Some refer to it as the “Bible” of the wine and grape industry. It is probably better described as the White and Yellow Pages of the industry. The 2023 Directory and Buyer’s Guide printed version developed by Wine Business Monthly and Wines Vines Analytics with more than 19,000 listings was released just a few weeks ago at a cost of $95. The 640-page colored guide is considered the industry standard and a great resource for wineries and growers. A subscription to more expanded online services is offered for those with a more consistent need for that information. Here are five ways wineries can use the ($95) printed directory:
1. Contact Wineries
More than 10,000 North American wineries from each of the 50 states are listed, with the most current contact and profile information available. It begins with Alabama and ends with Wyoming, and includes wineries from Canada and Mexico. The data for this part of the directory has been collected through a variety of public and private sources. Besides the winery name, street address, e-mail, and website, there are names of key contacts, top varietals, tasting room, brands, etc. It’s a wealth of information in a consistent format. The subscription upgrade gives online access to data on personnel, case production range, products, and distribution of other wineries.
2. Find Supplies
Are you a winery or grower and looking for supplies? The Buyer’s Guide portion of the publication is a convenient way to locate products and services, as well as identify vendors. It categorizes over 2,000 wine industry vendor profiles with product and contact information. This is a great starting point in looking for supplies, much of it related to cooperage, production, and packing processes. It is the largest portion of the publication and similar to traditional phone books, vendors can pay to upgrade their listing. The supplier search is accessible online without a subscription here. This resource proved extremely valuable in connecting buyers with sellers during the pandemic when trade shows and in-person meetings ceased.
3. Source Grapes
Wineries today provide wines from various regions to their guests, not just from estate-grown grapes. Therefore, wineries are always looking for opportunities to source grapes, even if they are growers themselves. Sourcing from grape growers is a valuable tool for wineries. The Directory and Buyer’s Guide provides two listings, includes a listing of growers by state with contact information, total acres planted, and top varietals. The other listing is wineries that sell grapes, it is categorized by state and lists the winery’s name and the city. Again, a great place to start. The vineyard vendor section is also a valuable supply source for growers.
4. Learn the Rules
For wineries, the most useful part of the Direct Shipping Regulations section is the state-by-state breakdown of direct shipping rules. It provides general information for onsite and offsite purchases and associated shipping regulations. This information is provided by Sovos ShipCompliant, an alcohol beverage compliance software company. It’s also on their website. The printed report includes the volume limit for each state and a table of associated licensing fees and requirements. The annual shipping report is a two-page summary of the status of the part of the industry and provides an important introduction to this section.
5. Updated Information
The printed directory is updated annually. The guide not only provides an updated listing of wineries and vendors, but also an updated list of growers, distributors, and associations. More than 800 wine distributors in North America are listed by state, then metro market, and include contact information Additional content areas include trade, winery, and grower association listings. The limitation of this physical report is that it went to print in October 2022. Again, depending on your need, the continuously updated online subscription services might be a better fit.
Although the printing is not sustainable long-term, the 2023 Directory and Buyer’s Guide provides important information to American wineries and grape growers. It also provides valuable information to a host of other industry participants, such as vendors, distributors, wine media, and public and private organizations. The intention is to subscribe to the services, but individuals and organizations with simple needs and limited resources can greatly benefit from the $95 directory available here.
