Shoppers’ sense of urgency around climate change is rising. 78% of global consumers feel that environmental sustainability is important, they like the idea of being sustainable, and want to live more sustainable lives (Simon Kucher & Partners, 2021). While many brands and retailers today are making eco-friendly claims, some chalk up to little more than greenwashing: a marketing ploy designed to make products seem more sustainable than they are. Because of this, consumers feel that they can’t always trust “green” claims. It’s more important than ever for sustainable brands like you to share your sustainable story in a meaningful and authentic way. Wondering what it means to share a story that consumers can trust? See an example in this week’s Marketing Tip, where we share Niner Wine Estates’ Sustainable Story surrounding the Value of Energy Efficiency.   Stacking Energy Savings Electricity use in the winery accounts for a la

Listen to this article! By acting environmentally and socially responsible today, we give future generations a healthy place to call home. The actions that you as an individual take have an impact. The summer months bring more staff and guests into tasting rooms across the country. Invite your whole team to join in your brand’s sustainability efforts when you practice these 5 Sustainable Tasting Room Habits. 5 Sustainable Tasting Room Habits   Tip #1: Conserve Simple actions like completely shutting off water faucets after use and notifying management of leaks help to conserve this limited resource. Turning lights and appliances off when not in use reduces electricity use. Although the commercial end-use energy sector uses the smallest amount of energy of the four sectors (transportation [36%], industrial [35%], residential [16%], commercial [13%]), the majority of the energy used comes from fossil fuels (EIA.gov, 2022). Small efforts in the workplace reduc

Your tasting room may be the most customer-facing facet of your wine business. This makes it the perfect setting to display your dedication to sustainability. Provide visual cues to let your guests know that the wine they sip is more than delicious – it’s environmentally and socially responsible. Get inspiration from this Marketing Tip to share your commitment with your guests in fun, decorative ways.   Sign Sustainably Communicate what your business values by using eye-catching signage. On a recent Team trip to Oso Libre, we could immediately see that they are passionate about sustainability. Their passion is seeded throughout every area of the tasting room. From sustainable signs posted on the fence line, to informational pieces hung inside, outside, and even in the restrooms, every wall has a message that connects guests what sustainability really means to Oso Libre.  Curious tasters are enticed by in-depth material that welcomes them to dig a littl

LISTEN IN Businesses are vital contributors to the communities they serve. Beyond stimulating the economy and creating jobs, many business owners go the extra mile by creating a meaningful philanthropy program. Their efforts profoundly impact facets of the community that need support the most. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies give businesses the opportunity to connect with community members, improve company culture, and cultivate consumer trust, all while doing good for causes they believe in. This week’s Marketing Tip tells the Sustainable Story of how Oso Libre

When asked to define the 3 P's of Sustainability (People, Planet, Prosperity), Prosperity is often the one gives people pause. But it's such an important leg of the stool! Sustainable businesses develop long-term plans and strategies to ensure they can thrive now and into the future. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. LISTEN IN Some of the ways businesses embody Prosperity are through: Creating and sticking to a budget. Keeping thorough records. Creating informed and effective marketing plans. A business can also extend their prosperity through collaborative efforts with like-minded groups. When this happens, bot

Beyond doing good for the environment and your community, your sustainably certified wine grapes differentiate your brand in today’s oversaturated wine market. But do you know how much of a value-driver your certification really is? Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. In this Marketing Tip, get insight into the significance of sustainably grown grapes in the larger market from Gregg Hibbits, who has nearly 30 years of experience selling wine grapes. Over the course of his career, he has experienced a shift in what his grape-buying clients are looking for. Keep reading for highlights from his interview on Episode #83 of the Sustainable

Since 2016, farmers, winemakers, and wine enthusiasts have listened to the latest science and research for the wine industry from the world's top experts and experienced growers via the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. In the time it takes to drive between vineyards, listeners enjoy technical episodes featuring expert discussions covering every aspect of wine business from microbes for soil health to designing a vineyard for sheep grazing, and from barrier sprays for smoke taint to using satellites to detect diseases. New technical interviews are released the first and third Thursday of the month. In 2022, Vineyard Team added Marketing Tip Mondays to the lineup of monthly releases. Searches for sustainable goods have increased globally by 71% since 2016. As consumer demand for sustainable wines grows, brands want to know how to communicate their good work in the marketplace. These under-five-minute micro podcasts released on the second and fourth Monday of the month give quic

The sustainable winegrowing community is growing! Its members are here because they believe in the cause. They value our planet and its human and natural resources. They know that through sustainable agriculture practices, we have the power to improve the health of the people and the planet now and into the future. There are a lot of buzzwords today surrounding eco-friendly production: Regenerative Sustainable Climate smart Carbon footprint Social equity Did you know that the sustainable winegrowing community touches all of these points?   1. Regenerative. From the block to the bottle, making wine is a science. Growers and vintners alike must understand and work with nature to make a quality product, and sustain their business for years to come. That’s why sustainable winegrowers use practices that protect and regenerate natural resources: Enhance soil health and biodiversity by planting cover crops and using compost and biochar. Support native wildlife species by preservin

Do you know where your food comes from? “Food disconnect” is a term used to describe the average consumers lack of knowledge about where their food comes from and how it’s made. When it comes to wine, most people only see the finished product: what’s in their glass. For sustainable wine brands, there’s yet another level to this disconnect: While consumers name food and beverage as one of the most important industries when it comes to sustainability, more than one in four US adults said they don't know what makes a product sustainable (Morning Consult, 2022). This introduces an opportunity for sustainable winegrowers and winemakers.   Sustainability Sells! After Kathy Kelley and her colleagues at Penn State University learned about the environmental benefits of using cover crops under grapevines, they wondered if promoting this sustainable practice could be part of a marketing strategy to sell more wine. When they tested this theory with

Marketing Tip Monday Water Management at Shale Oak Winery While consumers name food and beverage as one of the most important industries when it comes to sustainability, more than 1 in 4 US adults said they don't know what makes a product sustainable (2022 Morning Consult, What Sustainability Means to Consumers). There is a need for consumer education on sustainability, and this is a great opportunity for your brand! Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. You can help educate your customers by sharing specific things that your brand does to be sustainable. Build a bond over your mutual care for the health of the people and the planet!