Winery leaders and industry experts explore the strategies shaping the future of wine sales. The wine industry narrative over the past two years has been dominated by decline: falling consumption, shrinking distributor portfolios, and weakening consumer loyalty. The headlines suggest an industry in freefall. But the reality is more nuanced - and more useful. Yes, overall wine consumption continues to face pressure. Consumer behavior is fragmenting in ways that challenge traditional approaches. But the full story isn’t simply decline. It’s divergence. Some wineries are still growing. Some categories are holding steady while others contract. Some sales channels are thriving while others struggle. The difference often comes down to whether wineries have adapted their strategies to match the market that exists today, not the one that existed three years ago. At Wine Industry Network’s Annual Wine Sales Symposium on May 13, Dr. Chris Bitter will present research on what’s actually happening

The wine market is no longer simply in a slowdown – it is in structural correction. Distribution routes are tightening, consumer behavior is shifting, and the assumptions many wineries relied on even two years ago no longer hold. Wholesale channels that once provided stable revenue are consolidating or disappearing. Tasting room traffic has become inconsistent. Consumer loyalty has weakened. This isn’t temporary turbulence. It’s a fundamental reshaping of how wine reaches customers and which wineries succeed in doing so. Winery owners are facing hard questions: Should I double down on wholesale or pivot to direct-to-consumer? Do I chase new customer segments or deepen relationships with existing ones? The challenge isn’t a lack of options. It’s knowing which move to make first when resources are tight, and the margin for error is slim. The Distribution L

Adapt, Connect, Thrive: Why Sales & Marketing Leaders Can’t Miss this Event In a time when the wine industry is facing headwinds on every front—rising inventories, demographic shifts, changing consumer preferences, and continued economic pressure—many wineries are grappling with how to evolve their approach to sales and marketing. The upcoming Wine Sales Symposium, taking place May 14th at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa, was created specifically for wine sales and marketing professionals who are ready to embrace change and seek out the strategies driving real growth in today’s marketplace. Hosted by the Wine Industry Network, this one-day, in-person event brings together top-performing wine brands, leading industry voices, and innovative thinkers for a focused, no-fluff conversation about what’s working—and what’s not—in the business of wine. There are wineries out there that are doing well, but they’re not

For a long time, “wine tech” was just a buzzword. Now? It’s the differentiator. At this year’s Wine Sales Symposium, the agenda is stacked with conversations on consumer trends, marketing performance, and DTC growth. But woven through all of it is a bigger shift: wineries are leaning into technology—not as an afterthought, but as a strategic advantage. Let’s break down the areas where smart wineries are seeing the biggest returns—and where Corksy clients are finding real traction. 🧾 POS: More Than Just a Payment Terminal Your point of sale should be more than a transaction tool—it should be the beginning of a long-term relationship. Smart POS systems collect customer data (what they tasted, what they loved, how often they visit), making it easier to personalize future experiences in person and online. At the Corksy booth, we’ll be demoing our modern POS—designed specifically for wineries. Simple for your team, powerful behind

When wine enthusiasts visit a tasting room, they usually have a general knowledge of the winery’s reputation and its wine region. They’re looking forward to tasting and learning more about the wines and enjoying the culinary experience. They may research the area before traveling, follow the winery on social media, search Google, or reach out to friends and family for ideas on other things to do on their trip.  Visitors often ask tasting room staff for recommendations on places to stay, the best restaurants for dining, and other wineries and attractions to visit. While the winery team is always happy to help, they’re often too busy to help with more than a few quick suggestions.  Innovative mapping company HipMaps has a solution. The company works with a winery, chamber of commerce, grower association, hotel, or event organization to design a map customized to their needs and branded with their logo and style. The map can include anything from recommen

96 span,td,table,div,a { font-family:Arial,serif !important; } body { margin:0 !important; padding:0 !important; font-family:Arial,sans-serif !important; } table,td,div,p { font-family:Arial,sans-serif !important; line-height:normal; } li { text-align:-webkit-match-parent; display:list-item; text-indent:-1em; } Thursday, May 16th, 2024 · 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country · Santa Rosa, CA Wine Sales Symposium Uncork Your Sales Potential to Increase Profits Join us in Santa Rosa, CA, on May 16, 2024, for a one-day event focused on delivering insights, advice and predictions from industry experts to wineries looking to grow sales and/or profits. This year's program includes sesisons on navigating the wholesale channel and stra

Afternoon Brief, May 15th

Wine Industry Sales Symposium (WISS) a Success: Last week’s Wine Industry Sales Symposium, presented by Wine Industry Network (WIN), proved to be an unparalleled platform for learning and networking...

Healdsburg, CA, March 1, 2023 – Wine Industry Network (WIN) has opened registration for the Wine Industry Sales Symposium, a one-day educational conference that will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country, in Santa Rosa, Ca.  Leveraging experts from all facets of the wine industry, the program will kick-off with an in-depth look at how the wine category is performing overall and what the key indicators could mean for near-future sales. The conference will touch on all aspects of sales and marketing, including 3-Tier and Direct channel strategies, packaging innovations, pricing and public relations programs, and attendees will leave with tactical advice, insights and predictions they can apply to their own business models. This year’s topics will include: Data-Driven Insights: Sales Trends and Predictions Adapting Your PR Strategy for an Evolving Media Landscape Strategies & Tactics for Enga