The wine industry could use a helping hand. Between aggressive and illegal immigration policy, tariffs, and wellness trends, the realm is enduring a lot. It’s certainly not the only economy whether a series of storms, but it is one you can offer an assist, whether via chatting up your local bottle shop or going straight to the source for a wine tasting adventure.
Harvest 2025 just wrapped up in the northern hemisphere. That means wineries from Sonoma County to the southern Willamette Valley have put their wines to barrel and tank and are resting up. Another vintage is on its way to becoming wine and now, winemakers are looking to stay afloat as the quiet season sets in.
It’s the perfect time to lend a hand, whether that’s buying straight from your favorite vintner or volunteering when it comes time to bottle. You’ll be supporting the local economy in a variety of ways as the making of wine involves not just the winemaker, but the growers, the field workers, sales folks, and more.
Sure, the system is designed to support the biggest producers in the world but you can eek around that by showing up for your favorite smaller fish in the wine industry sea. There are many ways you can help out, read on for more.
Buy direct
This is one of the best ways to help your beloved small labels, hands down. Purchase direct, and they get the most profit. It’s a great way to avoid the middleman (distributors, other retailers, etc.) and also gain access to some rarer or small-production wines. Many winemaker produce 2,000 cases or less and are family-run, meaning every sale counts. Many will communicate with you directly to lock down a sale. And there’s nothing like dealing directly with the maker, as they can regale you with all the context of all the releases.
Preach the good word
As you surely know by now, a social media following is a big deal. That’s no different in the drinks world. Some of the most coveted beers, cocktails, and wines are the candy of Instagram and the like. Use your platform for good and praise the work of your new favorite winemaker, whether it’s a cool tasting flight that goes against conventions or a crisp dry Riesling that blew you away. Word of mouth can sell a lot of wine.
Consider a club membership
Here’s a bonafide way to secure some income for the winery you love. Club memberships may seem daunting at first, but they almost all pay for themselves quite quickly. You can always start on the low end but not matter what, you’re almost guaranteed access to cool events, discounts on wine, and first access to limited releases. And, you get to join a community of like-minded wine enthusiasts. Oh, and it’s also a great way to stock the cellar and actually age some wine, as you should.
Show it off
Did you stumble upon an incredible Chardonnay from the Eola-Amity Hills? A magical Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills in Northern California? Scream it from the mountaintops. Or, at least bring it up to your bottle shop or the wine steward at your preferred grocery store. You might just get them an in to a valuable new account. Also, put on your own winemaker’s cap and put together some tastings at home. Invite some friends over and crack a few bottles that have impressed you lately. It’s an ideal way to share in the discovery of something new and interesting.
Volunteer
There’s so much to be done as a winemaker. We tend to box it up into the busy harvest season of early fall, but really, it’s a year-round slog. And there are so many layers beyond just the cellar work, from the agriculture and the chemistry to the marketing and the sales. Often, there’s busy work that can be done by just about anybody. This might include grape-sorting during harvest, aiding the bottling line in spring, helping to prune in the winter, or even getting your pouring license and helping to fill people’s glasses during busy summer open houses. Chat up your winery and see what you can do. It might be an unsexy task like counting inventory or stocking holiday gift boxes but you’ll probably get some wine out of the deal.
Gift it
The holidays are coming in fast so consider wine from your favorite outfit as a gift. Again, this tends to be a slower sales time of the year so this will be all the more helpful. That, and wine makes a great gift as it can range from everything to an unusual blend or varietal you’d never heard of until now to something they can crack on a special occasion or lay down for years to come. Many wineries beef up their options too, often working with other purveyors to make intriguing gift boxes that pair their wines with other local fare.
