Marketing budgets may be getting leaner but visitor expectations sure are not. One of the smartest moves a winery can make isn't a bigger spend: it's a shared one. Pooling resources with neighboring wineries doesn't dilute your brand. It amplifies it, elevates your entire area as a destination, and gives visitors a richer experience that keeps them coming back. At HipMaps we create custom-designed maps with an app that help wineries amplify their marketing, enhance the visitor experience, and easily refer business to each other in a unique and engaging way. Here's how it works: a group of wineries — whether a formal association like Alexander Valley Winegrowers or an informal collection of neighbors — pools together to create one beautiful, branded map featuring all of their locations, in the style and branding that reflects their area. Hear from HipMaps Founder Rachel LeRoy, see examples of how Alexander Valley Winegrowers and others are utilizing their Hip

Alexander Valley, CA — April 2026 — This April, Alexander Valley Winegrowers invite wine lovers—both new and experienced—to slow down, sip freely, and reconnect with the heart of wine country during TASTE Alexander Valley: Back to Our Roots, a month-long celebration of wine, hospitality, and genuine connection.  Running throughout the entire month of April, TASTE Alexander Valley offers a rare opportunity to experience the region without the usual barriers of tasting fees. Participating wineries will provide complimentary tastings, welcoming guests to explore at their own pace while engaging directly with the growers, winemakers, and owners who define Alexander Valley.  “TASTE Alexander Valley is about removing the barriers that often keep people from exploring wine,” said Jessie Vallery, Executive Director of Alexander Valley Winegrowers. “Whether you’re just starting to learn about wine, or you love tasting but are tired

HipMaps and the Direct To Consumer Wine Symposium teamed up to enhance the attendee experience at the upcoming 2026 DTC Wine Symposium in Monterey, California from January 20th to 22nd. The Wine Symposium HipMap features hand-selected local favorites: hot spots and hidden gems recommended by Monterey locals. Symposium attendees can explore the best of Monterey by downloading the HipMaps app and entering access code DTCWS to see their real-time location on the map, read the inside scoop about each place, learn who is offering discounts to DTC Wine Symposium attendees, access websites, and get directions. HipMaps Founder Rachel LeRoy will be onsite in the DTC Wine Symposium tradeshow where attendees can enter to win a free HipMap. Learn more here. How HipMaps Serves the Wine Industry HipMaps helps wineries and wine associations in two distinct ways: Custom Vineyard Maps designed for tasting rooms and marketing materials showcase a winery's vineyards, AVAs, terrain and wine story, c

WHY: We believe a rising tide lifts all boats and that the wine industry deserves strong leaders, healthy teams, DTC mastery and winery success. HOW: We serve by continually raising the bar for professionalism and leadership in the wine industry. We provide opportunities for experiential learning that changes behavior. WHAT: We are wine industry leaders in professional development, focused on both DTC & General Leadership. We provide Relevant Classes, Mystery Shopping, Coaching, Consulting and Cabinet Programs. At WISE, we offer a variety of courses, workshops, and coaching that are interactive and hands-on to help enhance your skills and advance your career. Courses are designed to deliver take-home value using real-life, relevant examples through a combination of lecture, group exercises, and role play, these classes build on existing skills and teach best practices for meeting the demands of today’s changing DTC marketplace. Courses are live – offered in-person

This April, we’re going Back to Basics, Back to Our Roots — welcoming you to experience Alexander Valley the way it’s meant to be enjoyed. This April, the Alexander Valley Winegrowers invite you to return to the heart of wine country with TASTE Alexander Valley – Back to Basics, Back to Our Roots, a month-long celebration of wine, hospitality, and connection. No appointments needed, just show up, and try something new! For the entire month of April, participating wineries will offer complimentary tastings or exclusive 2-for-1 tasting experiences, along with 10% off wine purchases. It’s an invitation to explore wineries you’ve never visited, meet the winemakers and growers, and reconnect with the joy of sharing a glass of wine — without the barrier of traditional tasting fees. Our “Back to Basics, Back to Our Roots” approach focuses on what makes Alexander Valley special: genuine hospitality, open conversations, and wo

HipMaps and Alexander Valley Winegrowers (AVWG) have collaborated to bring AVWG's 40-year legacy to life through a custom-designed HipMap and interactive app experience! A Community Built on Family and Tradition Located in northeastern Sonoma County just north of Healdsburg, California, the Alexander Valley is home to 33 wineries and 77 winegrowers, many of them family operations with generations of history in the valley. It's a community where tradition, collaboration, and world-class winemaking go hand in hand. The Alexander Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and HipMaps provides a modern tool that helps visitors truly experience and understand this magnificent valley. The AVWG HipMap showcases the valley's diverse terrain, from vineyards on the valley floor along the beautiful Russian River to those nestled in the Mayacama Mountains. The interactive app lets visitors see their real-time location on the custom-branded map, learn a

Over the past few years, wineries have seen tasting room visits decline as consumer habits shift. With more options than ever, visitors are looking for something special—experiences that go beyond just sampling wine. For many wineries, this means rethinking how they engage guests and creating a place people want to come back to. This guide explores how wineries across the country are turning their tasting rooms into destinations—balancing local charm, modern convenience, and genuine hospitality. Create Unique, Social Experiences In today’s market, wineries that stand out provide more than just a tasting—they create memorable, shareable experiences that make guests want to stay longer and come back. Enhancing the Atmosphere with Music: Music adds energy and can make an ordinary tasting feel like an event. Hosting live music, whether it’s a local band or acoustic performer, brings people together and keeps them engaged. Many wineries schedule music on weeke

We're making it easier than ever for winery associations, informal groups of wineries and winery partners to collaborate on a sophisticated marketing tool that works 24/7 for years to come! Our Harvest Special offers the best value we've ever provided so maximize your marketing budget with a collaborative HipMap! What You Get With Our Harvest Special ✓ 10% discount - Custom HipMap is normally $1,999, now $1,799. ✓ Unlimited app uses for the entire first year (normally $100 to $1,000 extra). ✓ Flexible timeline – purchase before October 1st but start designing when you're ready. When shared among 20 participating wineries, that breaks down to just $90 per winery in year one with no additional charges. See It In Action Want to see exactly what your $90 investment creates? Watch this 3.5-minute video as HipMaps Founder Rachel LeRoy shares examples of HipMaps designs and demonstrates the features of HipMaps interactive app that the younger generations especially lov

Picture this: 20 wineries each contribute $100 and collectively receive a sophisticated marketing tool that works 24/7 for years to come, referring business to each other, marketing their area, and creating memorable experiences for visitors. With HipMaps' Harvest Special it's even easier for groups of winery partners like yours to maximize your marketing budget with a collaborative HipMap! The Math That Makes Sense With HipMaps' Harvest Special*, your group receives a 10% discount on a custom HipMap, bringing the normal $1,999 price down to $1,799. AND you receive unlimited HipMaps app uses for the first year! When shared among 20 participating wineries, that breaks down to just $90 per winery in year one with no additional charges. After the first year, HipMaps app hosting ranges from $100 to $1,000 annually depending on usage, meaning each of your 20 wineries would contribute between $5 and $50 per year for ongoing hosting – still less than most wineries spend on a

The clink of glasses, the warmth of late afternoon sun across the vines—these are the moments that define a winery. But digital marketers can get stuck in the rut of Facebook posts and Instagram stories that have become repetitive and rote. How do you translate the sensory magic of a tasting room into strategies that make visitors show up in person? Take a look at some marketing channels that are not as used by wineries, where old-school storytelling and next-gen tech converge to give you a competitive edge. Connected TV: Your Vineyard in 4K Another banner ad, another still photo, another yawn. Sometimes the channel itself can leave you feeling confined to content that lacks vitality. If you’re facing that, and you’ve got the budget, think about going big on video and distributing it via Connected TV.. Connected TV (CTV) lets you beam the romance of your winery directly into living rooms, framed by the cinematic power of streaming. Think smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV&