We’re not debating calories or whether that charcuterie board counts as an appetizer or dinner. We're talking about the IRS tightening the rules for deductible meals.  Starting January 1, 2026, some winery meals that have historically been deductible will become completely nondeductible. Same harvest crew. Same pizza. Different tax result. Here is what changes and what does not. 1. Harvest Meals on Winery Premises Zero Deduction Beginning in 2026 If you provide meals at the winery so employees can keep working, those meals will no longer be deductible starting in 2026. That includes: Crush pad dinners Bottling day lunches Late night production meals served on site For years these were deductible. Beginning in 2026, they are not. If harvest meals are a routine part of your operations, this is worth budgeting for now. 2. Occasional Overtime Meal Reimbursements Possibly Still 50 Percent Deductible If an employee unexpectedly works late and you reimburse them for dinner, tha

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

Adirondack Winery in Queensbury, NY, is seeking a new Winemaker. As the Winemaker, you will be directly involved in and supervising the production of 18,000+ cases of locally handcrafted and award-winning wines. Click Here to Learn More

Hazy Mountain Vineyards and Winery in Afton, Virginia, within the Monticello AVA, is hiring a new position for their winemaking team, Associate Winemaker.  Click Here to Learn More 

The wine industry’s innovation journey to solve winemaking issues begins with partnerships The impact of wildfires on grapes, wine and the bottom line is a steadily growing worry for the West Coast wine industry. Recent heavy winter rains are refilling reservoirs and aquifers, which will help alleviate, but not eliminate, wildfire risk. On the other hand, there will be more “dry grass” — the perfect fuel for wildfires to propagate. “Unfortunately, It’s very difficult to predict wildfires, and when they happen, one of the biggest problems is smoke taint in the wine, especially in California, Oregon, and Washington,” says Antonino Li Brizzi, CEO of Della Toffola USA, which serves the wine community. “Even half an hour of contact with the smoke caused by wildfires can be enough to contaminate the grape and the wine, making it unpleasant or frequently unsellable. Some of our customers have faced the risk of losing a vintage, which would impac

Vinify Wine Services is seeking multiple cellar workers for the upcoming harvest season. At Vinify we make wine in small lots and with great attention to detail. This position is hands-on and physically demanding. Vinify provides an exciting opportunity to work with many different grape varieties and a variety of winemakers and their different styles, all in a single harvest.  For more details and apply here: https://www.wineindustry.jobs/jobs/121269303-harvest-cellar-work-a-unique-opportunity-at-vinify-wine-services

Head Winemaker/Director Winemaking at Firstleaf (Napa, CA, USA)

you ever wanted to disrupt a $70bn industry and be a key member of a direct to consumer wine club? Do you fancy a deep-dive into the intricate...