Hit the Bottle - Beverage Marketing Podcast

Our Episodes

From exploring the beverage buyer journey to leveraging modern public relations to how marketing automation is changing the way we engage with consumers, Hit the Bottle goes above and beyond the ordinary to ask questions and get answers about beverage marketing strategy, technology, and leadership. Episodes drop weekly.

Episode 21: Web Savvy in the Wine Biz

2020 has taught us many things. One of the biggest lessons learned is just how important it is to be Web Savvy in the Wine Industry. To that end, today Emma and Mike speak with George Christie, founder of the Wine Industry Network and...

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Episode 20: Crisis Communications in the Wine Biz

Crisis communications is something that we rarely think about until we actually need it. If 2020 has proven anything, it’s that a crisis can and will happen any time. Some examples may include, oh, I don’t know, Covid, or fires, or an injury in...

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Episode 19: Marketing Automation in the Wine Biz

Marketing automation refers to software platforms and services that are created for marketing professionals to communicate on multiple channels online more effectively and automate repetitive tasks.

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Episode 18: Leadership in the Wine Biz

I asked my wife the other night how she defined leadership. You see, she and I are in similar positions. She works for Sonoma County Parks and of course, I run my own agency. We’re both in leadership positions, and the conversation was interesting...

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Episode 17: Simplifying DTC in the Wine Biz

Welcome back, my loyal listeners. You know, I’ve been talking about marketing technology in the wine biz for several years now, and one of my biggest frustrations is the slowness of adoption of marketing technologies in the biz. It still lags behind many other...

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Episode 16: Beverage Industry Compliance Tips and Tricks

One of the many challenges facing beverage marketers is working within a highly regulated industry. Selling Wine and Spirits can be complicated for the uninitiated. From knowing the difference between a front label and a brand label, to the strict limits on samples to...

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The HTB Team

Veterans of the alcoholic beverage industry, Michael Wangbickler and Emma Criswell bring their unique perspectives each week to the show. Wangbickler is President of Balzac Communications & Marketing, a leading beverage marketing agency, and Criswell joined the Balzac team in 2018 after a long career in beverage marketing. Together the two hosts have a passion for the booze business, and look forward to sharing the mic with leaders in the industry.

Michael Wangbickler - HTB Host

Michael Wangbickler
Host

Emma Criswell

Emma Criswell
Co-Host

Dan Dayao

Dan Dayao
Producer