Understanding what your business is worth plays an important role in effective exit planning. This valuation-centric session explores how valuation informs exit strategy and decision-making, and why early insight into value is critical to achieving stronger outcomes. Attendees will gain perspective on how valuation considerations shape exit planning long before a deal is on the table. Key Insights and Takeaways: Why business owners often misunderstand the true value of their company Common valuation myths that can derail exit expectations How normalization adjustments impact reported earnings and value The difference between valuation multiples and real cash flow performance How strategic and financial buyers evaluate businesses differently What valuation insights mean for timing, structure, and exit readiness

The 2026 BMO Wine Market Report confirms what many winery owners have already been experiencing firsthand: the wine industry is no longer dealing with a temporary slowdown. It is operating through a structural reset. While the U.S. wine market still surpassed $115 billion in total value in 2025, overall wine volume declined again, continuing a multi-year trend that is reshaping nearly every segment of the business. A worrying trend that continues to reshape the industry and shape perceptions of where the bottom could be. According to the report, changing demographics, affordability pressures, evolving consumer habits, distribution disruptions, and rising operating costs are converging. For winery owners, the key takeaway is simple: the old assumptions no longer hold. For years, much of the industry conversation centered around oversupply. Too many grapes, too much bulk wine, and too much inventory sitting in tanks and warehouses. While those issues remain very real, the BMO report make

Most winery startup mistakes are preventable. After working with startup founders and existing owners across the industry, the same ten missteps appear again and again — mistakes that don’t just cost money, but can undermine a winery’s potential before it ever opens its doors. Here is what they are, why they happen, and how an integrated approach prevents them. MISTAKE 01: STARTING WITH THE WINE Passion for wine is why most founders enter this business. But a winery is a business first — one built on an integrated consumer experience. Every touchpoint, from your website and label to your price point and location, must work as a cohesive, consistent unit. Wine is one ingredient in that system, not the starting point. MISTAKE 02: NOT HAVING A CLEAR, WRITTEN VISION A vision statement is not a formality. It is the foundation for every consequential business decision you will make — your location, customer experience, pricing, and brand identity. Wineries that struggle financially almost a

At LibDib, one of our core cultural mantras comes from our longtime technology leader, Richard Brashears: “If you are always ready, then you never have to get ready.” It started with our engineering team. If someone asked for a demo, the answer was yes. If someone wanted to see progress, it was ready. No scrambling. No excuses. Just an advanced preparation meeting opportunity. That mindset now runs through the entire company. And, in today’s beverage alcohol environment, it may be one of the most important philosophies a Maker can adopt. Change Is No Longer the Exception Distributors are exiting markets. Large houses are consolidating. Portfolios are being rationalized. Big alcohol companies are selling brands, triggering redistribution across states. Executive teams are shifting priorities. Inventory resets are forcing hard decisions about which brands get attention and which do not. You may suddenly find your distributor leaving a state. Or you may find yourself al

The 2026 State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report, published by Silicon Valley Bank and authored by Rob McMillan, provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of current conditions in the U.S. wine market. Built on more than 25 years of industry research, the report combines results from SVB’s annual winery survey, its Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) survey, demographic and cohort consumption modeling, and a wide range of third-party wholesale, retail, and population datasets. The conclusion is clear: while the industry continues to face structural headwinds, wineries are not experiencing these conditions equally. A widening performance gap has emerged between those adapting to changing demand and those struggling to do so. 2025 Performance: A Difficult Year for Many By nearly every measure, 2025 was a challenging year for the U.S. wine industry. Roughly half of the surveyed wineries rated the year negatively, citing slowing demand, rising costs, margin pressure, and inventory ch

For many working in the wine industry, the day-to-day demands of running the business leave little time for big-picture planning. But without a clear framework for setting and tracking goals, it’s easy to stay busy without making real progress toward long-term growth and value. Join Heather Schmidt, Growth Consultant and Certified Exit Planning Advisor at Crews & co., and M+A Advisor at Exit Equity, for a practical session on Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), a proven goal-setting framework for driving alignment, accountability, and performance. In this session, you’ll learn how to: Turn your vision into clear, actionable goals Get your team aligned and executing with focus Build consistent profitability and predictability Strengthen the long-term value of your business Whether you’re growing, scaling, or preparing for an eventual exit, this session will help you lead with clarity and build a business that’s worth more and runs better. Speaker:

Knowledge Is Power.  Small business owners spend their days concentrating on their particular specialty, but there’s one thing they have in common: they all have to contend with a host of similar workforce issues. Below, we've provided the top three business resources you should use to tackle common challenges like business planning, securing funding, and navigating day-to-day operations with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, these tools can help you build a strong foundation and make informed decisions every step of the way. _________________________________________________________________ The Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA offers a plethora of advice about planning, launching, managing, and growing a small business. They offer a useful guide to writing your business plan. The SBA’s Create Your Business Plan section of its website is an excellent place to s

We are already preparing for the next (online) course starting Wednesday, November 6: Wine Import and Distribution. This comprehensive course offers aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a solid foundation in wine importing and distribution, two critical pillars of the global wine supply chain. You will gain a deep understanding of the 3-tier system, government regulations, and market dynamics, positioning yourself to navigate this complex industry with confidence. Through interactive online classroom discussions, practical homework assignments, and the creation of a personalized business plan, you’ll explore the full spectrum of the importing and distribution process—from staffing and licensing to investment strategies and exit planning. With a focus on real-world application, you will learn how to develop a viable business model, comply with federal and state regulations, and assess market viability, making this course ideal for those seeking t

WIN EXPO Conference Focus: Business Strategy & Leadership Session Topics: Grape & Bulk Wine Market, Acquisition & Succession Strategies, and No/Low Alcohol Wine Opportunities. Registration is open for the 12th annual North Coast Wine Industry Trade Show & Conference (WIN Expo), the largest wine industry trade event focused exclusively on the North Coast - the most prominent wine region in the United States. The event’s educational conference program includes all the major sectors of the industry covering winemaking & production, sales & marketing, vineyard operations, and business strategy & leadership.  This year's Business Strategy & Leadership track, sponsored by Turrentine Brokerage, will dive into the Grape and Bulk Wine Market Outlook, Winery Exit Strategies, and No and Low Alcohol Wine Opportunities: Planning Your Exit: Maximizing Options for Acquisition or Succession As the wine industry evolves, many winery owners face the in

Let's talk finance! We're excited to offer a course on Financial Management and Strategy for the wine industry that starts on June 26. It's part of the Wine Industry Finance and Accounting Certificate and can also be an elective for the Wine Business Management Certificate. Open to everyone interested, this course is a valuable opportunity. In July, we’re also offering Strategic Wine Club Management and a new Compliance workshop on campus. Read on to learn more! What do you learn throughout the course? Financial Management and Strategy This eight-week course provides a concise overview and analysis of the factors critical to financial success for businesses in the wine industry. Students will learn about different corporate and financial structures and strategies; how to deal with business details, like compliance and insurance; and how to use financial planning and analysis to ensure a business’s financial survival and drive growth. Course Goals: By the en