We are off to a GREAT start to the week. So many of you added events, wine awards and even Insider offers to our website. It's awesome to see. THEN, to keep the good vibes going, several wineries signed-up on the Wine Road Networking worksheet to go tasting, or to host.

All encouraging signs, that we're on a roll. 

45th Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting = THIS WEEKEND

We sold 2340 tickets (last year 616 tickets)

Ticket sales ended last night

Supply hand out is tomorrow (Wednesday) from 9:00-3:00 next to the office, 1441 Grove Street, Healdsburg.

RSVP lists will be emailed to everyone by Wed afternoon (sooner if possible).

You will be picking up glasses, wristbands, event maps, a few sample programs (more can be downloaded and printed from our website) and mugs for your Designated Drivers.

IF you want our Wine Road 6-bottle bags to use for the weekend, you can take what you want when you pick up other supplies.

There are no reimbursements for this event.

If there happens to be interest from people to buy more tickets, we will sell them through the office - through the weekend.

Questions: debbie@wineroad.com

Ticket Buyer Breakdown - by age          

21-29     370 ticket buyers

30-39     395

40-49     366

50+        1209

Who is attending this year

1st time to Barrel Tasting      880 (ticket buyers)

Attended a few times            933

Attended 10 years or more!  527

We used Flipboard to promote this event, and that has driven the "new buyers" to our event.

We are so excited to see members taking advantage of this new program!

Hosting / Tasting / Sharing

#sipsonoma  #wineroadlife

Wine Road Networking...meet  your neighboring wineries, connect with your peers, partner and refer.

Our new networking program is designed to make it easier than ever for you and your staff to get out there, taste at other wineries, share your referral cards (and a bottle of wine) and make connections that will help you provide a better experience for your guests.

It's easy - SIGN-UP HERE, to host, or go out and taste.  Then remember...sharing is caring :-)

CA Wine Festival in Dana Point on April 14-15. 

Here are the details if you want to register. So far 5 wineries are on board.

You can pour Friday & Saturday or just Saturday.

Wine Road will only be participating on Saturday.

We will help off-set your table costs by reimbursing you $100 after the event.

Lets go...Destination Wine Road!

If you register let us know, so we can make sure all our tables are together.  

CA Wine Festival Dana Point REGISTER HERE

Varietal of the Month

Don't miss out on the opportunity to showcase your wine in our monthly Varietal of the Month post - which is sent to our 50,000+ subscribers.  Each review links directly to the winery's shopping cart.

We are now collecting:

April - Chenin Blanc - need by March 15 ....we know its out there - bring us a bottle - don't miss out.

May - ROSÉ - we can take 3 more bottles, and no sparkling for this one.

June - Sauvigon Blanc

Link to all prior posts HERE - for you to review.

Are you curious about regional DTC growth rates? Click below to dive into the details for January 2023 (vs. 2022 and 2021):

January 2023...by the numbers

Responsible Beverage Service

The deadline set by the California Legislature was AUGUST 31, or 60 days after the first day of employment. For this training, an alcohol server is defined as: anyone employed at an ABC on-premises licensed establishment who is responsible for checking identifications, taking customer orders, or pouring or delivering alcoholic beverages.

- We are able to extend a promo code for you, which will save you $5 per person

-  This is the link to the online course: https://certifiedalcoholtraining.com/

- This is the promo code:  WINEROAD2023

- PURCHASE THE $15 COURSE - USE PROMO CODE TO SAVE $10

- REGISTER WITH THE ABC - THIS IS $3 PER PERSON

- TAKE THE ONLINE TRAINING

- TAKE THE TEST - GET CERTIFIED

Note, this promo code is limited to the first 50 people to register, we will not be able to extend it.

Pollen Mobile is a San Francisco based mobile communications company that helps people connect where they need it most.  Pollen does this by installing radios on rooftops and other locations to fill in the coverage gaps that the major carriers like Verizon and AT&T can't access. Once a radio is set up, anyone with a Pollen enabled device can use the service. 

On Dry Creek Road, we know visitors frequently don't have service and have a hard time coordinating with rideshares or using maps and other apps, and Pollen is helping us solve this problem.  

Pollen already has radios installed at CAST Winery and Dutcher Crossing, and are looking for more wineries to join their free pilot program.

Attached is more information about Pollen and this special pilot program for Wine Road. If you are interested, you can email them directly at wineroad@pollenmobile.io.

Ron Rubin Winery has financially supported our Wine Road Podcast for the second year - covering all costs associated with producing the show. Without that support we would not have been able to continue.      Thank you! 

Our show was just listed as #3 in the Top 70 Wine Podcasts.