--- title: The Top Stories Every Small Winery Should Read This Week | InspireHUB description: With COVID-19 lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted, here are some of the ways wineries are innovating and growing their sales. | InspireHUB image: http://www.ihubgo.com/hubfs/Content%20-%20Inbound/Blogs/InspireHUB%20Blog%20Images.png --- - - - - - 855.355.IHUB (4482) - Builder Login  - [![USA](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg) USA](https://build.inspirehub.com) - [![Canada](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg) Canada](https://build.ihubapp.ca) - [![Australia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg) Australia](https://build.ihubapp.com.au) Toggle navigation [![InspireHUB](http://www.ihubgo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IHUB%20Branded%20Imagery/Logos/IHUBApp%20Powered%20by%20InspireHUB.png?width=353&height=60&name=IHUBApp%20Powered%20by%20InspireHUB.png)](https://info.inspirehub.com/homepage) - [Get Started ](https://setup.inspirehub.com/) - [Launch IHUBApp](https://setup.inspirehub.com/) - [Become a Hubmaster](https://www.inspirehub.com/hubmaster-apply) - [Become an IHUBApp Ally (Affiliates)](https://www.inspirehub.com/ally) - [Features ](https://www.inspirehub.com/solutions) - [Overview](https://www.inspirehub.com/about-ihubapp) - [Email Marketing](https://www.inspirehub.com/en-us/email-marketing) - [Automated Newsletters](https://www.inspirehub.com/en-us/automated-newsletters) - [Intelligent Channel Feeds](https://www.inspirehub.com/en-us/ihubapp-intelligent-channel-feeds) - [Industry Use Cases](https://www.inspirehub.com/solutions) - [Customer Testimonials](https://www.inspirehub.com/client-showcase) - [Progressive Web Apps](https://www.inspirehub.com/whitepaper) - [Pricing & Plans](https://www.inspirehub.com/pricing-plans-build-now) # [The Top Stories Every Small Winery Should Read This Week | InspireHUB](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/the-top-stories-every-small-winery-should-read-this-week) - [Sue Braiden](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/author/sue-braiden) - 19 May, 2020 - [0 Comments](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/the-top-stories-every-small-winery-should-read-this-week#comments-listing) - - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![The Top Stories Every Small Winery Should Read This Week | InspireHUB](http://www.ihubgo.com/hubfs/Content%20-%20Inbound/Blogs/InspireHUB%20Blog%20Images.png)   With lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted in more states across the U.S., there's cautious optimism growing in the lessons learned when tasting rooms closed, and businesses found creative new ways to reboot.  Here are 3 of our favourite stories about the ways that wineries are innovating and looking forward to unprecedented growth despite COVID-19.   # Grow your wine sales with lessons learned from these allies ... ## [Rebalancing the 'COVID-19 Effect' on Alcohol Sales](https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2020/rebalancing-the-covid-19-effect-on-alcohol-sales/) A recent Nielsen study predicts a year-long recovery for the wine industry filled with not only challenges but opportunities for those who cash in on omnichannel buying.  Since tasting room traffic is not likely to rebound until 2021, “off-premise” sales are king, with online alcohol sales up 477% over last year.  Some of the differentiation strategies highlighted include: - partnering with restaurants who are offering alcohol as part of their food delivery services, creating opportunities to craft locally focused wine lists; - doubling down where sales opportunities are highest, including the consumer trend toward the purchase of larger pack sizes; and, - identifying high-opportunity consumer targets (for instance, podcast listeners).   ## [U.S. Wineries Cautiously Begin Reopening Phase](https://www.winespectator.com/articles/wineries-cautiously-begin-reopening-phase) With a growing number of states ending their COVID-19 shutdowns this month, the eye is on safety and a gradual transition. Several states have begun rolling out a phased plan to protect public health, including a detailed set of requirements and guidelines to ensure winery staff and tasting room visitors have a safe experience. This article shares some of the lessons learned since March, when wineries were forced to quickly rethink their business models, tapping into strong online sales and some of the more creative, personalized approaches to wine club and curbside sales.  Tap into tips from vintners whose sales have risen as much as 300% online.   ## [Replay: Winery Phone Sales Management Best Practices - Webinar Focuses on Lessons from the Experts](https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=230988) One of the ways leaders in the wine industry are reaching out to help their peers is through webinars, connecting to share ideas and resources focused on the most pressing issues and pain points. Wine Business Monthly held one this week designed to inspire a little out-of-the-wine-box thinking around an often overlooked DtC sales channel: phone sales. It’s one of the most profitable channels, and an option wineries are cashing in on to make up for the revenue losses experienced when tasting rooms were closed.  [Tap into the 60-minute session replay on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK7pdwQUhlI) to discover why many wineries are saying that phone sales will remain an essential part of their DtC sales even after the COVID-19 restrictions subside.   --- ## Want another pour? **Here are a few resources we put together to help you find the right differentiation strategy to grow YOUR winery:** - [5 Things Winning Wineries Get Right](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/5-things-winning-wineries-get-right) - [10 Ways to Grow Your Wine Club Memberships](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/10-ways-to-grow-your-wine-club-memberships) - [How Even the Smallest Wineries Can Compete and Be Profitable](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/how-even-the-smallest-wineries-can-compete-and-be-profitable)     [![Small winery dreaming of big online business?  We can help!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/462842/193384db-cae1-4cd5-a02f-6d9565a0499f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/462842/193384db-cae1-4cd5-a02f-6d9565a0499f)     ![Big Sales for Small Wineries: The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Growth Guide](http://www.ihubgo.com/hubfs/Content%20-%20Inbound/Guides/Big%20Sales%20for%20Small%20Wineries%20-%20The%20Ultimate%20Do-It-Yourself%20Growth%20Guide%20eBook%20Cover.jpg) ##### **Big Sales for Small Wineries The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Growth Guide** This FREE eBook is specifically designed for established boutique wineries (those producing less than 10,000 cases) as a step-by-step guide to achieving your best year in sales yet. It is packed with practical advice on everything from questions to ask the person who is managing your marketing, to insights into what consumers actually want in a Wine Club, and even a list of creative ideas to help generate additional revenue streams. Included in this FREE Guide: - Transformation Readiness Assessment - Successful Sales Strategies - Trusted and Proven Advice [![Check it out now!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/462842/57fde8c1-6313-4ed0-9f51-ba9958f6d356.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/462842/57fde8c1-6313-4ed0-9f51-ba9958f6d356)   Related Articles [![BLOG - 10 Ways to Grow Your Wine Club Memberships \[1200x675\]](http://www.ihubgo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Content%20-%20Inbound/Blogs/BLOG%20-%2010%20Ways%20to%20Grow%20Your%20Wine%20Club%20Memberships.jpg?width=550&name=BLOG%20-%2010%20Ways%20to%20Grow%20Your%20Wine%20Club%20Memberships.jpg)](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/10-ways-to-grow-your-wine-club-memberships) [Ten Ways to Increase Your Wine Club Memberships](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/10-ways-to-grow-your-wine-club-memberships) Whether you’re thinking about starting a wine club or have one you’re looking to grow, the potential ROI is hard to ignore. Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) sales account for a whopping 60 percent of winery revenue. Think you’re too small to cash in? For wineries making less than 2,500 cases per year, that number jumps to 74 percent. Continuity sales are an opportunity to significantly grow your bottom line. Wine clubs are one of the most lucrative sources of revenue for those who understand a handful of truths -- and tactics -- when it comes to engaging and keeping clients. [![Blog - Small Winery Growth: How Even the Smallest Can Compete and Be Profitable](http://www.ihubgo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Content%20-%20Inbound/Blogs/Blog%20-%20Small%20Winery%20Growth%20-%20How%20Even%20the%20Smallest%20Can%20Compete%20and%20Be%20Profitable.jpg?width=550&name=Blog%20-%20Small%20Winery%20Growth%20-%20How%20Even%20the%20Smallest%20Can%20Compete%20and%20Be%20Profitable.jpg)](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/how-even-the-smallest-wineries-can-compete-and-be-profitable) [Small Winery Growth: How Even the Smallest Can Compete and Be Profitable](https://www.ihubgo.com/blog/how-even-the-smallest-wineries-can-compete-and-be-profitable) Can SMEs compete with large estates and virtual wineries? According to [an in-depth look at the differentiation strategies and financial performance of small-to-medium sized wineries over a period of 5 years](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212977415000289), the answer is “Yes!” Perhaps more importantly, the study answered the question: “How?” 1. How does a winery stand out from the competition? 2. How do the strategies they use to do this impact the bottom line? Here's why your tasting room and technology will be your greatest assets ...   Topics: [wineries](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/wineries), [wine club](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/wine-club), [insights](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/insights), [best practices](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/best-practices), [differentiation strategy](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/differentiation-strategy), [Covid-19](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/covid-19), [growth strategies](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/growth-strategies), [online sales](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/online-sales), [winery phone sales](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/winery-phone-sales), [omnichannel buying](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/omnichannel-buying), [DtC sales](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/dtc-sales), [Nielsen study](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/nielsen-study), [brand marketing](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/brand-marketing), [alcoholic beverages](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/alcoholic-beverages), [curbside sales](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/curbside-sales), [economy](http://www.ihubgo.com/blog/topic/economy) ### Subscribe to Our Blog **COMPANY** [About](https://ihubgo.com/home) [Press](https://ihubgo.com/c/newsroom/feed) [InspireHUB Privacy Notice](https://www.inspirehub.com/privacy-notice) [IHUBApp Privacy Notice](https://www.inspirehub.com/ihubapp-privacy-notice) [Terms of Service](https://www.inspirehub.com/terms-conditions) **RESOURCES** [IHUBApp Support](https://support.ihub.app) [Hub Store](https://hubstore.ihub.app/) [Hub Ship](http://hubship.ihub.app/) [Resource Library](https://ihubgo.com/c/useful-resources/feed) [Blog](https://www.inspirehub.com/blog) **PRODUCTS** [IHUBApp Features Overview](https://www.inspirehub.com/about-ihubapp) [For Creators](https://ihubgo.com/posts/166687/ihubapp-for-creators) [For Publishers](https://ihubgo.com/posts/166738/ihubapp-for-publishers) [For Businesses](https://ihubgo.com/posts/166778/ihubapp-for-business) ![An InspireHUB Innovation. 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