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Benefits of being a member
Sonoma County Vintners is a nonprofit association that promotes the wines and wineries of Sonoma County to regional, national and international audiences. Membership is open to any winery producing Sonoma County wine. We have over 200 winery members ranging in size from less than 200 cases to more than 1 million. We offer a variety of membership benefits and programs to members of all sizes.
As a Sonoma County Vintner winery member, you will have access to the Sonoma County Vintners membership benefits and programs including but not limited to: Sonoma County Barrel Auction, Taste of Sonoma and Sonoma County Wine Auction. Additionally, your membership enables your winery to submit wines for critic tastings. Previous critic tasting opportunities included the Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck tastings. Throughout the year your winery will receive updates on government regulations/policies related to your winery. Also you will have the support of the Sonoma County Vintners Government Relations committee. The Sonoma County Vintners utilize media relationships to promote Sonoma County as a world-class wine region and keep the public updated with crucial crisis communications. Several informative members only webinars/seminars that support all facets of your business are available throughout the year. Through event marketing programs you have the option to participate and gain exposure for your winery with the ideal consumer, media and trade members.
Sonoma County Vintners works closely with the California Wine Institute to bring high-level trade, media and retailers to Sonoma County from key international markets around the world. By participating in the Sonoma County Vintners International Marketing & Export Program, wineries have the ability to obtain important brand exposure with groups visiting Sonoma County or by traveling with Sonoma County Vintners in outbound campaigns to markets such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.
As part of our 2022 International Export programming, Sonoma County Vintners has planned activations with trade and media representatives around the globe. We continue to focus on the top five markets for U.S. Exports, while also activating emerging markets. All member wineries MUST be enrolled in Sonoma County Vintners International Export Program to participate, and a winery principal MUST attend to represent your brand.
Sonoma County Vintners hosted our first-ever hybrid program with key trade gathering in a centralized location in South Korea and vintner representatives tuning in virtually. This program focused on brands currently available in market. Evan Goldstein, MS, moderated the discussion with six wineries. About 40 key trade members in South Korea attended the event and learned about four key AVAs of Sonoma County.
California Wine Institute is scheduling an in-person trade tour of the Napa, Monterey, Lodi, Napa and Sonoma counties from January 30 through February 6, 2022. A group of eight importers from the emerging markets of Ukraine and Bulgaria will be accompanied by Marco Tiggelman (CWI Europe Office). All importers have expressed their interest in expanding their California portfolios for all levels of wines.
California Wine Institute is scheduling an in-person trade tour in early April for key sommeliers and chefs from Mexico. They will immerse themselves in learning as much as possible about Sonoma County through SCV programming that will include a master class, lunch and walk around tasting. There is NO COST to participate in this event if you are a current member of the Sonoma County Vintners International Export Program.
Sonoma County Vintners will be hosting a group of trade and media from the Nordics, including importers, retailers, sommeliers and at least one lifestyle journalist, in Sonoma County. This group is also slated to attend the Sonoma County Barrel Auction events.
The five-day program will include:
Participants do not need to be currently exporting to the Nordics. There is NO COST to participate in this event if you are a current member of the Sonoma County Vintners International Export Program.
Sonoma County Vintners is bringing five chosen wineries to Prowein to participate in the two-day tradeshow. An additional 14 wineries will be represented in the dedicated four-hour Sonoma County by-the-glass pouring session where trade and consumers can take a self guided tour to explore the five key varietals of Sonoma County.
Programs and marketing efforts are pending for the second half of the year. Once those details are confirmed, we will be reaching out with the program details and appropriate sign up. If you have any questions, please email our Director of Membership & International Programs.
Drive NEW visitors to your tasting room! Participating wineries in the Evergreen Offer provides a “2 for 1” savings on their standard tasting fees, available for all Visa Signature® and Visa Infinite ® cardholders. This program is promoted by Sonoma County Vintners and Visa to their card issuer clients, ultimately marketing to thousands of potential new customers. Currently, these card issuers include Hyatt, United Mileage Plus, Chase Marriott Bonvoy, Navy Federal Credit Union, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and more!
You are also encouraged to offer preferred savings on wine and merchandise purchases made on same-day visits in the tasting room (average participant offers 10% of wine and merchandise).
Share your story to corporate groups and key markets across the country! Visa Signature and Sonoma County Vintners collaborate to deliver up to 20 Winemaker Dinners or Winemaker Activations in major direct-to-consumer markets each year. Cities include, but are not limited to, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta.
In addition to the Winemaker Dining Events Visa and Sonoma County Vintners have developed virtual programming to be offered to corporate groups throughout the year. Winery participants will have the opportunity to develop content, pricing and other programming needs with Sonoma County Vintners/Visa clients.
Option to offer $1 Ground Shipping for online orders of three (3) or more bottles.
Sonoma County Vintners has launched a branded academic program called SCION, Sonoma County Industry Opportunity Network. SCION incorporates educational seminars and webinars offered to members of Sonoma County Vintners, featuring topics such as DTC sales and shipping compliance, marketing, public relations, winery production and other emerging issues. The program encompasses a library of resources for members that will include recordings and presentations of past events, additional information and statistics on relevant wine industry topics, and a list of contacts and other resources available to members.
To learn more, please contact Paula Viehmann, Director of Membership & International Programs.
Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) is the leading voice of Sonoma County Wine, dedicated to increasing awareness and improving the quality image of our wines to consumers, media and trade — locally and globally.