Help Your Team Nerd Out
October 19, 2026
Your hospitality team probably knows your tasting notes, wine club benefits, and brand story inside and out. But how much do they know about what’s happening in the vineyard or cellar right now?
Giving tasting room and hospitality staff opportunities to nerd out on the technical side of wine can make them more confident educators and better storytellers.
They don't need to know every detail of vineyard management or winemaking. But understanding why your team makes certain decisions gives them something much more interesting to share than a memorized list of facts.
Turn Your Experts into Teachers
The best educational resources are already on your team.
Invite your vineyard manager, winemaker, or other production staff to occasionally join a hospitality meeting. Ask them to talk about what they're working on, what they're watching, and why it matters.
Keep it informal. A 15-minute conversation about what's happening in the vineyard can give hospitality staff plenty of new material to bring into guest conversations.
Can't get everyone in the same room? Ask your vineyard or winemaking team to send a short monthly recap. Think of it as a "What's Happening in the Vineyard?" update.
That’s what Jim Stollberg and Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) do for the team at Riverbench Vineyard and Winery.
In September of 2026, Chad updated the team on harvest’s early start, yields, and completion:
Harvest is done!
September 8th marked the final day of harvest for 2026. This season harvest began on July 17th, which was one of the earliest harvests since 2017. This season we picked grapes for 15 different wineries resulting in 45 individual harvests.
Overall yields in the Chardonnay were around historical average while Pinot Noir was 20% heavier.
The 2026 season accumulated heat earlier than 2025, with significantly higher growing degree days during the early part of the growing season. This accelerated vine development and contributed to the earlier-than-normal start to harvest.
Specific updates about your operation turn broad concepts like water conservation and soil health into authentic stories.
Build Confidence & Better Conversations
Your guests will have different levels of curiosity. One may simply want to know whether they should order the Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Another may want to know why sheep are grazing between your vineyard rows or how your winemaker decided when to pick.
A well-educated hospitality team can meet both where they are.
Technical knowledge also gives staff more ways to tell your story. Instead of simply saying, "We're sustainable," they can talk about what your team actually does to protect people and the planet.
Give Them More Ways to Nerd Out
You don't have to build all of your staff education from scratch. Vineyard Team offers opportunities to hear directly from growers, researchers, winemakers, and other experts throughout the year.
November | Sustainable Ag Expo
Attending the Sustainable Ag Expo gives employees a deep dive into the science, research, and real-world practices shaping winegrowing today.
SIP Certified members can get $50 off their ticket until Oct 30 with code SIP50!
Spring Through Summer | Tailgates
Send staff to a Tailgate meeting to see sustainable practices firsthand.
Throughout the Year | Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast
Share an episode of the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast for your team to discuss at a meeting.
The goal isn't to turn every hospitality employee into a vineyard or cellar expert. It's to give them enough access and understanding to confidently answer questions, share meaningful details, and say, "Want to hear something cool about how we make this wine?"
That's where great guest conversations begin.