You’ve already done the hard part getting guests through the door. Now it’s time to make every visit truly count. Join Liz Mercer for a sharper, more intentional look at how top-performing wineries are transforming the tasting room into a powerful engine for revenue and loyalty. From the first welcome to the final touchpoint, you’ll learn how small, deliberate shifts in approach can significantly improve conversion, deepen engagement, and create lasting customer relationships. If you want stronger results from every tasting room interaction, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (PT) RSVP Now ABOUT THE SPEAKER Liz Mercer WISE Coach & Content Developer Liz Mercer grew up in the Napa Valley, which instilled a deep respect for the culture and lifestyle of wine and the industry supporting it. She left the area to attend Northwood University in Michigan, where she studied Finance & Business Manage

The word “brand” is notoriously difficult to define in marketing. If we were talking about a ranch brand—the kind seared onto livestock to signify ownership—that’s easy to understand. But in marketing, a brand is not a physical thing. It’s a symbolic construct. It’s not the label on the bottle or the winery’s logo or even the product itself. Rather, it’s the entire perception a consumer holds in their mind about your company, your wine, your people, and everything you collectively represent. A brand is a conceptual identity that differentiates you from your competitors. It can be shaped by your name, your origin story, the design of your label, the personalities involved in your winery, your tasting room experience, your packaging, your email tone, your partnerships, or even how you respond to a customer complaint. All these elements come together to form the intangible yet powerful idea of your brand. It is, quite literally, eve

It is time to dust off the employee handbook, review your policies and procedures, and make sure they comply with all the new laws, regulations, and interpretations that went into effect during 2025, became effective in late 2025, or January 1, 2026. Below, we have identified our “top 10” changes.  Please keep in mind there were hundreds of laws, regulations, and changes implemented at the local, state, and federal levels throughout 2025. This summary highlights selected changes most likely to impact California employers and is not intended to be exhaustive. So, if you need a handbook/policy review or have any questions, please call us! 1 – Minimum Wage Update: Updates happen every year.  It’s best to put a calendar reminder in November, to make sure your payroll is ready! Action: Review your payroll to ensure all employees are being paid the new minimum wage, send written notice of the wage change to affected hourly employees, and be sure your salari

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

HotSpot AG is excited to welcome World Ag Expo attendees to our Training Center for an educational session as part of this year’s World Ag Expo Tours on February 10th. The tour stop offers attendees a chance to learn how growers utilize innovative HotSpot AG solutions to support best practices in water conservation through irrigation automation and optimize nutrition management with automated variable rate fertigation injection skids. Guests will be given an exclusive opportunity to witness a live demonstration and see how the HotSpot AG technology seamlessly executes complex irrigation and fertigation schedules with just a touch of a button. Within the Training Center, a condensed layout of the irrigation pipeline offers viewers a unique opportunity to see firsthand how the HotSpot software communicates in real-time with equipment out in the field. When you visit the training center, you can expect: Water savings through precise scheduling Energy reduction with pump and VFD opt

by Stacey HeuerAs we approach Thanksgiving, it’s a time to pause and reflect on the past year—the lessons we’ve learned, the challenges we’ve navigated, and the many things we have to be grateful for. For those of us in the wine industry, this reflection feels especially meaningful. The past year has asked us to adapt, to rethink long-standing traditions, and to find new ways to connect with customers and one another. We’ve witnessed shifting consumer preferences, evolving markets, and the uncertainty that naturally comes with change. Yet through it all, I’ve seen incredible determination, creativity, and collaboration across our community. These qualities remind me that, while the landscape may shift, what truly endures is our shared passion for the craft, our resilience in the face of challenge, and the strong sense of camaraderie that binds us together. In that spirit, I’d like to share what I’m especially thankful for within our wine

The 2025 harvest season is here, filling our winery with the sweet aromas of fresh grapes and fermenting wine! As the season winds down, now is the perfect time to experience the magic of winemaking at Grand Cru. Join us for an exclusive tasting experience and choose from over 10 options while witnessing our production facility in action. Discover the passion and precision behind our wines and savor the latest creations straight from the source. Don’t forget our 2-for-1 Vintners’ Selection Tasting offer is still available!  Use code 2FOR1 to enjoy this special deal and experience harvest season at Grand Cru before it’s over. Book a Tasting Holiday Hours We will be open everyday from 10am until 4pm with exception to the below dates. Thursday, November 27th CLOSED Wednesday, December 24th CLOSED Thursday, December 25th CLOSED Wednesday, December 31st CLOSED Thursday, January 1st CLOSED However you plan to celebrate in these final months of 2025, we hope y

A late-season bare root planting in the Lodi foothill region from mid-August. Prior to planting, these vines underwent a 14-day acclimation period. While we typically advise against planting beyond June, this vineyard faced unavoidable delays due to county-imposed burning restrictions, unfortunately postponing their planting schedule by several months. We are pleased to witness the vines have been successfully planted and are thriving in their new environment.  

Do you remember a time when workplace conflict was rare, or at least handled differently? I sure do. It wasn’t that long ago where, it seemed, people were more willing to engage in a direct conversation to resolve their differences. The trend over the last few years, however, shows that incivility has been on the rise…rampantly. This is supported by many studies – just Google it and you’ll see. The Rise of Incivility at Work Incivility is so significant that SHRM even has a Civility Index that tracks this on a quarterly basis. A recent SHRM report stated that 76% of U.S. workers reported experiencing or witnessing incivility in the last month of 2024, and a 21.5% increase in the first quarter of 2025. In our work as HR consultants, we often see long, angry emails and complaints to management that point blame at others without offering solutions or acknowledging one’s own role. As a result, our workforces are suffering from increased tension and reduc

Every vineyard tells a story, but some chapters aren’t easy to read. Hidden beneath the surface—or buried in old records—are secrets that can affect your land’s value, your ability to develop, or even your next harvest. Whether you inherited your vineyard, bought it as-is, or have managed it for years, uncovering these hidden details is crucial. That’s where Ray Carlson & Associates steps in, combining decades of experience with cutting-edge technology and deep historical research to reveal what your vineyard isn’t telling you. What Kinds of Secrets Are We Talking About? Unrecorded Easements: Access rights or utility corridors that don’t appear in your current deed but can limit how you use your land. Boundary Discrepancies: Old surveys or informal boundaries that don’t match legal property lines, causing confusion or disputes with neighbors. Hidden Utilities: Underground water lines, irrigation pipes, or cables not documen