Wine Industry Sales Education (WISE), the leading provider of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales education, leadership coaching, and certification for the wine industry, today announced the launch of WISE Public Speaking Pathways, a new suite of live, practice-based public speaking courses developed in partnership with Clear Communication Academy (CCA). Designed specifically for winery professionals, WISE Public Speaking Pathways delivers role-based communication training across every level of the organization, from frontline tasting room staff building confidence with guests, to managers and winemakers representing the winery publicly, to executives speaking with influence and authority. With both live Zoom and in-person options, the program offers flexible access for individuals and organizations to select the experience that best aligns with their goals, team structure, and growth initiatives. “Strong communication is not a ‘nice to have’ in today’s DTC envi

A Story of Leadership, Innovation, Hard Work, and Inclusion In an industry dominated by large-scale manufacturers and long-established corporations, National Storage Tank (NST) stands out not only as a leader in engineered water storage systems but also as a certified woman-owned business driving change through innovation, diversity, and community impact. Led by CEO Nicole Oblad, NST has become a powerhouse in the design and delivery of bolted steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, and underground water storage tanks, serving industries ranging from hospitals and data centers to agriculture and manufacturing. Yet, what truly sets NST apart isn’t just the scale of its operations, but the values that fuel its success. Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Industry The water storage and construction industries have traditionally been male-dominated, but NST’s leadership has rewritten that narrative. Under Nicole Oblad’s guidance, NST has become one of

Plata Wine Partners is a premium “vineyard-to-bottle” production house rooted in California’s top coastal AVAs. With more than 20,000 acres of sustainably managed vineyards, Plata provides bulk-wine, private-label, and custom-program solutions for brands of all sizes. Their team brings together expertise in viticulture, winemaking, production, and finance to deliver programs aligned with modern consumer preferences. As the business evolved, Plata recognized that their Winemaker’s Database (WMDB) system lacked the accuracy, speed, and real-time visibility required by a 12+ facility production model. Plata implemented InnoVint in 2024, and the difference after just one harvest was remarkable. The Challenge: A System That Slowed Down the Entire Business Before InnoVint, Plata’s production and finance teams were burdened by manual processes that made everyday work harder and introduced costly risk.  Excessive manual data entry. Every two weeks, the

HOBO Data Loggers receives “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Awards Program for the HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network Annual awards program recognizes innovation in agricultural & food technologies around the globe BOURNE, Mass., – HOBO Data Loggers, a LI-COR® brand and leading manufacturer known for accurate and reliable data loggers, today announced it has been awarded “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in the 5th annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets today. The HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network delivers cost-effective, distributed, wireless, and scalable in-field crop monitoring. Designed to empower growers with real-time environmental data for improved decision-making, HOBOnet provides precise, site-specific insights

The global shift toward sustainability is palpable across nearly every sector. Within the wine and spirits industries, this movement has gained remarkable traction, driven by consumers’ increasing demand for environmentally responsible products. More pressure for industry to put sustainability at the center of all operations but also provides opportunities for businesses to flourish by staying ahead of the trends in innovative and sustainable advancements. Here are four sustainability trends to keep an eye on: Regenerative practices for wine and spirits Recent years have seen a boom in conscious agricultural practices through the philosophy that all aspects of agriculture are connected. This philosophy emphasizes the careful utilization of land management to restore and regenerate the ecosystems and land we use, leaving it in better health for future generations.  Regenerative principles are a push back against traditional industrial agriculture practices which are respons

Conflict at work happens. Put a group of people together with different personalities, goals, and communication styles, and sooner or later, tensions flare. And that’s not always a bad thing! Healthy conflict can push teams to think bigger, innovate, and challenge assumptions. But when disagreements turn into ongoing friction, things can get messy fast. Productivity slips, trust erodes, and collaboration feels impossible. The good news? Conflict doesn’t have to be the end of teamwork. In fact, if handled well, it can be the spark that helps teams grow stronger. At The Personnel Perspective, we’ve spent decades helping organizations navigate these tricky situations. Through leadership development training in Sonoma County and leadership training in Napa County, plus hands-on conflict resolution and facilitation, we’ve seen firsthand how teams can bounce back, even stronger than before. So, let’s dive into what really works when it comes to handling con

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

With no and low-alcohol categories on the rise and the sober-curious boogeyman around every corner, we needn’t wait for rock bottom to take a hard look at our sales strategy and make a change today.  While much of the wine & spirits industry points the finger at Gen Z & Millennials, the World Health Organization or the Surgeon General, the truth is there’s only one entity responsible for the trajectory of our revenue.  According to Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin in Extreme Ownership, when “problems feel overwhelming and insurmountable . . . it’s our human nature to shift blame, find excuses, and avoid consequences. But taking ownership over what went wrong and accepting the reality of the situation gives you complete control over how you can solve these challenges.” Trying to sell alcohol in 2025 is tough. Plain and simple, no way around it. With that acknowledged, let’s explore what we can do about it.   A Sign of

POTASSIUM POLYASPARTATE (ZENITH) DECLARED CODEX ADDITIVE  At the latest Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting held in Geneva, potassium polyaspartate (ZENITH), was officially declared a Codex additive. This decision represents a major breakthrough for the wine industry that simplifies and facilitates export possibilities for wines treated with ZENITH. What is Codex Alimentarius? Codex Alimentarius is a collection of standards, guidelines, regulations, and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by FAO and WHO in 1963. The Commission aims to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. All Codex Alimentarius countries agree that Codex additives are considered food safe. The scientific recommendations negotiated by members cover all aspects of food safety and quality, becoming a reference in World Trade Organization (WTO) trade disputes. Although these recommendations are voluntary, Codex Alimentarius standards are increasing