Rising fuel prices compound market hesitancy The sluggishness of activity on the bulk wine market globally since the turn of the year continued through March into early April, with hesitancy compounded by a rise in fuel prices – by approximately 30%+ in most countries – as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East. Prices spiked amid the Southern Hemisphere harvests, directly impacting the picking of at least one: this month’s report provides the latest insights from the vineyards. As this month’s California page states, the Iran war is likely to compound some pre-existing consumer pessimism, “with upward pressure on fuel costs exacerbating the reduced spending power consumers have possessed since the 2021-23 post-pandemic inflation spike. Unlike in previous eras when there has been economic misfortune, consumers are pessimistic about the long term – not just the short or medium term – and could curb spending accordingly”. Not wha

We are certainly living in different times—times that are difficult to predict and even harder to plan for. Challenges originating far outside our professional world are quickly impacting our day-to-day operations and, ultimately, your business. Throughout 2026, suppliers across the industry have faced significant disruption, and those challenges have inevitably flowed downstream to our valued wine and spirits customers. While none of us welcome this level of uncertainty, it is also not entirely unexpected given the global environment we’re operating in. Recently, the Wine Industry Network published a timely and insightful article that underscores the importance of preparation. The message is clear: we must plan ahead, secure what we can, and remain ready for continued volatility. Duties, tariffs, currency fluctuations, transportation challenges, and unexpected fees are all contributing to rising costs—and the reality is, no one can predict what will come next. What

An exceptionally small 2025 grape harvest would help balance wine inventories and potentially stimulate grape demand next year There wasn’t much change in the complexion of the wine market in the third quarter. Sales continued to decline across channels and price points, though at varying rates. Some segments improved while others worsened. Wine exports continued to flag because of provincial bans in Canada.  I continue to believe the slump is mainly structural, particularly at the lower end of the market (see Page 3). But I also believe economic factors such as inflation and depressed consumer sentiment have played a role, and I expect wine sales to firm up once the economic backdrop improves. Unfortunately, we aren’t expecting much change in the economy, for better or worse, in the months ahead, so the wine market isn’t likely to see much improvement either.  2025 was a painful year for California grape growers. Weather was an issue, but the grape market p

For more than 20 years, Activ8 Commerce has built technology specifically for wineries — and we’re proud to share our latest update. In every tasting room, the moments that matter most happen at the counter — or wherever a guest decides they’re ready to buy. The challenge is making sure your team can meet that moment quickly, without waiting on hardware or wrestling with terminals. Across the industry, the wineries seeing the strongest DTC results this year have focused on a few core operational shifts: 1️⃣ Reduce friction at checkout Guests expect fast, smooth transactions. Long lines or “sorry, this reader is stuck again” moments absolutely impact sales. Tap-to-pay with credit cards — especially when available on mobile devices — helps teams stay fluid and attentive. 2️⃣ Make hardware flexible and affordable Tasting rooms aren’t built like retail stores. Stations need to move. Staff shift positions. Outdoor service expands and co

HOBO Data Loggers receives “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Awards Program for the HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network Annual awards program recognizes innovation in agricultural & food technologies around the globe BOURNE, Mass., – HOBO Data Loggers, a LI-COR® brand and leading manufacturer known for accurate and reliable data loggers, today announced it has been awarded “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in the 5th annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets today. The HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network delivers cost-effective, distributed, wireless, and scalable in-field crop monitoring. Designed to empower growers with real-time environmental data for improved decision-making, HOBOnet provides precise, site-specific insights

Ranch Systems, a California-based leader in agricultural and environmental monitoring, continues to advance connected solutions for vineyard operations. From weather and irrigation control to soil and water data collection, Ranch Systems’ technology helps growers turn field conditions into actionable insights. At this year’s WIN Expo, Ranch Systems will showcase the RS10 Bluetooth® Transmitter & Data Logger, part of the new RanchDL™ line. The RS10 captures data directly from the field using Bluetooth® Low Energy connectivity — no gateway or cellular plan required. Designed for flexibility, it supports a wide range of sensors and applications, providing a simple, reliable way to log and access data through the myRanch™ mobile app. The Ranch Systems team will be available to discuss how the RS10 and the company’s full suite of telemetry and automation tools can help streamline vineyard monitoring and improve decision-making from the ground

Until now, getting reliable weather and soil data meant installing and maintaining a physical weather station, or relying on generic, imprecise forecasts. Verdi Weather changes that. This new feature gives you hyper-local weather data, right inside your Verdi dashboard. Powered by Precip, it puts actionable insights exactly where growers make irrigation decisions. Why We Built It Every week, growers make irrigation decisions that directly affect yield, quality, and costs. But too often, those decisions rely on assumptions, not field-specific data. “Knowing how much rain fell yesterday, last week, or across the whole season changes everything,” says Nart Barileva, Verdi’s Head of Data. “Precip’s data fills that gap instantly.”With Verdi Weather, there’s no hardware to buy or maintain. It’s already embedded in your dashboard, and the data is specific to your farm. What You Can See When you open the Verdi Dashboard, click the new Weather bu

As harvest winds down, irrigation often slips from top of mind, but post-harvest is one of the most important times to understand how vines use water. After the fruit is gone, the focus shifts below ground. Roots continue to grow and store carbohydrates that fuel next year’s crop, and that process depends on balanced soil moisture. Monitoring water data after harvest helps growers protect root health, avoid stress, and prepare for pruning and dormancy. When soil dries too quickly or irrigation is inconsistent, vines may shut down early, limiting their energy reserves for the following season. On the other hand, overwatering at this stage can cause unnecessary nutrient leaching and wasted resources. With technology like WiseConn, growers can track real-time soil moisture, flow, and valve performance across the vineyard, even when field activity slows. These insights make it easier to maintain optimal conditions through post-harvest irrigation and decide when to reduce water with

In today’s wine industry, running lean has become the norm. Wineries are navigating tighter margins, shifting consumer demand, and limited resources all while trying to maintain the exceptional service their customers expect. In a market where every shipment counts, having the right fulfillment partner is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity. At WineDirect Fulfillment, we understand the pressure to do more with less. That’s why we’ve built our operations and tools to support your business through every challenge, helping you protect your brand, deliver a top-tier customer experience, and keep things running smoothly. Choosing the Right Partner  When you're operating with a smaller team and fewer resources, there’s no room for error. Delays in shipping, inventory mishaps, or damaged wine can quickly erode customer trust and impact your brand’s reputation. And with limited time to chase down support or resolve issues, wineries need a par

After a challenging 2024 harvest—the smallest in two decades—California wine growers are entering 2025 with cautious optimism, but also hard questions: How do you maximize yield, protect quality, and safeguard profits in a market still reeling from oversupply, economic pressure, and climate volatility? Growers who thrive this year will be the ones leaning on smarter, data-driven solutions to plan ahead, monitor operations in real time, and respond quickly when conditions change. 2025 Outlook: Smart Planning is Critical Looking ahead, stable weather patterns and healthy vines suggest a potential rebound in yield and quality. But uncertainty persists: global wine consumption has not fully recovered, and unsold inventory remains a real concern. Growers who proactively track operations, anticipate risks, and make informed decisions will be the ones best positioned to weather the storm. How AgCode Helps Growers Turn Insight Into Action AgCode’s software equips wine grower