Europe is putting real momentum behind energy efficiency and sustainability, and the wine sector is right in the middle of it. We were at Barcelona Wine Week. The message was that automation and AI are becoming practical tools to run operations better, cut energy use, and make faster decisions based on real data. That is where VinWizard fits, energy efficiency for wineries through automation, connecting operations, data, and control to deliver measurable savings without major infrastructure changes. In Spain, this push is also being driven by the Federación Española del Vino (FEV) and its Digitalization Hub, bringing wineries and technology companies together to accelerate real projects.  

The Actionable Version (Yes, Another One — But Hear Us Out) It wouldn’t be the end of the year in beverage alcohol without a million prediction articles telling you what might happen next. You’ve probably already read a few that say consumers will drink less, premiumize more, and still somehow want everything new, nostalgic, global, and convenient at the same time. All of that may be true — but this isn’t another “interesting but abstract” trends piece. This one is about what’s actionable right now for: Makers who need flexible, reliable distribution, and Buyers who want to keep their sets fresh, differentiated, and relevant in 2026 Here’s what we see coming — and how to actually do something about it. 1. Volume Isn’t Growing — but Opportunity Is Getting More Targeted Overall volume across many beverage alcohol categories remains flat or slightly down. At the same time, Buyers are still actively looking for n

Press Release November 21, 2025 (Fairfield, CA) — Encore Glass Encore Glass, a family-owned wine bottle supplier serving wineries across North America, has promoted LC Giacobazzi to Sales Director. In this role, she will oversee Account Managers, lead sales processes and training, and support new business development in partnership with Director of New Business Development Phil King. "LC earned this through years of doing the work. She builds trust, solves problems fast, and keeps the team aligned. Her leadership strengthens our sales group and our customer relationships. I'm proud of her growth and glad to see her take on this role," said Brad Tucker, Vice President of Sales. LC joined Encore Glass in 2010 as a Customer Service Representative and has since built a wide-ranging career across Customer Service, Operations, and Account Management. Her 15 years of experience give her a comprehensive view of the customer life cycle and the operational demands of deliveri

Commerce7 today announced the launch of Data Drops, a new ongoing series designed to deliver timely, digestible insights that help wineries understand what is really driving direct-to-consumer performance. What was once a single yearly data book will now be published in shorter pieces that arrive throughout 2026, giving the industry faster access to trends, benchmarks, and opportunities backed by the largest DTC dataset in wine. Powered by data from across the Commerce7 platform, Data Drops turn the company’s scale into practical knowledge any winery can use.This series is built for the entire industry, not only Commerce7 clients. Whether a winery runs on another platform or is just beginning to build out its DTC strategy, the content offers clear, actionable intelligence designed to push the industry forward. “Data is only useful when it helps you take the right next step. With Data Drops, we’re making the industry’s biggest DTC dataset readable, practical, and

The Post-Harvest Drop-Off Fall brings a flurry of activity to wine country. Tasting rooms fill with eager visitors, social media buzzes with harvest photos, and the energy is palpable. Then November arrives, and for many wineries, engagement plummets. According to Silicon Valley Bank's 2024 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Survey, the average winery converts less than 15% of harvest event attendees into repeat customers by year-end. This represents an enormous missed opportunity. The wineries that thrive year-round don't view harvest as a seasonal peak but as the starting point of a strategic customer journey.  Harvest Is Your Customer Acquisition Funnel Stop thinking of harvest events as isolated experiences and start viewing them as the top of your sales funnel. Smart consumer brands recognize that seasonal events provide a prime opportunity to collect valuable customer data while creating memorable brand experiences. These touchpoints become the first step in an ongoing relat

Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, including operating companies Key Technology, PPM Technologies and WECO, will showcase their world-class equipment at Pack Expo Las Vegas booth W-1044. Delivering high-performance optical sorters, conveyors and other processing solutions, Duravant helps customers maximize food safety and ensure product quality while increasing yield, reducing labor and improving operational efficiencies. “Food growers, processors and packers are navigating significant hurdles right now, from workforce shortages to market uncertainty. With companies making very targeted investments, we're focused on providing technology that offers immediate value by automating manual tasks, minimizing training, simplifying sanitation and boosting overall productivity,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President – Food Sorting and Handling. “Our group’s comprehensive equipment portfolio and decades of experience enable us to deliver the ide

Independent Stave Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Glycine Bonneville-Jiang as Oak Research & Development Specialist based in Napa, California. Bonneville-Jiang brings extensive experience in wine research and production, with a specialized focus on wine microbiology, sensory analysis and vineyard-to-cellar innovation. She most recently served as R&D Manager at Lawrence Wine Estates, where she led technical initiatives for Heitz Cellar, Burgess, Ink Grade, Haynes and Stony Hill. Her work has included microbial analysis, smoke taint mitigation, native fermentation development, and soil health trials to enhance wine quality and sustainability. With more than a decade of global wine experience spanning France, Australia and the United States, Bonneville-Jiang has held research and harvest positions at wineries including Vieux Château Certan, Le Pin, Domaine Louis Latour and Château Léoville Barton. She has also consulted on wine microbiology in

For centuries, sulfur dioxide (SOâ‚‚) has been the trusted guardian of wine for preserving freshness, preventing oxidation, and controlling microbial populations. But with changing consumer preferences, evolving regulations, and advancements in enological science, many winemakers are rethinking their reliance on traditional SOâ‚‚ regimes.  At ATPGroup, we recognize that while SOâ‚‚ remains a powerful tool, it’s no longer the only one. For winemakers looking to reduce or eliminate sulfur additions, a range of solutions is available that support microbial stability, freshness, and shelf life without compromising quality.  Why Reduce SOâ‚‚?  There are several reasons winemakers may choose to reduce sulfur use:  Consumer demand:  Increasing numbers of wine consumers are seeking "low-intervention" or "low-sulfite" wines due to perceived health concerns or personal sensitivities.  Labeling requirements:  In many markets, wine

As we all know, the alcohol industry is changing—and fast. Whether you’re a supplier, buyer, or distributor, it’s impossible to ignore the major shifts taking place across all tiers. The traditional three-tier system, while still intact, is being redefined by innovation, consolidation, and the growing need for flexibility. For suppliers especially, it’s becoming clear that the traditional distributor route-to-market doesn’t work for everyone anymore. One of the most significant signals of this evolution? Major supplier players are forging their own paths and rethinking distribution. With moves like that, it’s not just a trend—it’s a transformation. Changes in California? That’s where LibDib comes in LibDib was built for this. We empower suppliers (Makers as we call them) to manage their own buyer relationships while we handle everything else: logistics, compliance, delivery, and even data access. With warehouses across the stat

Who (or what) is this eddy you keep talking about? Efficient water management has never been more critical for agriculture and specifically for viticulture. High-end viticulture needs to manage water to not only cut costs, but to keep quality high in a market of oversupply and buyers who hold the upper hand over the grower. High production viticulture may not need the water management finesse for quality that high-end viticulture does, but regulatory demands for groundwater protection as well as limitations on water deliveries push growers into making the most out of every gallon. Here at AV, we’ve made use of impactful technologies to help growers irrigate efficiently and control vine stress to improve wine quality from their vineyards. Our primary tools have been the soil moisture probe and, more recently, the Florapulse microtensiometer. Both tools have been indispensable and even more so now that we have our own data portal to view and analyze these data streams. More recen