News & Insights

The Skills Shaping Wine’s Next Era

The Skills Shaping Wine’s Next Era

From AI and vineyard technology to changing consumer expectations, the 2026 WIN Expo offers a look at the skills and expertise shaping the future wine industry workforce...

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Cherie Watte Joins California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Board of Directors

Cherie Watte Joins California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Board of Directors

October 7, 2026 (Monterey, CA) — The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is pleased to announce that Cherie (Cher) Watte, executive director of the Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA)/California Grown and a Class 25 alumna of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, has joined its board of directors. Watte brings decades of experience in agricultural marketing, public

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From Cellar to Table: How Wine Professionals Are Putting AI to Work

From Cellar to Table: How Wine Professionals Are Putting AI to Work

An artificial intelligence system once confidently told Daniel Webber that winemaker Philippe Melka makes Casa Piena. There was just one problem. He does not.

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Earn Your Credits - Continuing Education Courses Available!

Earn Your Credits - Continuing Education Courses Available!

The Napa County Farm Bureau is proud to support our agricultural community by offering access to required continuing education (CE) classes for licensed agricultural professionals. November 5 Laws & Regulations: How to Read a Pesticide Label Herbicide resistance data (trials) Weed mgmt techniques to avoid resistance (rotating chemistries) Mechanical weed control Grazing practically - maintain

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Build a Career in Wine: Linfield University Opens Applications for Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership

Build a Career in Wine: Linfield University Opens Applications for Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership

Four-month online program gives wine professionals and career changers the business knowledge to take their next step in the wine industry...

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STARTING WEDNESDAY: Intermediate Blind Tasting

STARTING WEDNESDAY: Intermediate Blind Tasting

Time is running out to join our Intermediate Blind Tasting kicking off on September 16th!

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Scholarship Applications Now Open for 6 Month Professional Development Program

Scholarship Applications Now Open for 6 Month Professional Development Program

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 FLOurish Program, a fully funded, virtual leadership development program for early- and mid-career women working across the wine and spirits industry...

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Winery Compliance: Payroll, HR and Labor Law Essentials

Winery Compliance: Payroll, HR and Labor Law Essentials

Key Takeaways A winery is legally two businesses at once: an agricultural employer and a licensed wine producer, and most HR platforms are only built to handle one. Job title doesn’t determine treatment. Duties do. The same employee can move between agricultural and non-agricultural work within a single week. Crush season exposes problems built months earlier, from rushed seasonal hiring to unveri

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Ellman Estate Winery Names Michael Ploetz General Manager as Winery Marks Its First Year Welcoming Guests

Ellman Estate Winery Names Michael Ploetz General Manager as Winery Marks Its First Year Welcoming Guests

The appointment follows a formative year that brought winemaking home to the estate and introduced The Studio tasting experience...

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Virtual Croatian Wine Masterclass Series - 2026

Virtual Croatian Wine Masterclass Series - 2026

Regions, Varieties, Harvest and Celebration of Fifth Annual Plavac Mali Day  Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., in collaboration with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce/Vina Croatia, announces the virtual series of Masterclasses focusing on indigenous Croatian varieties.  The series introduces all regions, customs around harvest, including a celebration of the predominant Croatian indige

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Interview Questions That Help Identify Great Tasting Room Staff

Interview Questions That Help Identify Great Tasting Room Staff

I’ve covered the importance of training new tasting room staff in a previous article, but just as valuable, is selecting the right people to work in your tasting room in the first place...

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Buehler Vineyards Names Elizabeth Kester Winemaker, Continuing a Legacy of Napa Valley Excellence

Buehler Vineyards Names Elizabeth Kester Winemaker, Continuing a Legacy of Napa Valley Excellence

Buehler Vineyards is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Kester as Winemaker, marking the next chapter in the history of one of Napa Valley’s enduring family-owned wineries...

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California Employers Using AI in Hiring and HR: Five Questions to Ask Now

California Employers Using AI in Hiring and HR: Five Questions to Ask Now

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a future-facing issue for California employers. Many businesses already use some form of automated tool to sort résumés, rank applicants, target recruiting, score assessments, flag productivity concerns, or assist with promotion and compensation decisions...

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Wine Leadership Workshop: Leading Through Change & Innovation

Wine Leadership Workshop: Leading Through Change & Innovation

This small in-person workshop presented by Full Glass Leadership and hosted at Lucid Wild, will focus on change and innovation for emerging leaders in the wine and beverage industry. The hands-on environment will offer tools necessary to successfully lead teams through moments of transition, and discuss how team members can positively accept and adapt through these important and sometimes, difficu

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M. A. Silva Names Andrew Thompson National Sales Director Packaging Industry Executive Brings Broad Commercial and Technical Leadership Experience

M. A. Silva Names Andrew Thompson National Sales Director Packaging Industry Executive Brings Broad Commercial and Technical Leadership Experience

M. A. Silva USA, a leading manufacturer and distributor of premium corks, glass, and packaging for North American markets, announced today that Andrew Thompson has joined the company as National Sales Director...

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