Imagine your VP of Sales announcing they’ve ditched CRM for a Rolodex. Or your finance director saying Excel is too modern, so they’re switching to chalkboard.  And yet, here we are — 2025 — squinting at billbacks for hours on end and sending reps to visit every retail account like the entire industry is running for sheriff. Automation isn’t new, but for the wine & spirits world, it might as well be black magic. We love to talk about efficiency, scaling, and modernizing — right up until someone proposes replacing busywork with bots. Suddenly, it’s “But our rep relationships!” or “This is how we’ve always done it.” As if nostalgia for manual labor is part of our brand identity. Let’s get one thing straight: no one’s asking you to hand your label design to Midjourney or let ChatGPT pick your clones. We’re talking about automating the parts of your business that drain time, w

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

January 8, 2026  FireHawk® Bioherbicide made its first appearance at the North Coast Wine Industry Expo on December 3 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, joining wine industry professionals from across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties for a full day of conversation and connection.   As a first-time exhibitor, FireHawk attended the WIN Expo with a simple goal: to listen, learn, and better understand the priorities shaping vineyard and grower decision-making across the North Coast. At the booth, the team showcased FireHawk® Bioherbicide Super Concentrate, engaging growers and vineyard managers in discussions around contact weed control and application considerations.   Hosted by Wine Industry Network, WIN Expo continues to be a key gathering point for the region’s wine community, bringing together growers, vineyard managers, and industry partners through a robust trade show and educational program.   Throughout

Introduction Sometimes the biggest obstacle to growth isn’t a lack of leads, staff shortages, or supply chain issues — it’s the equipment on your production floor. If your labelling setup is no longer keeping up with demand, it could be quietly costing you time, money, and opportunities. Here are five clear signs your labelling system might be holding you back — and how you can fix it. 1. You’re Experiencing Frequent Downtime Every time your labeller stops, your entire production line stops. If you're dealing with breakdowns, misfeeds, or sensor issues more than once in a while, it's a sign that your machine isn’t coping — or wasn't built for your current output. What to Do: Look for systems designed for durability and high throughput. Impresstik machines are engineered to run reliably under pressure, with servicing and parts available locally. 2. Changeovers Are Costing You Hours If your team is spending more time switching betwe

Wine is so simple…and so complex.  It’s just fermented grape juice. But its magic—color, aroma, taste, and pure pleasure—depend on myriad factors like grape variety, region, vintage, sugar-acid-pH ratios, picking dates, winemaker decisions, and so much more. It’s a perfect blend of art and science, and one of life’s greatest pleasures. It’s also a source of 1,750,363 jobs, including nearly 50,000 in agriculture that are not even directly related to winery employment. In the Supplier category there are 41,551 agricultural jobs, and another 7,523 in the Induced category. The American wine industry is first and foremost a farming industry that could not exist without a large, skilled and dedicated labor force as well as the trellises, tractors, harvesters, and supplies needed to grow good grapes that make great wine at a reasonable price. There are 10,761 wine producers and 763,080 vineyard acres in the United States, and all 50 states produ

Buying used industrial equipment is common, and chillers are no exception. With potentially lower costs and faster availability, it can seem like a great deal. But is it the right move for your operation? Let’s walk through it together. The Refurbishment Process for Chillers Not all used industrial chillers are the same. Some are sold “as-is,” while others go through a refurbishment process. A properly refurbished chiller typically includes: A full inspection of key components (compressor, evaporator, condenser, controls) Replacement of worn parts (seals, gaskets, fans, etc.) Refrigerant recharge and leak testing Updated wiring and controls if needed Full performance test before shipping Here’s the difference: a used water chiller might have been sitting in a warehouse for years. A refurbished one has been cleaned, tested, and often upgraded by professionals – either from the original manufacturer or a qualified third party. Refurbishment isn’t a gu

What Are Labor Law Postings/Posters? Every employer should be familiar with labor law posting requirements. Postings are required Federal, State, or local regulations regarding employee rights under their employer. Various agencies issue labor law postings to ensure employees receive notice of their rights in the workplace or protocols they must follow. Some common topics in these postings are workplace safety, federal and state minimum wage laws, workplace conduct, and COVID-19 protocols. Depending on the industry or state your company is based in, new postings or the content of existing postings may be updated by their issuing department at any time and often at different intervals. Once their content changes or there is a new posting, employers must display them within specific grace periods to stay compliant. The Department of Labor (DOL) requires employers to display applicable postings at their place of business in an area frequented by all employees. Poster services condens

US’ Shamier Little passes on the baton to Bryce Deadmon in the mixed 4x400m relay heat at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP It began years ago, and every day, we have the chance to cross the finish line strong. How we got here is not by accident; rather, it is the result of vision, dedication, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It started years ago with a vision of a brand. The starting gun may have shot off generations ago, or perhaps it was more recent. Someone somewhere had the idea to set down roots and create a brand. Significant investment was made in the vineyard sources, the winery and production facility, and of course, in the tasting room. The vineyard crew has one of the hardest jobs in our industry. From being outside in the early pre-dawn hours in the cold to working in soaring temperatures during the heat of harvest, these crews show up and are rarely recognized. They face spiders, snakes, and yellow jackets that want to leave a mark. They