U.S. wine direct-to-consumer sales continue to climb even as pandemic lessens
Bill Swindell, The Press Democrat (MCT) Changes in the wine industry ushered in as a result of the pandemic are here to stay, especially the trend of consumers ordering more wine online, according to an industry panel assembled Thursday at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Direct-to-consumer wine shipments in the United States reached ...
Farm Bureau: California winegrape harvest up slightly from 2020
Source: Ag Alert / California Farm Bureau Federation Between wildfire smoke and the drought, California winegrape growers have been having a rough couple of years. Too much smoke during the 2020 fire season led to a wave of smoke-exposure rejections from wineries, while 2021's drought and heat led to thirsty ...
Oregon’s McMinnville Wine Classic Set for Jan. 8
Based about an hour from Portland, Oregon, the McMinnville Wine & Food Classic will hold its annual wine contest on January 8, 2022. In its 29th year, the competition is open to all Oregon wineries and has recently announced a list of expert wine judges from across the industry. “The ...
Wining and dining this holiday season, courtesy of the mid-Willamette Valley
Joanna Mann, Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore. (MCT) People are setting their tables and loosening up their belts in preparation for holiday dinners — turkey, the Christmas goose, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and, most importantly, wine. Those who live in the mid-Willamette Valley are lucky enough to have some of the ...
Longtime Winemaker Donald Patz Talks Business, Wine and Life
Since arriving in California in the early 1980’s, Donald Patz has worn many hats in the wine industry. From starting in sales at Flora Springs Winery to being a founding partner at Patz & Hall Winery, Patz has endured the ups and downs of the wine business. After selling Patz ...
9 cookbook gift ideas for the foodies on your holiday list
Anne Valdespino, The Orange County Register (MCT) How did the holidays get here so fast? If you're getting ready to jet out to the mall, just pivot. Shop online after perusing our list of best new cookbooks to give as gifts. A bumper crop of wonderful collections loaded with beautiful ...
Supply shortages strike Walla Wallla Valley wineries
Hector del Castillo, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Wash. (MCT) A lot of the latest vintage being made at Walla Walla Valley wineries this year might still be sitting in tanks or had been delayed for several weeks due to widespread supply shortages that have hit the wine industry everywhere. The lack ...
The only advice you need for Thanksgiving wine shopping this year
Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle (MCT) I got back from vacation this week to find that San Francisco had transitioned into a new season. The air was chillier, the daylight much shorter. Even if the trees in my neighborhood remain stubbornly green, it nevertheless feels like fall. This time of ...
Creating and Implementing an Affiliate Program
An affiliate program is a great way to allow your existing customers, who we’ll call “friends and family” to become part of your sales team. It works by offering incentives, cash or credit to people who encourage their friends and followers to purchase your wines. There are multiple ways to facilitate ...
Webinar: Navigating Tied House Law and Best Practices In Wine Marketing
CraftWine.org hosted a webinar on navigating Tied House Law and best practices in wine marketing on July 2, 2020. Watch it to learn about the three-tiered system and how to navigate Tied Laws which date back to the prohibition era. See the slide deck here. Watch the video below: ...