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

As summer 2025 approaches, California is bracing for an exceptionally hot season. Extreme heat doesn’t just affect comfort - it directly impacts productivity. In fact, studies show that temperatures above 91°F (33°C) can reduce productivity by up to 50% in physically demanding jobs. With above-average temperatures forecasted and the potential for record-breaking heat in July and August, now is the time to prepare. Stay Ahead with Peregrine Commercial Tent Rentals  LIMITED AVAILABILITY – RESERVE YOUR TENTS TODAY!  Our tents offer:  Complete coverage for your bottling lines, protecting your equipment and packaging from moisture or intense summer heat.  Optional sidewalls to block wind, rain, and scorching sun - ensuring a safe and dry workspace for your team.  LED lighting, perfect for nighttime or extended bottling shifts, so you can keep working no matter the weather. Our commercial tent rentals come in various sizes: 10’ (W) x

Introduction: Raising the Bar for Quality and Efficiency in Winemaking In today’s competitive wine industry, producing a high-quality product is no longer optional - it’s essential. Wineries of all sizes are constantly looking for ways to optimize their processes and improve quality. With Pall Crossflow Filtration, KH Tec Gas Management and Krones / Kosme Bottling Equipment, Peregrine is at the forefront of technology. In today’s report we want to focus on the critical area that often gets overlooked: filtration. At Peregrine Mobile Bottling, we believe the right filtration technology operated by an experienced technician can be a game-changer. That’s why we’ve invested in the latest crossflow filtration systems to ensure your wines maintain their integrity, clarity, and taste from tank to bottle. In this article, we’ll explore the transformative power of crossflow filtration technology and how our services can help wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Mendoci

National Storage Tank began in the Napa Valley, Our roots are in wine, and they are deep, we served the needs of the Wine Industry in Napa & Sonoma Counties for years before we began to branch out into other industries. Behind all the prestige and panache involved in the Wine Industry, there are two things we always keep in mind; Agriculture and Manufacturing. We never forget neither the farmers nor the vintners, and from field to press and have been facilitating both for a long time.  Water Storage Tanks Irrigation is essential, water on demand for crops, and frost prevention. Our tanks come in a wide variety of gallon capacities from 5,000 to 5 million and can be fitted with outlets of any size for maximum water draw, anti-vortex systems are second nature to us as well. Your crop needs a consistent and reliable water source because grapes grow and the weather changes often so vineyards have to be ready at a moment’s notice. Our Corrugated Bolted Steel Tanks have

Registration Now Open for the Final 2024 Growing Forward Virtual Conference Series

Last Session to Focus on How the New Fire and Smoke Crop Insurance Endorsement Helps Grape Growers Manage Their Risk Exposure Healdsburg, CA (November 21,

In partnership with the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, ETS Laboratories has been building a database of grape samples to help growers and winemakers better understand smoke impacts on winegrapes, work with insurance companies to protect their assets, and create individual baselines for the varieties in their vineyards. Since the program launched in 2021, this effort has helped to inform the global methodology around smoke taint testing. Following the catastrophic wildfires of 2020, the winegrowing community expressed interest in an extended list of analytical markers of smoke exposure, however two challenges were identified. The first challenge was with a class of markers known as “glycosylated” or “bound” compounds. Until the Fall of 2020, reference standards were not available for these types of compounds, and there was not consensus between specialists about which ones to measure.  ETS Laboratories worked with the Wine Institute Technical Committee, the Austr

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

With the start of the new year, 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 have either already gone into effect or will in early 2023. 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 2022.  So, if you need a handbook/COVID-19 policy review or have any questions, please call. 1. California and Local Minimum Wage Raised – In addition to the gradual increase to minimum wage that has been in effect under California law, several Sonoma County cities have increased minimum wage beyond that required by the state. Below is a table that describes the state and local city requirements: Locality Effective Date Employers With 26 Or More Employees Employers With Less Than 26 Employees California 1/1/2023 $15.5

WIN’s latest Growing Forward webinar will prepare winegrowers to make more informed decisions in the event their vineyards are impacted by fire and/or smoke.

Afternoon Brief, July 28th

Growing Forward Recap: Preparing for the Risk Factors of Smoke & Fire Exposure: On July 27, 2022, Wine Industry Network hosted its most recent Growing Forward webinar, this time focusing on wildfire smoke in the vineyards — and its effect on the resulting wines. It’s a hard topic to accept and address, but one that becomes integral to the industry’s forward progress...