Meet Me at Brunch

In today’s chat with Tim , we talk about how winemakers learn to communicate outside the winery, why different audiences need different stories, and how to keep your message clear across cellar door, trade, and wine club.Tim shares how his retail background shaped his approach to selling wine, why people connect more with place and personality than technical detail alone, and what extra resourcing can unlock inside a winery. We also touch on how Oakridge is adapting its cellar door focus, and what the current season is doing in the Yarra.In this episode:How retail experience translates to better wine salesWhy knowing your product builds confidence and trust with consumersHow to tailor your message for cellar door, trade, and wine clubWhy people and place matter more than technical detail aloneWhat resourcing can change inside a winery and vineyardHow Oakridge is adapting its cellar door offeringWeather in the Yarra and the upcoming vintageAll Links & ResourcesFind all of our free resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

Todays chat with Pete is one that you don't want to miss. We go inside Pikes’ export playbook: why the right distributor beats the “right” market, what's moving the needle in our current market, and how to stay steady when tariffs and travel knock plans around. Pete also shares first steps for small wineries and the health routines that make the job sustainable.In this episode:How strong customer relationships set the foundation for DTC growthWhy working together beats going it alone in regional wine networksHow trade and export connections can support your long-term goalsFirst steps for small wineries with limited hands on deckHealth, routines, and staying balanced when you're on the roadAll Links & ResourcesFind all of our free resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

From cellar door loyalty and winery collaborations to trade partnerships and regional networks, this episode dives deep into what makes the Australian wine industry so connected.Hugh, Charlotte, and John share their experiences across every layer of the wine world, from building trust with customers to working with regional associations and industry bodies. They also explore how collaboration can lift the whole sector, making Australian wine stronger at home and abroad.In this episode:How strong customer relationships set the foundation for DTC growthWhy working together beats going it alone in regional wine networksHow trade and export connections can support your long-term brand goalsWhat regional and national wine bodies do, and how to get involvedStories of wineries backing each other and building something bigger togetherMentioned in this episode:Wine AustraliaAustralian Grape & WineWine VictoriaWine TasmaniaWines of Western AustraliaNSW Wine Industry AssociationQueensland Wine Industry Association📍 Explore your regional wine association: AGW Regional Directory📘 Learn more about Vision 2050: Australian Grape & Wine Vision 2050All Links & ResourcesFind all of our free resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

We’re going back to basics with Social Media That Sells (Part Two) designed for the small winery teams doing it all. In this episode, Maddy and Amber share what matters most on your socials.Learn how to:Build simple content pillars that guide your postsUse Facebook and Instagram effectivelyShare the social load across your teamRepurpose user-generated contentBatch, schedule, and simplify your postsUse AI tools without losing your winery’s voice👉 Download Social Media Basics for Wineries hereAll Links & ResourcesFind all of our free resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

If you’ve ever been curious about what makes Pike’s Wines so consistently popular, this episode is a must-listen. Nick sits down with Jamie Pike, second-generation co-owner, and Pud Smith, Direct Sales Manager and long-serving cellar door extraordinaire, to unpack the history, strategy, and heart behind this iconic Clare Valley brand.What We Cover:How Pike’s started and grew from a small family operation into a national brand.The importance of building relationships with customers, both in the cellar door and via direct-to-consumer channels.How they manage varietal diversity and product innovation while staying true to their core offerings.Tips for delivering exceptional customer experience in wine and hospitality.All Links & ResourcesPike’s Wines: https://www.pikeswines.com.auAccess our top ten marketing tips right hereFind our Free Resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

Winemaker. General manager. All-round legend. Andrew Duff has done it all, and in this chat, he shares what he’s learned along the way. From brewing beer in boarding school to leading the team at Briar Ridge in the Hunter Valley, Duff reflects on the moments that shaped his winemaking journey and what’s driving innovation today. He and Hugh talk about cellar door surprises, the rise of new varietals, and how to keep things simple when you’re running a small team.What We Cover:Duff’s journey back to the Hunter and into winemakingWhy Albariño, Fiano and other new varieties are on his radarHow Briar Ridge balances heritage with fresh ideasWhat surprises visitors when they visit the cellar doorWhy simple marketing is often the smartest movePractical advice for small winery teams doing it allAll Links & ResourcesAccess our top ten marketing tips right hereFind our Free Resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

Done right, paid media is one of the most powerful ways to grow your wine business. But too often, it’s confusing, expensive, or just plain frustrating.In this episode, Maddy and Amber cut through the noise and break down how wineries can use Meta Business Suite to get better results from their ads. They cover how to set up a simple, effective funnel, choose the right audiences, and write copy that actually converts. If you’ve been guessing with your ads, this episode gives you a clear place to start.What We Cover:How Paid Media flows through your sales funnelThe difference between boosting and strategic advertisingBudget tips: what to spend and when to scaleAudience types and how to target themWhat makes a great wine ad: visuals, copy and creative formatsDaily optimisations that move the needleWhy Meta will always spend your budget, and how to make your spend count All Links & ResourcesAccess our top ten marketing tips right hereFind our Free Resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

A busy cellar door is great, but real growth happens when you keep those customers coming back.In this episode, John and Dave explore how wineries can turn casual drop-ins into loyal customers. They talk about creating memorable experiences, capturing the right data, and using simple automations to stay connected once the visitor walks out the door. Whether you’re new to CRM or already running loyalty programs, this chat will help you get more from every tasting room interaction.What we cover:Why your cellar door team are your most powerful brand ambassadorsWhat makes an experience memorableHow wine tourism is shifting from walk-ins to booked, immersive tastingsSmart ways to collect data that helps your marketingEasy CRM tricks for better follow-up and segmentationLoyalty vs. subscriptions - what works best, and whenHow to motivate staff to capture better dataSetting up follow-up flows that feel personal and authenticUsing purchase behaviour to tailor future offers All Links & ResourcesAccess our top ten marketing tips right hereFind our Free Resources hereWant to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us hereVisit us at brunchagency.comFollow us on InstagramConnect with us on LinkedIn

We all know wine quality matters. But when someone is standing in front of a shelf or browsing online, there are a dozen other things that drive the sale.In this episode, Bronte, Adam and Lachie break down what catches a buyer’s eye and what makes them hit purchase. You’ll hear how label design, storytelling, DTC conversations and even phone calls impact trust, loyalty and spend. This one is packed with insight from people who talk to customers every day, and who know how a single bottle becomes a repeat order.What we cover:Why some bottles get picked up while others get ignoredHow strong branding and storytelling drive salesWhat wine buyers care aboutHow one-on-one conversations shape trust and influence decisionsWhy phone sales often result in higher basket sizesWhat the Brunch Direct team notices when interacting with their customers All Links & Resources📝 Access all our Free Resources here: linktr.ee/brunch.agency📞 Want to chat about your winery’s sales strategy? Book a free consult with us here🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn

Most wineries are under-communicating with their best customers. This episode is about fixing that.Hugh and Nick break down why regular phone calls to wine club members are one of the most effective ways to reduce churn and drive loyalty. Backed by real campaigns and first-hand stories from the Brunch Direct team, they cover what to say, how to say it, and why it works. It’s practical, simple and makes so much sense. If you’re ready to re-engage your club members and boost long-term value, this is where to start.What We Cover• Why phone calls still work• How to use member conversations to shape your marketing• Real-life examples of customer loyalty in action• Why calls aren’t just about selling, they’re about connection• Tips to build trust, avoid attrition, and turn passive members into active buyers• How Brunch Direct supports wineries with phone campaigns that feel personalAll Links & Resources🍷 Download your Member Retention Guide right here📝 Access all our Free Resources here📞 Want to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us here🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn

Email marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you’ve ever stared at your subscriber list wondering what to send next, this one’s for you.Maddy sits down with Caster and Ben from Klaviyo to unpack what makes email such a powerful channel for wineries in 2025. They cover how to build and grow your list, what automations to start with, and how to create emails your customers want to open. Whether you’re just starting out or cleaning up what you’ve already built, it’s full of practical advice you can use right away. What we cover:• The difference between a list, a tag, and a segment (and why it matters)• The one mistake almost every winery is making• Smart automations you can set and forget• How to personalise your email marketing (without losing your mind)• Why one-size-fits-all campaigns are killing your engagement• How to grow your list with better incentives and less friction• What flows to set up first — and what to test over time• Using Klaviyo as a CRM, not just an email tool• Our take on how often to email, what to say, and what to stop doingAll Links & Resources📝 Access all our Free Resources here📞 Want to chat through your winery’s email strategy? Book a free consult with us here🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn

In this episode, we’re looking back... and looking forward.Brunch just turned five, so Char, Kip and John are sharing how the agency began, what we’ve learned along the way, and where we’re headed next. They walk through everything from our beginnings as 'We are Toast' to acquiring VinoDirect and opening our Chicago office. It’s an honest look at what it takes to build a wine marketing agency from scratch, and what’s coming next for wineries selling direct-to-consumer.What we cover:The story behind how Brunch startedKey moments that shaped the agency’s first five yearsThe growth of Brunch Direct and our US expansionWhat we’ve learned from working with 150+ wineriesWhy DTC phone sales still work... and what sets them apartWhat’s changing in winery eCommerce, email and digitalWhat we see coming next for the industry🧠 More free winery resources: https://linktr.ee/brunch.agency📞 Want to talk about your DTC strategy? Book a free strategy callSubscribe to Meet Me at Brunch for practical wine marketing insights from the team at Brunch Agency. We help wineries across Australia, NZ and the US sell more wine, direct to consumer, through websites, email, phone sales and digital strategy.

What makes a winery’s social media actually work? In this episode, Kate (CMO), Maddy (Head of Marketing), and Amber (Senior Account Manager) take a closer look at what drives results on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and what doesn’t. From common mistakes to strategic wins, they walk through what it takes to build a consistent, engaging, and on-brand presence. It’s everything wineries need to know to start showing up better online, build stronger brand connections, and set themselves up for long-term success on social.What we cover:Common mistakes wineries make (and how to avoid them)The power of planning — and how to create content pillarsQuick wins for boosting engagementPlatform-by-platform tips: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and moreWhat content the algorithm actually wantsHow to use music, video, captions, and hashtags effectivelyThe role of user-generated contentWhen it’s time to invest in paid social — and what to do first🎧 Grab our free Social Media Playbook from this episode, and explore more practical resources via our Linktree.All Links & Resources💻 Grab your free  Social Media Playbook here!📝 Access our Free Resources here📞 Want to talk through your winery’s digital strategy? Book a no-obligation chat🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect on LinkedIn Featured wine: Block 7 Chardonnay from Briar Ridge, Orange NSW.Next Episode....

Wine trends are changing fast, and staying on top of what’s in (and what’s out) is key to staying relevant.In this episode, John and Nick break down what’s hot right now, what styles are slipping, and what wineries should be doing to connect with today’s wine drinkers. They explore everything from shifting varietal preferences and consumer habits to the rise of DTC loyalty programs, evolving cellar door experiences, and why channel strategy matters more than ever.It’s a fast-paced, practical chat with takeaways you can act on straight away, plus a mystery Pinot Noir to keep things interesting.What we cover:The macro trend: people are drinking less, but betterWhy light-bodied reds and alternate varietals are on the riseWhere Pet Nat and Rosé are heading (spoiler: not up)Smart DTC practices and why segmentation is criticalHow wineries are adapting cellar doors into tourism destinationsThe growing importance of eCommerce and user-friendly techMarketing tips for attracting younger drinkersFeatured Wine: Hungerford Hill Underground Pinot Noir, 2021, TumburumbaLinks & Resources🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel📚 Grab your free copy of our top ten marketing tips here📞 Want to talk through your direct-to-consumer strategy? Book a chat here🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect on LinkedIn

Welcome back to Meet Me at Brunch. This week, we’re diving into winery websites, what works, what doesn’t, and how to ensure yours is converting visitors into customers.Kate (CMO), Laura (E-commerce Project Manager), and Brunch Co-Founder Kip break down everything from site structure to SEO, sharing exactly what a great digital experience looks like and the common mistakes we see too often.Your Winery Health ChecklistTo make things even easier, we’ve created a free resource to go with this episode:👉 Your Winery Health Checklist🍷 Featured wine: Il Briccone Shiraz Sangiovese 2023In this episode:What makes a winery website effectiveHow to structure your homepage for conversionsWhy the first fold matters mostMobile-first design and load speed tipsHow to create product pages that sellBooking experience best practice for cellar doorsSEO 101 — meta tags, keywords, and common trapsWhat “alt tags” are and why they matterLong-tail keywords and internal linkingAbandoned cart flows and welcome series 101Easy CTAs to add todayHeat maps, user testing, and the “Mum Test”Links & Resources📝 Free Resource: Your Website Health Checklist📞 Want to talk through your winery’s digital strategy? Book a no-obligation chat🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect on LinkedInNext EpisodeWe’re back next week with John and Nick for a Great Wine Chat all about what’s hot and what’s not in 2025. From styles and regions to shifting consumer behaviours, we’ll be unpacking the trends that are shaping the wine world this year, and the ones on their way out.

Your customers have questions,  and some of them are weird, wonderful, and delightfully insightful. In this Great Wine Chat, our Brunch Direct team (Bronte, Lachie and Adam) share the most memorable things consumers have asked them over the phone, from vintage quirks to tasting notes to asking what Lachie was wearing (yes, really). This episode dives into what today’s wine consumer really wants to know, and how direct conversations can build trust, connection and long-term loyalty.If you’re a winery with a wine club, cellar door, or an email list, there’s something here for you.What We CoverWhy great wine conversations start with good listeningThe value of tasting the wine before selling itWhy painting a picture (think: food matches and picnic scenes) helps people buyHow direct sales campaigns work best when paired with cellar door connectionsHow wine preferences shift with time and why keeping in touch mattersWhat consumers want to know, from vintage to varietal to vegan-friendlyHow building relationships turns customers into loyal advocatesThe impact of cellar door experiences... good and badFeatured WineMount Avoca Estate ShirazLinks & ResourcesLinks & Resources📝 Free Resource: 10 Quick Wins for Wineries📞 Want to talk through your winery’s digital strategy? Book a no-obligation chat🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect on LinkedIn📞 Want to talk through your direct-to-consumer strategy? Book a chat with usNext Episode Laura, Kip and KB talk through the essentials of a high-converting winery website. If your site isn’t helping you sell wine, this one’s for you.

Welcome to the very first episode of Meet Me at Brunch. In this chat, Maddy (Head of Marketing) and Hugh (Business Development Manager) talk through the basics of digital marketing for wineries — what it actually is, why it matters, and how to get started without feeling overwhelmed.You’ll hear about what’s working right now in the DTC wine space, what’s changed since COVID, and what wineries need to prioritise if they want to cut through the noise online. From quick wins to big-picture thinking, this episode covers a lot — and it’s all designed to be actionable straight away. What we coverWhat “digital marketing” really means for wineriesThe biggest mistakes we see every dayWhy your website might be hurting your salesWhat makes a healthy add-to-cart ratioSimple changes you can make to see instant resultsHow SMS can reduce database fatigueWhy automations matter (and which ones you need first)The importance of your Google Business ProfileWhy DTC is more than just an online store — and what to do about it Quick Wins for WineriesTo make things even easier, we’ve created a free resource to go with this episode:👉 10 Quick Wins for Wineries to Boost Their Digital Marketing Featured wineDavid Hook Chardonnay 2023. Thanks to David and Sherry for the delicious bottle. Links & Resources📝 Free Resource: 10 Quick Wins for Wineries📞 Want to talk through your winery’s digital strategy? Book a no-obligation chat🌐 Visit us at brunchagency.com📸 Follow us on Instagram🔗 Connect on LinkedInNext EpisodeOur Brunch Direct team are up next, sharing the weirdest, wildest, and most insightful wine questions consumers ask. Get ready to hear what your customers are really thinking.