By Jim Trezise, President of WineAmerica The National Association of American Wineries™ Romance vs. Reality It’s not surprising that people dream of getting into the wine business. Just think of it: Sunrise caressing the vines. Perfect weather again. A leisurely coffee while surveying the pristine landscape. A morning stroll through exquisitely manicured vineyards. A smoothly functioning wine cellar. A traffic jam of consumers eager to visit the tasting room. Multiple FedEx trucks waiting for wine club shipments. Ending each day counting the hefty stash. Celebrating with a dinner pairing your world-class wines with world-class food on your terrace overlooking paradise. Sleeping like a baby. Yeah, right! After spending their life savings and taking out a massive loan, new winery owners often discover a very different reality. Clouds mean rain when the grapes need to stay dry. Coffee comes from a drive-thru. License applications and tax forms cover the desk. Labor shortages mean critica

It's July 1, which means you're about to start seeing "Christmas in July" everywhere. Retailers are already thinking about the holidays—even if it still feels like the middle of summer. Smart wineries should be doing the same. October, November, and December (OND) are your biggest sales months of the year. Holiday winery marketing doesn’t start in October—it starts now. They’re sprinting through Q3—right now—while everyone else is still daydreaming about hot cocoa and watching Christmas movies… you’ve got rosé in your glass and wine bundles to plan. Here's how to make the next 90 days count. 1. Clean Up Your Data — Because Bad Data Costs You Money This isn’t just about removing bounced emails. Bad data quietly drains OND revenue by blocking you from segmenting, targeting, or even reaching your customers. Your Move: Export your full email list (now, not later). Verify your SMS audience and make sure customer consent records are up to date. Use ChatGPT to help spot typos like gmaii.com

Longer Spring days and warmer Summer nights equal more customer time @your tasting room - and more sales opportunities! This is your chance to fill their custom totes with branded merchandise including repurposed bottle candles, engraved stainless bottles and tumblers and promotional paraphernalia Under $10 highlighted + discounted below. *Summer Nights* * * * Spring Special * * * * * * Year-round Best Sellers * * * BOTTLE MAGNET - $5.95 WINESKIN - $1.99 SLATE COASTER - $4.95 LEATHER COASTER - $3.95 MAGNET 4-SET - $7.25 LUGGAGE TAG - $8.00 If you're in the market for any other wine and/or food-related custom gifts for your Club VIPs , Tasting Room or Holiday Events , please email your quantity, budget, delivery date and logo, and we will send a proposal with digital proofs. Looking forward to working together to find custom gifts that promote YOU! Vanessa Topper Owner

This is not about the Mexican victory over the French (Feliz Cinco de Mayo!). This is not about George Lucas's celestial franchise (May The 4th Be With You). It's about the MADNESS of branded merchandise for Under $10! * * * May Specials * * * * * * Year-round Best Sellers * * * BOTTLE MAGNET - $5.95 WINESKIN - $1.99 SLATE COASTER - $4.95 LEATHER COASTER - $3.95 MAGNET 4-SET - $7.25 LUGGAGE TAG - $8.00 If you're in the market for any other wine and/or food-related custom gifts for your Club VIPs , Tasting Room or Holiday Events , please email your quantity, budget, delivery date and logo, and we will send a proposal with digital proofs. Looking forward to working together to find custom gifts that promote YOU! Vanessa Topper Owner

HOW TO KEEP YOUR BRAND TOP OF MIND WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE DROWNING IN HOLIDAY EMAILS The inbox in December isn’t a communication tool—it’s a full-contact sport. Every brand, from the global megastore to the local dog bakery, is shouting their way into people’s attention span with flashing subject lines, endless exclamation points, and “40% OFF” hysteria that blurs into static. Consumers don’t read; they scan for relief. According to Mailjet’s 2024 BFCM report, holiday email volume jumps nearly 80% between Thanksgiving and Christmas, while average open rates drop to 13–15%—a statistical cry for help. But the real problem isn’t quantity—it’s tone. Every brand is talking at their audience instead of with them. The louder the messaging, the less people listen. Leading with prices and panic doesn’t inspire trust; it triggers fatigue. That’s your opportunity. The brands that win the inbox aren’t the

Meta Ads, Miracle Results If your holiday Meta ads felt like lighting money on fire in a festive candle, that’s not because social is dead. It’s because your targeting and flighting were built for wishful thinking, not gifting intent. The fix isn’t magic. It’s method. You can absolutely turn Meta into a gift-selling machine between Thanksgiving and New Year—if you understand what actually drives intent and how to spend wisely when every other brand on earth is screaming for attention. What follows is a ruthless, winery-specific playbook for the six-week window between Thanksgiving and New Year that prioritizes intent, protects margin, and leans on real benchmarks instead of folklore. First, reality: volume is there, but it clusters Holiday ecommerce keeps breaking records, with online spend hitting roughly $241.4B from Nov 1 to Dec 31 and mobile responsible for the majority of transactions. (Adobe Newsroom) Translation: your customers are buying on their

In our most recent Free Training Friday, we focused on one thing: helping wineries convert holiday browsers into buyers. With peak shopping season approaching, this session was all about small, actionable tweaks you can make right now to ensure your site is ready when customers start searching for gifts. 1. Make Holiday Intent Obvious When shoppers land on your homepage, they're looking for one thing: the confidence that you can help them find (and ship) the perfect gift on time. That's why it's so important to give them clear visual and navigational cues that say, "Yes, we've got you covered." That doesn't mean covering your site in red and green. Instead, aim for subtle seasonal touches that align with your brand, like warm seasonal messaging, photography, or gift-centric cues.  Two Key Updates to Add Now: Shipping Timelines: Clearly state cutoff dates ("Order by Dec 18 for delivery by Dec 24"). Corporate Gifting Entry: Include an entry po

Friends, when it comes to wine and e-commerce, what’s your Super Bowl? It’s Black Friday–Cyber Monday, or BFCM. No contest. It’s the weekend when your e-commerce channel needs to shine, and when preparation—or lack of it—can make or break your results. The wineries that profit during BFCM have trained for the big game—and leaned on data to guide their plays. To help you get the most out of BFCM, we've put together a playbook, driven by your own customer data, that will help you turn Thanksgiving into a successful sales holiday. Segment your offers by customer group. Are you pitching your most expensive bundle to your lowest club tier? Avoid this time-consuming mistake and pitch directly to well-qualified buyers by identifying customer segments who have purchased at a high dollar value. Identify your VIPs and give them early access to your biggest deal of the year. Who are your most engaged club members? Who makes a purchase on every e-comm

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for wineries. Customers are looking for the perfect gifts, stocking up on their favorite bottles, and attending festive gatherings where wine is often at the center. For wineries, it's also a time when operations can become complex and demand increased attention both in the tasting room and online.  At VinesOS, we understand the unique challenges wineries face this time of year. Here are a few key things to consider as you prepare for a successful holiday season: 1. Plan your Promotions Holidays are prime time for promotions, but managing discounts and member benefits can get tricky. That's why flexible coupon tools are so important. Look for solutions that allow you to: Stack discounts or override member pricing when needed Run special holiday offers without disrupting your existing loyalty programs Encourage repeat purchases with timed or exclusive promotions When done right, promotions not only drive sales but

9 proven strategies to maximize Your October, November, December revenue  October, November, and December (OND) are the biggest sales months of the year for your business, and if done right, not just for short-term gains. This is your prime window to capture new customers, increase average order value, and build relationships that carry into the new year.  For many beverage alcohol businesses, OND can represent 30–40% of annual sales. The reason? Peak holiday spending meets perfect timing, gatherings, corporate gifting, and a growing preference for wine purchases create a massive opportunity.  The businesses that win the season don’t just survive the rush, they plan ahead, market smart, and execute flawlessly.  1. Start early and build holiday momentum While many of the sales will take place in OND, August and September are nearly the most important months as this is when your planning and preparations take place.  Suggested timeline:  August: