The Blog

Smart thinking for wine brands that want to grow. From practical marketing strategies to bold takes on industry trends, our blog shares what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next in wine DTC. No nonsense. No filler. Just honest insights from the agency trusted by wineries around the world.

From Legacy to Innovation: Carol Franzia on California Farming, Wine, and Zinc House Farm

In this heartfelt episode of Uncorked, Polly Hammond sits down with fourth-generation California winemaker Carol Franzia to explore her family’s rich history, their deep agricultural roots, and the launch of a bold new venture: Zin House Farm. With a legacy that spans over 120 years, Carol offers a candid look at what it means to…

Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 813 Vinexpo Paris | Uncorked

Welcome to episode 813 in which host Polly Hammond interviews a Ricardo Pasqua and Tanisha Townsend in this special Vinexpo episode of Uncorked. Today we sit down with not one but two guests! First, we welcome Ricardo Pasqua, CEO of Pasqua Wines (our first Italian guest!). Together with Robert Joseph, we were lucky enough to…

Luxury, NFTs, and the Future of Wine Experiences

In this episode of Uncorked, Polly Hammond is joined by Guillaume Jourdan, CEO of VitaBella Luxury & Lifestyle, to unpack how digital transformation is reshaping luxury—and why wine brands can no longer afford to ignore it. Drawing on experience advising more than 250 international luxury wine and lifestyle brands, Guillaume offers bold insights on blockchain,…

Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 795 Susan And Chloe Pate | Uncorked

Welcome to episode 795 – in which host Polly Hammond interviews Susan and Chloe Pate of Pate International in San Francisco on this week’s installment of “Uncorked”. Show description:We’re joined today by powerhouse Mother and Daughter team Susan and Chloe Pate, the creative team behind some of the wine world’s most iconic designs. Through the…

How Beau Became Auckland’s Favorite Wine Bar for Millennials (and Everyone Else), with Diva Giles

In this week’s Uncorked episode, Polly Hammond sits down with Diva Giles, co-owner of Beau, an award-winning wine bar and restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand. At just 26 years old, Diva and her team are flipping the script on how younger audiences engage with wine. With a 160-bottle list, minimalist marketing, and a deeply empathetic…

Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 777 Elizabeth Schneider | Uncorked

Welcome to episode 777 – in which host Polly Hammond interviews Elizabeth Schneider on this week’s installment of “Uncorked”. As host of one of the longest running and highest rated podcasts in the world, Elizabeth Schneider knows what it takes to talk wine with Normal People. Today, she pulls no punches as she reflects upon…

Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 769 Erica Crawford | Uncorked

Welcome to episode 769 – in which host Polly Hammond interviews Erica Crawford on this week’s installment of “Uncorked”. Erica Crawford is an absolute legend in the wine industry. Erica has been ahead of the curve from day one, first building one of New Zealand’s most iconic brands and nowadays as the driving force behind…

Natasha Sumkina | IWP Uncorked

Welcome to episode 981 in which host Polly Hammond interviews Natasha Sumkina, this week on Uncorked. This week, we welcome Natasha Sumkina, a St Petersburg native who is spearheading Russian-language wine communications for the GenZ and Millennial markets. Join us as we explore trends in education vs entertainment, social media and socialising, and how we…

Marketing Wine Across Generations with Polly Hammond

Where we get into which is the best generation (its not ours), great content and telling stories electronically. Internet polymath, Polly Hammond talks about 5forests and taking it global, we all get into differences between generations and then why we don’t like generalising about generations. It all comes back to being engaging in modern ways.…

woman wearing yellow sweater with blue nails holding iphone

Why your Facebook ROAS sucks

From understanding customer journeys and funnels to choosing the right agency partner, we cover everything you need to know to make the most of your advertising budget.

Inside Bordeaux: How Jane Anson Is Rewriting the Rules of Wine Media

In this first episode of Uncorked, Polly Hammond interviews Jane Anson, longtime Bordeaux expert and founder of the digital platform Inside Bordeaux. After nearly two decades at Decanter, Jane went independent—building a subscription business rooted in deep content, user-first design, and editorial freedom. Their conversation covers the leap from legacy media to entrepreneurship, the nuts…

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Your website probably isn’t accessible

I’m known for my matter-of-fact writing and talking style. I come by it naturally, so I hope readers aren’t offended if I tell them that their websites aren’t accessible, and that’s a dick move. I covered this 2 years ago in my “Don’t be a dick” series. You can read that here: Accessibility, compliance, and…