Brooks Thostenson

California Sustainable Winegrowing Ambassador Course. Even though it is a short course, it is a valuable resource for getting a general overview of the subject. It also provides some links for those wishing to learn more in-depth. #californianwine #winesoftheworld #sustainability #wsetglobal

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Thoughts on Building a Wine Collection - Part Three by John Szabo, MS In part two of this series, John offered suggestions on how to formulate a buying strategy. Now, let's move on to the final part of his series: wine cellar management. Read the full article at RWC Journal - https://bit.ly/3KIdDAE

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Fascinating -- the composition of U.S. wine consumption has changed completely. In 1960, more than 3/4 of wine consumption consisted of dessert & fortified wine; now, this is merely 2.3%. In contrast, the table wine segment has grown from 19% to almost 90%. Most of these changes already occurred between 1960 and 1980.

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Our very own Brian Rosen shares his perspective in Wine Enthusiast, offering insights on shifting wine consumption trends as fewer Gen Z consumers reach for a glass. 🍷 As Brian notes, "I think it’s important to acknowledge shifts are always happening in the wine marketplace. I believe the current market adjustments are temporary and will eventually stabilize at a sustainable level. While the headlines may seem alarming, this is part of the natural evolution of the industry, and the wine sector has proven resilient through many cycles of change, so I’m not too concerned.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eRjMzJfh

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An Honest Conversation about Making Money in Wine: "Most wineries in the U.S. are tiny.... profitability is almost unheard of." "For us, image is more important than profitability" Just two of many potent quotes from this revealing article by ARENI Global. Such transparent truths about the state of winery financial health, and how a re-focus on driving sustainable, healthy businesses is overdue. Some key takeaways: 💠 More often than not, lack of financial stability --> lack of strategy --> lack of focus 💠 Reputation has come before profitability for many wineries 💠 Wineries try to do everything, and as a result, without specificity, they can't scale and the business isn't sustainable 💠 Younger generations are taking over without the financial backing of their predecessors from other lucrative businesses, and they're unwilling and unable to operate at a loss 💠 Wineries need to stay on top of the numbers and be transparent with management on where they're overspending to better manage costs 💠 Focus on building relationships with essential sales partners and top customers to drive sustainable growth 💠 Invest in your team by paying them more than living wage Incredible proof points that wineries need to operate like real businesses, driving towards cash flow positive, be honest about their financials, come to terms about their long-term financial health, and prioritize improvement. This is why InnoVint has designed the Healthy Winery Framework - to help wineries become more informed to drive change! https://lnkd.in/gxV3tcdn https://lnkd.in/e4_T5RGc

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"'The VSP system is a dinosaur at this point,' Bryan Babcock, the winemaker at Babcock Winery & Vineyards, in the Sta. Rita Hills, said in an article for Wine-Searcher, 'because it exposes the fruit to too much sun and maximizes labor and fuel consumption.'” ☝ Primary reasons I've been advocating different trellis designs in Texas for years now! Why on earth are we using VSP in a HOT, HIGH altitude, HIGH UV, DRY growing region...??? It makes no sense! Our primary issue IN TX High Plains AVA has always been sun OVER exposure to fruit (sunburn, raisin) due to the extreme heat (110*F+) and extreme UV intensity (3,000'+ elevation). Dappled sunlight with single high wire or California sprawl canopies tend to do MUCH better for us and produce more balanced fruit (especially red grapes). "Adam Casto, the head winemaker at Ehlers Estate, in St. Helena, is moving to high-wire trellises as he replants part of the property’s 42-acre vineyard, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 'There’s been a pretty decisive move away from VSP over the last 10 years or so, but especially over the last five,' he says. 'The vast majority [of growers] are either bringing up the fruiting wire or converting to cane pruning altogether. Climate change is increasingly the reason.'” While 98%+ of our acreage is in single high wire trellising, we do have ~15 acres still set up in VSP. We actually use our existing VSP trellising to make a modified California sprawl system as we have moveable catch wires. Only one pair is lifted to tuck cane growth at a much shallower angle, producing something similar to a Cali sprawl. Works MUCH better and can still be adjusted as needed for each variety's growth habit. Quotes from Virginie Boone's article "California’s Trellising Systems Adapt with the Times" published July 3, 2024. Link below, please go read it! https://lnkd.in/gdXziCEV Texas Vine Country FermForge 🍇 TEXAS LEGACY VINES #TexasVineyards #TexasWine #GrapeReturns

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Learn how to keep your wine glasses clean and streak-free by reading this quick guide by wine expert Jennica Ossi. Keep it bookmarked for the next time you're hosting guests. #wine https://lnkd.in/eynaWChJ

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Honest question... How often do you decant wine? 🍷 There are really two main reasons to use a decanter: 1. To separate wine from sediment 2. To introduce extra oxygen to wine Want to learn more about when to decant wine? Check out our quick explainer here 👉️ enth.to/4ct7cxi

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Check out my blog post https://wix.to/ExYy42m Attention wine enthusiasts! 🌟 Let's delve into the trends influencing today's wine market. Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation! Explore further at https://wix.to/5PK23nZ #WineLovers #Engage #winebusiness #wineindustry #winesales

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🍷 Tech Disrupting Wine Trade: Meet Sommsation's CEO Danielle Diliberti! Our Episode 26 is live, and we explore how Sommsation is revolutionizing wine commerce by blending traditional winemaking with cutting-edge technology. ➡Discover how Sommsation, born during the pandemic, connects independent wineries and world-class sommeliers with consumers, making premium wines more accessible. ➡Danielle shares her journey from being a CPA to leading a tech-driven wine marketplace. She built Sommsation with a legacy-free architecture, ensuring its growth for many decades. ➡The company has an innovative commerce approach, including its Rebel Wine Club, digital tasting experiences, and partnerships with over 40 sommeliers. ➡Additionally, Danielle discusses her role as an advisor at MACH Alliance and the importance of the alliance in supporting the industry's ecosystem through modern technology frameworks. Let's discover the future of the wine industry together. Don't miss the full conversation on offbounds.tv! #offbounds #winemarketplace #wineindustry #sommsation #leadership #ceoadvice

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Ready to Shake Up Your Beverage Career? Looking for a new gig in the world of wine, spirits, and beyond? Beverage Job Scene is here to help! Gain instant, free access to our exclusive job spreadsheet, packed with the freshest roles in the beverage industry across the U.S. and Canada. This week, we’ve added 215 new positions—all waiting for talent like you! Hit the link in the comments to unlock the Beverage Job Scene sheet and give your career the boost it deserves. Cheers to finding your next big break! Pro Tip: Save this post so you can check back anytime! Employers: Want to feature your openings with us? Join our thriving platform to put your roles in front of premium industry talent. Follow the link below to get started! #WineJobs #SpiritsCareers #BevAlcJobs #NowHiring

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Ready to Shake Up Your Beverage Career? Looking for a new gig in the world of wine, spirits, and beyond? Beverage Job Scene is here to help! Gain instant, free access to our exclusive job spreadsheet, packed with the freshest roles in the beverage industry across the U.S. and Canada. This week, we’ve added 172 new positions—all waiting for talent like you! Hit the link in the comments to unlock the Beverage Job Scene sheet and give your career the boost it deserves. Cheers to finding your next big break! Pro Tip: Save this post so you can check back anytime! Employers: Want to feature your openings with us? Join our thriving platform to put your roles in front of premium industry talent. Follow the link below to get started! #WineJobs #SpiritsCareers #BevAlcJobs #NowHiring

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Want to take bold steps with your winery’s marketing? Wine Market Council’s research gives you the confidence to stand out. Our data-driven insights into U.S. wine consumer habits, attitudes, and trends empower you to create marketing that truly resonates with your audience. Be bold, be strategic, and stay ahead of the competition with research that aligns with the needs of today’s wine lovers. Colangelo & Partners #WineMarketCouncil #WineResearch #WineIndustry #BoldMarketing #ConsumerInsights #WineTrends

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Met with folks in the wine industry in Napa last week. Shocked to hear prices are down 90% for grapes in 2024 harvest. Some wineries are asking for picking costs ($600/ton) rather than typical $6,500 per ton of Cabernet Sauvignon. And even then, it might not get sold. The industry has reported a lot about the structural issues at hand. But what shocks me is the lack of ingenuity that comes from such an existential market correction. David Salazar said, “you’d think this would be a wake up call to do marketing and sales differently—because clearly they need to gain new customers. But instead it’s an old school mentality—write off the vintage and hope for a better year next year.” The wine industry is so weird/ineffecient because of the knock on effects of post-Prohibition regulation. Not many wineries sell directly to their customers. Instead they sell to the distributors. And the distributors care about different things than the wine consumers themselves. There will be great Napa cab in Costco and Trader Joe’s next year. Maybe an innovative brand will capitalize on the incredible juice, too. #wine #napa #industrytrends

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Younger and older Millennials have distinct preferences when it comes to white wine. Our analysis of 1,392 Quini consumer wine reviews shows key differences between these two subgroups. Both enjoy Pinot Grigio but younger Millennials favor Muscat Ottonel while older Millennials prefer Ehrenfelser. Key Findings: - Younger Millennials: Muscat Ottonel & Pinot Grigio - Older Millennials: Ehrenfelser & Pinot Grigio Read the full analysis on the Quini blog at: https://lnkd.in/ghU7Cmg6 Stay tuned for our next post, where we'll explore flavor profiles and their effect on Millennial preferences. For the full analysis and additional insights, check out our blog post and subscribe to our newsletter! #WineMarketing #Millennials #WhiteWine #WineLover #MarketingStrategy #WineTasting #WineIndustry #WineRecommendations #QuiniData #Quini #Ehrenfelser #MuscatOttonel #PinotGrigio

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