Most wineries don’t have a promotion volume problem. They have a promotion design problem. When you look closely at wineries delivering strong margins alongside steady consumer sales growth, patterns start to appear. Not because those promotions are trendy or copied from competitors, but because they are intentionally designed to drive revenue while protecting long-term customer behavior and brand value. Modern promotion strategy is not about running more campaigns. It is about structuring incentives that influence how, when, and why customers buy. Across the strongest performing wineries, promotions are increasingly treated as part of the revenue model rather than just part of the marketing calendar. They shape demand, influence order composition, and support long-term customer value. Why Promotion Strategy Is Really Revenue Strategy Promotions are no longer just marketing tactics. They are one of the most controllable levers inside a winery’s DTC P&L. For most wineri

One standard marketing principle is “Don’t market to yourself.” In other words, just because a message or strategy makes sense to you, it does not mean it will resonate with your audience. We are human, and it is easy to fall into the trap of viewing the category, consumer, or competitive set in a way that may be informed but not relevant to the marketing challenge ahead. For instance, you may be considering Chardonnay as your competition, but consumers are making purchase decisions between your Chardonnay and all white wines on the shelf under $15. Talking directly to your customers is invaluable for confirming theories and aligning your messaging. Conducting research yourself—directly and intentionally—is often the most reliable way to avoid internal bias and align your strategy with actual consumer perspectives. One of the most accessible and common forms of primary research for wineries involves reaching out to their wine club members. Many wineries c

Summer winery marketing strategies are essential for staying competitive during travel season and warmer weather. As customer habits shift and traditional foot traffic slows, wineries must find new ways to stand out. The good news? With the right mix of creativity, personalization, and tech-driven tools, summer can be one of your most profitable seasons yet. Here are five innovative, customer-centric strategies to help your winery sell more and build deeper relationships this summer. 1. Rethink Summer Shipping: Flexibility Is the New Fast Wine and heat don’t mix. But neither do frustrated customers nor surprise shipping delays. In 2025, the most successful wineries are leaning into flexibility, clear communication, and smarter logistics to keep orders flowing and customers happy. 🔄 Give Customers Control Let your customers decide when and how they receive their wine. Integrate tools that allow post-purchase adjustments, like scheduling a fall delivery or choosing a local picku

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

‘Tis the season! Well, not quite, but for event and brand marketers, the time to think about holiday merch is upon us. I am delighted to share our 2024 Holiday Lookbook to inspire and guide you in choosing the top trending swag and promo items to dazzle your customers, prospects, and employees. How We Identified Top Trends: Our Methodology  My team reviewed hundreds of recent orders from top brands, particularly in our specialty industries: cybersecurity, entertainment, healthcare, tech, and wineries. We collected and featured the most popular items, plus a few hand-selected favorites we’re seeing this year that we’re super excited to share. While any promo items may be customized or expanded, these are the favorites we’re seeing companies use to activate their brands for the 2024 holiday season. Holiday Branded Merch Ideas and Inspo Leverage the 2024 Holiday Lookbook as a visual and conceptual guide to spark ideas and deliver tangible s

TikTok’s new U.S. policy now allows beverage-alcohol ads, creating fresh opportunities for beer, wine, and spirits brands—though strict guidelines ensure ads target legal-age audiences and promote responsible drinking. Read more to see how you can leverage TikTok advertising to grow your brand while remaining compliant. 📱TikTok’s New U.S. Beverage-Alcohol Advertising Guidelines As of August, TikTok’s updated advertising policy now permits the promotion of alcohol within the United States. This change marks a significant shift for brands in the beer, wine, and spirits industry, allowing them to reach TikTok’s vast and growing audience, provided they adhere to stringent guidelines. TikTok emphasizes that these changes are aligned with local laws and regulations, and its primary focus remains on protecting the interests of its users. According to the policy, alcohol advertisements on the platform must: Target the Right Audience: Ads should only be placed in

You want to elevate your event marketing campaigns with fresh, exciting materials that captivate and engage your target audience. You need unique branded merch, box kits, and swag bags to standout. But, where to start? Enter Almaden’s 2024 Event Lookbook. It may not solve all your problems, but it will strengthen the engagement at your next event! The State of Event Marketing Before we dive into the top trends that will help you this year, let’s get some context. Did you know that 63% of event marketing professionals predict that attendee numbers will return to pre-pandemic levels in the next one to two years. If you’re running events in 2024 and looking ahead to 2025, you’re in the right place. Perhaps more importantly, 80% of attendees say in-person events are the most trusted way to discover new products and services. Events empower marketers to connect with people one-on-one. Rarely, do marketers have the opportunity to speak directly with pro

The 2024 Olympics will take place in Paris, France, one of the most iconic wine regions in the world, and is a fantastic opportunity for wineries to boost sales and engage customers. With the event right around the corner, here are some fun and practical ways to make the most of this global spectacle. These tips will help you create both in-person and virtual experiences that can drive wine sales and create memorable interactions. 1. Host an Open Night Ceremony: “Open the Bottle Night” Align your event with the Olympic opening ceremony and invite your audience to open a special bottle of your wine. Use email campaigns and social media to spread the word. Encourage participants to share photos and videos on social media with a specific hashtag, such as #OpenTheBottleNight or #SipForGold. Organize a live virtual toast via Zoom or Instagram Live, inviting a local athlete or wine expert to lead the toast and share a few words about your wines and the 2024 Olympics. Enhance the

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

OND – these three letters have a BIG impact for wine industry professionals. October, November, December – the three busiest months of the year. The pursuit of annual sales targets, orchestration of corporate gifting initiatives, and the crafting of captivating events and strategic marketing endeavors to harness the holiday sales upswing—all of this can feel like a whirlwind of demands. If you find yourself yet to embark on OND preparations, feeling the pressure of catching up, or simply seeking a starting point, rest assured. Use this blog as your compass, we’re outlining 6 pivotal considerations for nailing a triumphant and fulfilling OND in 2023.  Assess Your Inventory  As we approach the last few months of the year, now is the perfect time to assess your inventory. Once you ask yourself the following questions, you can plan your marketing, wine club, customer appreciation, and corporate gifting initiatives accordingly.  Which SKUs are you l