FSO2, TSO2 and Ammonia. #2 NoLo EtOH Testing - our Enzytec™ Liquid Ethanol kits are specially developed for NoLo EtOH beverages, and AOAC-OMA 2017.07 Final Action, Official recommended Codex method.  #3 qPCR for Wine Spoilage Microorganisms -  test with specificity for up to 14 wine spoilage yeast a

myWineClubApp™ - Agency Partner Plan Wine Marketing Agencies Are Quietly Claiming a New DTC Communication Channel Something unusual is happening in wine marketing. While much of the industry continues to wrestle with declining response rates, unreliable email deliverability, and growing SMS fatigue, a new pattern is emerging behind the scenes: wine marketing agencies are beginning to secure strategic positions around an entirely new DTC communication channel. The channel is myWineClubApp™ — a patent-pending, preference-based messaging platform designed specifically for modern wine clubs. Why myWineClubApp? Originally developed as a direct solution for wineries struggling with fragmented customer communications, myWineClubApp has quickly drawn attention from agencies who recognize a larger opportunity: helping their winery clients establish a persistent, brand-owned presence on consumers’ phones while reducing dependence on traditional channels. Unlike conven

Thank you to all who stopped by Admeo's booth at Unified Wine and Grape Symposium and Oregon Wine Symposium! 🍇  Your energy, curiosity, and thoughtful conversations made both events truly special. Thank you for the hugs and sharing about your labs.  If we didn’t get a chance to connect or you’d like to follow up, please reach out. We are always happy to chat about quality control!

The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is where the North American wine industry comes together to shape what’s next. As a manufacturer of high-end stainless steel tanks, La Garde Inox showcased its latest innovations in Sacramento. Our presence at major trade shows reflects a simple idea: being close to winemakers is essential to designing better cellars. Unified Wine & Grape Symposium: Where the Industry Looks Ahead Once again, Sacramento hosted one of the most anticipated events in the North American wine industry. The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium 2026 brought together decision-makers, winemakers, and equipment suppliers who are actively shaping the future of wine production. We believe innovation in stainless steel tanks cannot be decided from a catalog alone. High-end equipment needs to be seen, touched, measured, and discussed in person. That’s exactly what we offered in Sacramento. Stainless Steel Expertise, Built for Real Cellars Our stainless steel tan

R.F. MacDonald Co. will be at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium Jan. 28 & 29 at the Sacramento Convention Center — the largest Wine Conference & Expo in the nation! Reach out to your local rep for your free ticket ($140 value). 

The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium 2026 is this week! Stop by Booth 1307 to hear our story and take your brand to the next level. See you there!  

Sacramento, we’re coming! We’re heading to the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, and we couldn’t be more excited to connect with you in person. From January 28–29, we’ll be showcasing how thoughtful packaging can elevate a brand - from shelf to table. Whether you’re exploring a refresh or building something entirely new, our team will be there to talk through ideas, answer questions, and share what’s possible when design and craftsmanship come together. Stop by booth #807 to experience our packaging solutions up close, including: • Screen printing & etching techniques that add depth and distinction • Design-driven innovation built to support your brand story • Live painting on bottles, happening on the show floor - art in motion you won’t want to miss! If you’re attending the show, make sure to swing by and say hello. We’d love to meet you, swap ideas, and talk about what’s next for your brand. See

InnoVint Announces Intelligent Winery Workflows Powered by AI New AI capabilities automate data capture, reporting, and work order creation to reduce manual work in winery operations InnoVint, the leading winery operations & production platform, today announced the launch of Intelligent Winery Workflows, introducing artificial intelligence directly into core production workflows to help winery teams move faster with less manual effort. As part of this launch, all InnoVint customers now have access to InnoVint’s AI Analysis Import functionality, which allows teams to snap a photo of handwritten lab notes or analysis sheets and automatically capture that data in InnoVint. During the recent harvest, wineries uploaded hundreds of documents and thousands of analyses, eliminating thousands of manual keystrokes from everyday workflows. InnoVint also previewed two upcoming AI-powered capabilities: AI Generated Reports will enable wineries to create reports using plain-language text