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Submit your wines to be evaluated by the Northwest's top wine industry professionals, earn medals and gain valuable exposure.

Deadline to Submit (*and wine delivered): October 17th
Judging Dates: November 11th & 12th
Medalists Announced: December 9th

The Greater Seattle Export Accelerator (GSEA) program is a complimentary program open to selected small businesses and growth-stage exporters across King, Pierce, and Snohomish County. 

Learn more about how to apply HERE. 

The Woodinville Wine Country (WWC) Advertising Co-op Program offers participating members various benefits aimed at optimizing their advertising efforts through data-driven strategies and advanced technology. Here’s a summary of what the program provides and the benefits members can receive:

Learn more here: WWC Co-Op Program_ ADVERTISING (2).pdf

Program Offerings Data-Driven Audiences and Media Placement: Custom audiences are built using Datafy's data, with media placements tracked and optimized for the best audience reach. Advanced Campaign Reporting: A live dashboard tracks the success of campaigns, providing insights into ad viewers and market visitors. Creative Development: Datafy offers specifications for updating existing creative assets or developing new ones for niche campaigns at an additional cost. 10% Added Value: Partners receive 10% additional value impressions to extend campaign reach. Key Benefits  Participating in this program allows members to leverage advanced advertising technologies and data analytics, ensuring efficient and effective marketing efforts tailored to reach the most qualified audiences. Return on Ad Spend: Linking ad exposure to actual market visits, providing clear attribution and ROI. AD Tracking: Collect user data and insights. Customized Strategy: Tailored strategies based on data audiences, ensuring targeted and effective advertising efforts. Customized Strategy: Tailored strategies based on data audiences, ensuring targeted and effective advertising efforts. Collaborative and Efficient Ad Spend: Combining resources for better buying power and access to advanced tactics and technology. High-Quality Data: Utilizing geolocation, demographic, and spending data with a five-year historical lookback for unparalleled insights. Targeted Audiences: Ability to create specific audience categories such as past hotel visitors, visitors to competitive destinations, in-market visitors, and more. Advertising Tactics: Various online touchpoints including digital audio, HTML5 display, video, static display, native ads, and connected TV. Additional Features Visitor Spending Data and Universal IDs: Access to detailed spending data and household-level demographics for precise targeting. Insights and Analytics: Detailed reports on ad-targeted visitors, their market behavior, length of stay, and household demographics.

To sign up complete: WWC Co-Op Sign Up Form.pdf and send to lindsey@woodinvillewinecountry.com

The City of Woodinville is launching a new micromobility pilot program in partnership with the private company Lime, aimed at expanding sustainable transportation options for both residents and visitors. Starting Monday, June 16, and running through Wednesday, October 1, Lime will offer shared scooters and bikes via its mobile app platform. As part of the pilot, the City will be collecting feedback from businesses, residents, and riders through an online survey to help shape future transportation planning. Businesses can report an issue with Lime here. Key Pilot Program Priorities: Preventing devices from cluttering streets and sidewalks Creating geofenced parking zones for better organization Establishing no-ride and reduced-speed zones for safety Stay tuned for updates -- be sure to share your input to help guide this city initiative!

FEEDBACK SURVEY

HOW TO RIDE INFO

REPORT ISSUE TO LIME

WSU Tri-Cities recently held a Wine Service Excellence workshop through their Cougar Tracks program for continuing education & workforce training. See the presentation slides on our resources page, and check them out for additional training opportunities. 

How Email Marketing Actually Works (and Why It Matters)

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience—and it’s surprisingly simple once you understand the basics.

AWeber’s guide breaks it down into five key steps:

1. Grow your list – Start by collecting emails through sign-up forms or lead magnets.

2. Segment your audience – Group your subscribers based on interests or behaviors so your messages feel more personal.

3. Create great content – Send emails that are relevant, valuable, and engaging.

4. Send at the right time – Use tools to schedule your emails when people are most likely to open them.

5. Track and improve – Monitor what’s working (and what’s not) so you can refine your strategy.

What makes email marketing so powerful? It’s permission-based, direct, and cost-effective—bringing in an average of $36 for every $1 spent. It’s a great tool for building trust, driving action, and staying top-of-mind with your audience.

See the full article by Sean Tinney on AWeber

Alexa Dickinson, the Eastside and Snohomish County Community Manager at Yelp, has provided guidance on leveraging Yelp tools and optimizing online presence for businesses. She has conducted sessions aimed at helping businesses maximize their visibility and engagement on Yelp.

Given her role and experience, her recommendations include:

• Claiming and optimizing your Yelp Business Page: Ensuring that your business information is accurate and up-to-date.

• Engaging with customer reviews: Responding to reviews to show appreciation and address concerns.

• Utilizing Yelp's advertising tools: Exploring free options to increase visibility.

• Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews: Building a strong online reputation through positive feedback.

For more detailed information, you might consider reaching out directly to Alexa Dickinson or visit business.yelp.com/resources

Check out our upcoming YELP Workshop and review the tips below: 

"Stars, Stats, and the Power of the Pour" from WineGlass Marketing emphasizes the critical role online reviews play in a winery's marketing strategy. It outlines how platforms like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor influence consumer behavior:

• Google: Essential for local SEO; more reviews improve search rankings and visibility.

• Yelp: Attracts users with high purchase intent; crucial for wineries offering tastings or food.

• TripAdvisor: Influences travel decisions; vital for wineries in tourist-heavy areas.

The article suggests authentic, non-intrusive methods to encourage reviews:

• Make it Obvious: Use window clings, QR codes on table tents, or notes on receipts to prompt reviews.

• Ask During a Moment of Delight: Train staff to request reviews when guests express satisfaction.

• Thank You Cards with QR Codes: Provide guests with branded cards linking directly to review pages.

• Small Incentives: Offer access to exclusive content or events as a token of appreciation for reviews.

• Reinforce with Post-Visit Follow-Ups: Send personalized emails or include handwritten notes in shipments to encourage reviews.

• Leverage Social Media: Use story polls and highlights to engage visitors and prompt them to share their experiences.

From the WA Wine Institute: We learned that the FTC has delayed the enforcement date for their new "Click-to-Cancel" rule from today, May 14, 2025 to July 14, 2025. We wanted to alert you as soon as we could, so you have the most up-to-date information for your use and decision making as needed. You can click here for the official FTC notice of enforcement being delayed two months.

Please see below for the article from the law firm Foster Garvey PC we've included in past e-newsletters providing details on FTC's "Click-to-Cancel" Rule. As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Legal Alert: The FTC's "Click-to-Cancel" Rule – What Wineries Need to Know for Compliance

By Brian Fink, Attorney at Foster Garvey PC| brian.fink@foster.com

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) new "Click-to-Cancel" rule went into effect earlier this year, and enforcement begins May 14, 2025.

This rule applies to businesses that offer recurring payment programs (a/k/a negative option programs). For wineries, this means assessing and potentially revising your wine club membership sign-up and cancellation processes.

The "Click-to-Cancel" rule requires that cancellation must be as easy assigning up. For example, if consumers can join a wine club online, they must also be able to cancel their membership online with the same simplicity, such as by clicking an obvious "Cancel Membership" button. Requiring members to send an email to request cancellation or navigate a multi-step process risks violating the rule.

Similarly, if your winery requires members to confront retention offers (e.g., discounts to stay in the club), the rule stipulates that members must first consent to viewing these offers and be allowed to decline them entirely without obstructing the cancellation process.

It is crucial for wineries to review their e-commerce platforms and wine club sign up and cancellation processes for compliance with the FTC's requirements. The rule mandates that all material terms of the subscription, including pricing, billing frequency, cancellation policies, and any additional fees, must be clearly disclosed before obtaining a consumer's billing information.

Noncompliance could result in hefty civil penalties. Additionally, consumers have increasingly relied on FTC principles in private lawsuits, including recent cases targeting allegedly deceptive practices in the alcoholic beverage industry.

By acting now, wineries can get ahead of the FTC's "Click-to-Cancel" rule, avoid penalties or civil lawsuits, and protect their brand reputation.

This is a high-level summary of a complex topic. It is not intended as legal advice. Please consult with your attorney if you have questions about these issues.