Trade Resources

Representatives from the Colorado Dept. of Revenue demonstrated the newly rolled out Sales & Use Tax System (SUTS) which fulfills the statutory mandate for on-line tools for destination sourcing sales tax collections on Monday, May 10, 2021.

The webinar included demonstrations by the system vendors on how a business can file their sales and use taxes for a number of jurisdictions, including the home rule municipalities that have joined the SUTS program;  and on how to identify the location code that brings up all the tax rates for a particular address.

The questions submitted before the seminar can be viewed with brief answers by clicking here.

CAVE and the CWIDB welcomed Pierre Costa for a webinar on Monday, April 26, 2021 that explored digital channels that can bring customers to your winery doorstep. It starts with an overview of the digital marketing environment and then presents a hands-on demonstration of setting a campaign on TripAdvisor.  We will present a practical example about targeting the right audience, creating your own ads using Canva, set up your budget and how to track it on your Google Analytics.

After Pierre’s presentation, Harvest Hosts will give an overview of their program that matches RV drivers and campers with wineries and vineyards for low-impact overnight stays.  The average guest spends more than $50 with the host winery.

Pierre Costa is based in Napa Valley, California and has an exotic mix of digital marketing and wine experience. He founded SommDigital, a consulting firm that develops and implements innovative digital marketing strategies specializing in wineries. He also lectures at Sonoma State University on Strategic Marketing, Wine E-commerce and Digital Marketing. Before he moved to Napa, he spent over five years working with Digital Media Agencies in London (England) and Dublin (Ireland) managing the digital marketing of large corporate accounts including Bank of Ireland and eircom (telecom). He spent 10 years working in the wine industry in high knowledge positions including head sommelier for star Michelin restaurant Bon Appetit in Dublin (Ireland) and Café Journal in Brazil along with finance and marketing roles with Inglenook winery, Delicato Family Wines, and Naked Wines. He is known for having a fantastic palate which was proven when he won the 2014 Top Taster blind wine tasting competition at Flavor! Napa Valley. He holds a MIT Digital Marketing Analytics Certificate, Masters degree in Electronic Business from University College Dublin and an Honors degree in Mathematics from UNESP. Pierre is a passionate Star Wars fan and enjoys archery and meditation.

Meg Maker, with terroirreview.com, presented this seminar on April 5, 2021 for the Colorado wine industry, subtitled “Updating  your winery website to help journalists tell your story.”

This document contains information on the Phillips-Rhodes Memorial Grant program for Fiscal Year 2021 as well as a link to the application form.  Contact doug.caskey@state.co.us if you need assistance or have questions.

Dr. Horst Caspari, CSU State Viticulturist, presented this seminar to the industry on February 22, 2021.

Click on the link to view the seminar and enter password #0qFA$WE.

Presented jointly by CAVE and the CWIDB, a half-day webinar on labor matters critical for small businesses.  Our guest speakers include:

• Courtney Berg, founder of CourtSide Consulting, an HR consulting firm for small business, certified small business consultant, and trainer with the Colorado SBDC
• Mike Kohler with the Elevate Training Program for Larimer County
• and Amanda Ericson,  HRx Services, who provides HR support for small businesses through her own consulting business and through Larimer County. She is the State Director of the CO Society for Human Resource Management.

This link will take you to the 25 minute mark, the start of the webinar.

Click on this link to view the study’s page on the CSU Climate Center’s website.  Or you can read more details on pages 22-37 of the 2020 Annual Report for the CSU Viticulture and Enology Programs for the Colorado Wine Industry.  This research is conducted by the CSU Climate Center, by the State Climatologist Russ Schumacher and Peter Goble, climate research associate, in collaboration with State Viticulturist Horst Caspari.  Click on the graphic below to go to CSU’s Climate Center’s website.

Click here for more information on the two-year Associate’s degree or Technical Certificate options that Western Colorado Community College offers in Viticulture & Enology,

CSU State Viticulturist Dr. Horst Caspari delivered this update and report from his initial assessment of bud and vine damage from the extreme cold events in Western Colorado in late October 2020, with comparisons to the October 2019 cold events.

Click here for the link to the Washington State Extension publication, “Assessing and Managing Cold Damage in Washington Vineyards,” which Miranda and Horst mentioned during the call.

Training for Intervention ProcedureS, created by Health Communications, Inc., is one of the curricula approved by the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division to fulfill the Responsible Vendor Requirement and to authorize supplier employees to pour samples at an in-store tasting in a liquor store or liquor-licensed drug store.  Click on the links below to view the State’s Responsible Vendor Information site and Regulation 47-605.

Please note, the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division will not accept the on-line trainings offered by TIPS or any other service.  Only an in-person or live-streamed training with a certified trainer is acceptable to meet the Responsible Vendor requirement.

Contact Doug Caskey for more information on the TIPS training with an emphasis on wineries: doug.caskey@state.co.us or 303.869.9177.

The digital ID available on mycolorado.state.co.us is a state-approved form of proof of identification and age for the purchase of alcohol.  Please read this document to learn how to validate the digital ID.

Doug Caskey, CWIDB executive director, conducted a two-part video seminar on the basics of wine and wine tasting, with a follow-up tasting of two Colorado wines, featuring the winemakers:

• Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) Laughing Cat Grand Valley Riesling
  with winemaker Garrett Portra
• The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey (Cañon City) Colorado Merlot
  with winemaker Jeff Stultz

Doug Caskey, CWIDB executive director, conducted a two-part video seminar on the basics of wine and wine tasting, with a follow-up tasting of two Colorado wines:

• Carlson Vineyards (Palisade) Laughing Cat Grand Valley Riesling
• The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey (Cañon City) Colorado Merlot

Len Chmiel, professional artist and grape grower in the West Elks AVA, discusses his thoughts and experiences on field grafting v. vinifera buds onto cold-tolerant rootstocks at the cordon wire level or above.  You can also listen to just the audio portion of the discussion by clicking here.  And this link will take you to the list of resources and videos that Len refers to during the discussion.

This document provides a brief overview for checking IDs and behavioral cues to spot intoxicated customers when delivering alcohol to a consumer.  It does not replace a thorough responsible server training, but is a good reminder of best practices. For details on acceptable forms of identification for proof of age, go to Liquor Enforcement Regulation 47-912.

Call Doug Caskey, 720.304.3406, if you have any questions or would like more information about responsible server trainings.

Although the spotted lanternfly has not yet been detected in Colorado, it is on it’s way and will be a major threat to commercial grapes.  Keep this insect on your radar and look for more information and scouting techniques.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) oversees many programs that provide assistance, information, support, and loans for farmers of all shapes and sizes.  Virtually all counties in Colorado have a local FSA office under the Colorado office in the Denver Federal Center.

Of particular interest may be the Disaster Assistance Programs, which includes the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) that provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and grape-growers to replant or rehabilitate vines damaged by natural disasters.

Click here for a list of FSA administered programs in Colorado.

Click here to find your county’s office and contact information for your local FSA director.

Colorado State University’s Colorado Climate Center partnered with the Colorado Wine Industry Development board to create a map of Colorado areas best suited for viticultural exploration. Three major considerations for aspiring Colorado viticulturists are 1. Severity of cold winter temperatures (particularly in the late fall and early winter), 2. Soil texture, and 3. Access to irrigation water.