In March 2026, the TTB issued guidance on the use of AI-generated imagery in alcohol beverage advertising (read it here). The short version: AI-generated images used in alcohol marketing must comply with existing labeling and advertising regulations, including accurate representation of the product. This sounds obvious. But there's a nuance worth understanding if you're choosing how to produce your product imagery this year. The guidance applies broadly to any imagery categorized as AI-generated. The practical question it raises is how closely your vendor's process is anchored to your actual product. There's a meaningful difference between two approaches. A tool that generates a "wine bottle" from a text prompt or a rough photo produces something invented. A plausible bottle, not a representation of your real label, your specific closure, or your actual container. Whether it looks convincing is a separate question from whether it accurately represents your pro

Facebook/Meta: Turning Fans into Wine Club Members Expanding on insights from our Wine Club Scorecard, this post explores one of the most underused yet powerful tools for wine club growth: Facebook. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram often grab attention, Facebook remains one of the most effective drivers of wine club engagement and conversion when paired with Meta’s advanced targeting and advertising tools. With 72% of wine consumers aged 35–65 actively using Facebook, this is not just a social network—it’s an opportunity to build real relationships, deepen loyalty, and guide new members into your wine club. Yet most wineries still treat Facebook as a newsfeed instead of a growth engine. Sporadic posts, static bottle shots, and low engagement can’t compete with a thoughtful strategy that uses Facebook the way it was meant to be used: to connect, converse, and convert. Let’s explore how to turn Facebook into a true wine club acquisition chann

Join us tomorrow for eCELLAR's The Pulse Presents:  AI in Action – Tools, Tips, and What’s Next with Andreas Mueller-Schubert Event Date: 10/01/2025 @ 9AM Location: Zoom webinar RSVP Discover practical AI tips and tools for everyday business success with Andreas Mueller-Schubert AI is not just coming - it’s already here, reshaping how we all work and make decisions. In this practical and conversational eCELLAR's The Pulse session, AI expert Andreas Mueller-Schubert will explore how AI is transforming businesses of all sizes, especially in areas like marketing, operations, and team productivity. We’ll talk about the opportunities (and challenges), tools that are actually useful today, and what it means to stay competitive in a world where the edge goes to those who use AI well. No jargon, no hype, just a real conversation with someone who’s helping businesses make AI work for them. Andreas Mueller-Schubert is Managing Partner at WSI Next Gen

Discover practical AI tips and tools for everyday business success with Andreas Mueller-Schubert AI is not just coming - it’s already here, reshaping how we all work and make decisions. In this practical and conversational eCELLAR's The Pulse session, AI expert Andreas Mueller-Schubert will explore how AI is transforming businesses of all sizes, especially in areas like marketing, operations, and team productivity. We’ll talk about the opportunities (and challenges), tools that are actually useful today, and what it means to stay competitive in a world where the edge goes to those who use AI well. No jargon, no hype, just a real conversation with someone who’s helping businesses make AI work for them. Andreas Mueller-Schubert is Managing Partner at WSI Next Gen Marketing, a Napa-based digital agency that works closely with many local wineries and small businesses. With past leadership roles at Microsoft and Siemens, Andreas brings a strong background in global te

Gifters! Let’s talk about this segment of your DTC database, who purchase wine as gifts for others — including family, friends, co-workers, colleagues and clients. Gifters “gift” year-round, but we’re heading into the heaviest (holiday) season of all for this particular kind of wine DTC behavior. On average, between 10 and 15% of all November wine DTC orders, and between 20% and 25% of all December wine DTC orders, are GIFTS? Which means that October-November-December is an ideal time to focus on gifters, and finish your year strong. Some of you are ahead of the curve, and factor your outreach to gifters into your annual marketing plan. That’s awesome. If you’re new to thinking about your winery’s gifters, or even if you’d like to polish the program a bit, let me share a few tips that we hope will help. Identify high-value corporate gifters in your own database. Narrow your database to those customers who have placed a high volume

By the Copper Peak TeamThe OND (holiday) season is fast approaching, and now is the time to lay the groundwork for a smooth, successful holiday shipping experience. At Copper Peak Logistics, our shipping experts have shared their top strategies to help wineries and DTC brands get ahead—before the rush begins. Amanda Castorena and Mike Galvan have pulled together some tips and a checklist to help you stay on track! 1. Finalize Gifting and Kitting Plans Early Corporate gifting and seasonal kits are high-impact, but they require extra components like branded packaging, glassware, and printed collateral. Ordering these items now ensures you won’t face delays later when demand spikes. 2. Lock in Your Shipping Calendar Submit club setup forms and finalize ship dates for the rest of the year. Mondays are already filling up, and blackout dates are creeping in. Build in extra transit time to account for seasonal delays and avoid last-minute surprises. 3. Refresh Your Marketing Mater

Get ready for the holiday season with this comprehensive session! Join Michelle Ewart of ME Creative (Napa, CA) and the Vinoshipper team for essential marketing strategies and platform optimization tips. We'll cover holiday marketing best practices, plus crucial Vinoshipper setup items like cart functionality, creating compelling multi-packs and gift options, organizing your product catalog for maximum impact, and streamlining batch gift orders. Walk away with a complete roadmap for a successful holiday season.  Aug 28, 2025 10:00 am PT Register Now

9 proven strategies to maximize Your October, November, December revenue  October, November, and December (OND) are the biggest sales months of the year for your business, and if done right, not just for short-term gains. This is your prime window to capture new customers, increase average order value, and build relationships that carry into the new year.  For many beverage alcohol businesses, OND can represent 30–40% of annual sales. The reason? Peak holiday spending meets perfect timing, gatherings, corporate gifting, and a growing preference for wine purchases create a massive opportunity.  The businesses that win the season don’t just survive the rush, they plan ahead, market smart, and execute flawlessly.  1. Start early and build holiday momentum While many of the sales will take place in OND, August and September are nearly the most important months as this is when your planning and preparations take place.  Suggested timeline:  August:

Join wine industry icon Karen MacNeil, RedChirp co-founder Jennie Gilbert, and Laurelle Turner-Clemons from Hess Persson Estates for a practical, idea-packed webinar to help you promote and sell your wine using the Come Over October campaign for creative traction.  Co-created by Karen, Kimberly Noelle Charles, and Gino Colangelo, the Come Over October campaign is focused on telling the positive story about wine by celebrating togetherness, connection, and hospitality. The campaign has experienced extraordinary success thus far—reaching nearly 2 billion media impressions in its first year. In this session, we’ll highlight how your winery can easily participate, benefit, and be a part of Come Over October this fall.  You’ll get proven text message marketing strategies, ready-to-use SMS campaigns, and expert tips to drive traffic and boost sales, all tailored to the Come Over October theme. Whether you're joining for the first time or returning for ano

Turning Summer Visitors into Long-Term Customers How to make sure they come for the pour and stay for the story Summer is finally here, and tasting rooms are buzzing with sunhats, selfie sticks, and road-trippers on the hunt for their next favorite wine. The influx is real: tasting room visitation peaks between May and September, with over 45% of annual winery visitors arriving in Q2 and Q3, according to data from the Silicon Valley Bank State of the Wine Industry Report. But here’s the challenge: for many of these guests, the experience ends with the last pour. One weekend, one flight, one forgotten name. So how do you turn that quick hello into a lasting relationship? The secret isn’t more marketing noise—it’s thoughtful connection. Think of your summer surge as the top of a funnel. If you treat each guest like a one-time transaction, you’re throwing away the most valuable part of that funnel: the chance to turn casual tasters into year-round customers