Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ Post

My latest for WineBusiness.com covers the maze and scope of the new regulations as wineries grapple with how to comply with the bottle bill. In addition to California wineries, importers who sell in California and out of state wineries who sell to Californian wine club members, for example, are all required to report sales monthly and pay fees. And label the wines with CRV. It’s massive.

Episode 148 of The Marketing MadMen - Uncorking Success: The Art of Wine Marketing with Copper Cane Wines - is live now! Explore the sophisticated world of wine marketing with industry experts, Beth Nowak, CSW and Michael Smith. 🍷 Uncover the strategies that make Joe Wagner’s wines stand out and how the hospitality industry is evolving to meet modern demands. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gZKPkMXR #MarketingInsights #WineIndustry #CustomerExperience”

Learn directly from industry experts in a Q&A format about the challenges and opportunities wineries and wine brands face today for on-premise sales.

A reminder to wineries, starting January 1, 2024, there is a new California law, known as the Bottle Bill or CRV (California Redemption Value) Program, that affects wine sold within the state. This program introduces a redemption value and refund value for wine containers to encourage recycling. One of the most confusing points for smaller wineries is the difference in timing between when CRV collection begins vs when bottles need to be labeled. Tasting rooms and wineries must begin collecting CRV fees on 1/1/24 for all direct wine sales in California, even if they are not labeled with a CRV label yet. (The exceptions are wines consumed in tasting rooms/wineries, samples, wines sold through a distributor, and wines sold outside of CA.) Regarding Labeling, wineries have a little more time: - From January 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025, CRV labeling is optional.  - Wines bottled after January 1, 2024, and sold after July 2, 2025, must have a CRV label. - After July 2, 2025, all bottles sold must have a CRV label, except for containers filled and labeled before January 1, 2024. These are permanently exempt from labeling - although not exempt from fee collection. The Wine Institute has an excellent webpage for reference (https://lnkd.in/g6C7CwCe). We’ve also put together a document to help clarify the process with language to provide to your tasting room staff. (https://lnkd.in/g8jG8Ht5). Thanks to Wine Business Monthly for highlighting the program in today's addition. #CalRecycle #newlaw #BottleBill

“Making wine is the easy part” is a phrase that’s not entirely true, but it is certainly more challenging to bring a wine to market and sell it. The traditional path to making your own wine often takes over a decade—starting from a cellar hand, then assistant winemaker, to head winemaker, and finally going alone. It’s a long process that I imagine can knock out the creativity and enthusiasm of young talent. When I see someone like Dayton Charles, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t dive in right away. He’s got more exciting ideas than I’ve ever had. So, we’re giving him the chance to do just that—setting him loose in Livermore, California to craft a Cabernet Franc. After a few years, Not Yet Named has secured the licenses needed to import and sell alcohol in the UK, a sales platform, accounting software, established connections with top-class wineries, and developed the appetite (and ability) to take some risks. Hopefully, we've also gained a few loyal customers who also enjoy what we do 😉. These are all the background essentials for making your own wine, but they’re also the things that make it tough for someone to start out. I’d love to share these resources with the next generation of talented winemakers who have the passion and potential to create something truly special. Dayton will be making a Livermore Cabernet Franc (with a bit of guidance from Not Yet Named customers, of course—that’s how we do things). Get your hands on a bottle for £40 via our website and follow Dayton’s journey in California. Plus, you'll get the chance to vote on key decisions for this unique Livermore Cab Franc. Expect 3-4 votes in this special edition, combining Dayton’s flair and your democratic decision-making. https://lnkd.in/dfArbAf2

The next chapter begins…

Though winemaking in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe dates back to 1683, most vines were abandoned or torn out by war, and by 1997, only 10 had survived. Today, the region is comprised of nearly 200 wineries, making up 90% of Mexico’s wine. So who is responsible for the region’s recent growth? As SevenFifty Daily reports, “Pedro Poncelis Raygoza, the founder of Vinícola Punto y Aparte, believes the identity of Valle de Guadalupe is in the hands of the next generation of winemakers.” Raygoza, once named the best sommelier in Mexico by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, may have a point. In recent years, we have seen second- and third-generation vintners transforming their family vineyards and producing innovative wines that excite today’s wine consumers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eetyuZ5Z 📷: SevenFifty Daily

The unique allure of American wineries often stems from the stories of families who have dedicated generations to cultivating the vineyards and producing exquisite wines. However, this deep-rooted heritage is significantly rarer in the U.S. compared to Europe, where many wineries have been family-owned for centuries. The challenge of maintaining these wineries across generations highlights the complex issues surrounding succession planning in the American wine industry, where enduring through the ages remains an exception. The journey to preserve these legacies amidst evolving landscapes is both fascinating and intricate. #familybusiness #successionplanning #longevity #wineries

Understanding the cost of production is key for wineries to ensure long-term success. By analyzing the costs involved in each step of the winemaking process, wineries can make informed decisions to improve efficiency and profitability. Read more about it here #WinerySuccess #costaccounting

It was fun to bring the socials to life for Wine House Hunter Valley in this blind ["blind"?] tasting 🤣 Everyone likes to see the humans behind a brand! Whenever we get our hands on your socials, there's usually some work to do to bring your story to life... then we work on your content pillars that are unique to your brand. Because we do this, your socials can come to life and represent your brand and your 'why'. We love doing this ❤️ #socialmediastrategy #humansbehindthebrand #brandstrategy #smallbusinessbrands #brandstory