In this episode of the DRINKS Podcast: The Business of Online Alcohol, Rami Jubran speaks with Andy Lark about the transformative impact of AI on the wine industry. They discuss the challenges wineries face in adapting to digital changes, the importance of modernizing e-commerce platforms, and how AI can enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Andy emphasizes the need for wineries to capture customer data and leverage AI to drive sales and marketing efforts. The conversation also touches on common misconceptions about AI and offers practical advice for wineries looking to implement AI solutions effectively.

Takeaways:
- The alcohol business is at an inflection point.
- AI can unlock enormous productivity gains for wineries.
- Wineries need to modernize their e-commerce stacks.
- AI can enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.
- Capturing customer data is crucial for wineries.
- Wineries should focus on specific jobs to be done with AI.
- AI can automate marketing and personalization efforts.
- Understanding AI requires effort and training.
- Wineries should prioritize data collection at every customer touchpoint.
- AI is a force multiplier for wineries, enabling them to do more with less.

In this episode of the Drinks.com Podcast, host Brandon Amoroso sits down with Carson Benham, newly minted VP of West Coast Sales at Martin Ray Winery, for a candid look at where wine sales are really headed.

Inside the conversation

🎯 80/20 in action: how Carson decides which markets and events deserve his time—and why Utah suddenly matters.
🔄 E-commerce vs. three-tier: practical ways to use DTC traction to unlock distributor deals.
💸 Price-point reset: turning California’s bulk-wine oversupply into everyday-luxury bottles under $25.
📱 Gen-Z playbook: digital storytelling, “better-for-you” labels, and checkout flows that match fashion-retail standards.
🌊 Surviving the RNDC exit: ripple effects of a top distributor leaving California and the new openings for small brands.
🚚 Hidden costs revealed: shipping math, six-bottle safeguards, and why Apple Pay should be on every winery site.

Whether you sell wine, study the industry, or love a good deal at dinner, this conversation delivers practical takeaways you can use right away.

Mores resources at Drinks.com

In this episode of the Drinks.com Podcast, Brandon Amoroso sits down with Pete Jones, co-founder of Aesthete Wines and former head of wine and spirits at Shopify, now at Stripe. From growing up in Sonoma County to pioneering digital transformation in the beverage alcohol industry, Pete shares how he blended tradition with technology. The conversation dives into the challenges wineries face in modernizing operations, the massive opportunities in direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy, and how platforms like Shopify are reshaping the industry from the ground up.

Here's what you'll learn:

🛍️ What it was like to lead wine and spirits at Shopify during COVID-driven digital transformation.

⚠️ The biggest challenges facing the alcohol industry today — and the tech-forward solutions.

🤝 Why stakeholder buy-in and internal metrics are critical for digital change.

🌪️ How economic headwinds are driving a necessary evolution in alcohol e-commerce.

📬 The strategic value of building a direct-to-consumer relationship for wineries.

🧠 Lessons from lifestyle brands and what wineries can learn from them.

🌿 How consumer behavior is shifting — including the rise of non-alcoholic and cannabis alternatives.

🚫 Why first impressions of wine matter — and how bad wine turns people off forever.

Mores resources at Drinks.com