WineBusiness Monthly

There are some great scholarship opportunities for people in the wine industry and their families. WineBusiness’ winejobs.com just launched a page to help make these easier to find. One standout is the Robert Alexander Scott Scholarship, which gives $3,000–$5,000 per semester to vineyard and winery workers or their families studying viticulture or enology at select colleges. Other scholarships include the Wine Women Scholarship for women in Northern California’s wine industry, the California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation Scholarship for vineyard workers’ children, and the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship from The Vineyard Team, providing multi-year support and mentorship for first-generation college students. These scholarships help make education and career growth more accessible in the wine industry. Read the full article by Katherine Martine: https://zurl.co/jZuIA

Join us in 2 weeks! Secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/e8VFc32q

How do top wine industry executives handle financial challenges? At the #CCI2025 Conference, C-Suite leaders will share real-world strategies for managing high interest rates, funding roadblocks, and rising operational costs—so you can make smarter business decisions. Central Coast Insights in Paso Robles is only 2 weeks away! Secure your spot: https://zurl.co/MHTLs Terry Lease - California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Anuj Girdhar - O'Neil Vintners & Distillers Joe Ruiz - Presqu’ile Winery Shari Riggs, MBA, CSW - Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty

Box wine sales dipped over 1% this past year, while overall wine sales took a bigger hit—down 5% in volume and 4% in value. Cheaper wines saw the biggest drop, but box wines over $4 actually grew 6% in value. Imports struggled too, except for New Zealand, which saw a 4% boost in value and 3% in volume, thanks to the popularity of Sauvignon Blanc. French wine sales, on the other hand, fell 5% in value. The data, covering 31 states and D.C., highlights shifting tastes and challenges for lower-priced wines. Read the full article: https://zurl.co/y1DaR

Join us at the #WiVi2025 Central Coast Conference in Paso Robles for insights on optimizing your Wine Club and DTC Channels! Discover how industry leaders are enhancing profitability and customer engagement through innovative strategies and success stories. Chelsea Sprague - BOOKER VINEYARD AND WINERY Nathan Westfall - Vine Valley Analytics & Strategy Daniel Kushnir - Ironstone Vineyards Secure your spot: https://zurl.co/57lmS

Rootstocks have protected grapevines from soil-borne pests like Phylloxera for over 130 years, but choosing the right rootstock remains complex. Key considerations include pest resistance, soil conditions, and scion (grafted variety) interactions. Most rootstocks resist Phylloxera, but nematode resistance varies. Dogridge and Salt Creek are highly resistant to root knot nematodes, while 5BB and Schwarzmann are suited for free-living nematodes. Rootstocks also influence vine vigor—highly invigorating rootstocks suit deep, fertile soils, while less vigorous types are ideal for high-density plantings and vigorous varieties. Rootstocks can tolerate specific soil conditions like drought, waterlogging, and salinity. Scion-rootstock compatibility is crucial, as scions often influence vine function more than rootstocks. Read the full article by Stan Grant: https://zurl.co/ZCm3P

SIMEI 2024 highlighted major innovations in winemaking, recognizing 24 companies for breakthroughs in technology and sustainability. Highlights included PMH Vinicole’s Heli-X, a must pump that’s quieter and gentler on grapes, and Vinventions’ Nomacorc Ocean stoppers made from recycled ocean plastic. Gamba’s La Semplice tank cleaner cuts water use by 70%, while Parsec’s EVO2-Ferm uses AI to manage fermentation remotely. Defranceschi’s Ceramic Barrel Heads help maintain ideal fermentation temps, and Puleo’s Prexa Infinity generates nitrogen on demand for pressing. Permeare’s Livero Beverage tech makes low-alcohol wine with reverse osmosis, and Crealis’ Symbiosis is a plastic-free wine closure. Siprem’s Alcryo Vortex 10 cools must quickly with liquid nitrogen, and GAI Macchine’s Filling Valve 206 offers precise, low-oxygen bottle filling. These innovations are all about making winemaking more efficient and eco-friendly. Read the full article by Richard Carey: https://zurl.co/AI29X 🍇

With the rise of the sobriety movement, the demand for low- and no-alcohol wines is growing—are you ready to tap into this market? Join A.J. Greely and Lee Hartman at #EWE2025 for a tasting and discussion on crafting white wines under 12% ABV, the art of NA winemaking, and the opportunities this shift presents. Register before March 21 to receive the pre-show discount: https://zurl.co/4iQyl

A survey by The Wine Market Council and WineBusiness Monthly shows low but growing AI adoption in the U.S. wine industry across vineyard, winery, marketing, and customer operations. Familiarity with AI is mixed, with most learning through news or social media. In vineyards, AI use is limited—15% use drones, 9% sensors, and 3% robots. Wineries also report minimal adoption, led by optical sorters (9%) and wine analysis (7%), though users see improvements in efficiency and quality. Marketing leads AI adoption with ChatGPT (39%) and translation tools (24%), while customer-facing AI remains rare. Read the full article: https://zurl.co/lcg2Z

Last chance for the early-bird rate! 🍷 Register for WiVi Central Coast before midnight and secure the best rate: https://lnkd.in/de4Zv8Uz