Where are hard cider consumers purchasing your product? In a 2015 Mid-Atlantic survey, more than 50 percent of consumers reported purchasing product at bars, restaurants and tasting rooms. Tasting room assistants, bartenders, pouring experts and waitstaff – those who work directly for you and those who do not – are, in many cases, your sales force. How well do they know your product, how often do they recommend it and are they attuned to your sales goals? Who, behind the scenes, are you depending on to champion your business?

by Tamara Scully

Kombucha, in certain circles, is the go-to drink for providing health benefits. For thousands of years, kombucha, a fermented tea, has been revered for its healing properties, called “the tea of immortality.” With today’s focus on probiotics and functional foods, kombucha has once again joined the mainstream, found in major grocery stores – not just health food or specialty stores. A minority of kombucha brands fall instead into the category of alcoholic beverage.

by Sally Colby

The Mid-Atlantic region is home to numerous wineries and breweries, and distilleries are joining the list of places people deem worthy of their leisure time. Wycombe Vineyards is a popular stop on the Bucks County, PA, wine trail, and is also home to Sator Square Distillery.

by Tina L. LaVallee

Every new business prays for a breakout, but few have their prayers answered by an actual prison. Southern Grace Distillery in Mt. Pleasant, NC, has seen their production and reputation bloom exponentially since moving from their 2,000-square foot startup in a former textile plant to the grounds of the former Cabarrus County Correctional Facility.

by Courtney Llewellyn

Competition in the wine industry is horrible – so says David Bower, enology instructor and winemaker at Surry Community College in Dobson, NC. Raised and schooled in the industry, he also runs his own wine consulting business, helping both newcomers and those entrenched in the wine business make a mark.

by Karl H. Kazaks

DURHAM, NC – Everyone has moments in their life they weren’t expecting but they will never forget.

For Scott Russ, co-founder of Graybeard Distillery, one such moment occurred in April 2017 at the 74th Annual WSWA Convention and Exposition.