Working together: Come Over October campaign gains momentum

On the eve of the key selling period – October, November, December – the new promotional campaign Come Over October is stepping up a gear and spreading globally.
There will a press conference in New York City (at Corkbuzz) on September 23 and another in Washington DC (in the Longworth Congressional Office Building) on September 25. This event will include the co-chairs of the Congressional Wine Caucus, Representatives Mike Thompson and Dan Newhouse. The conference will be followed by a wine reception for Members of Congress and invited guests – hosted by WineAmerica, the national association of American wineries, and featuring wine from all 50 states.
“The Come Over October campaign is a banner under which the wine industry is rallying. Companies and organizations throughout the wine value chain (producers, associations, retailer, distributors, importers, etc) all agree that wine needs advocacy irrespective of brand, denomination or country of origin. The message is clear and consumer-oriented,” one of the organisers, Gino Colangelo, told Canopy.
Kimberly Noelle Charles, another of the campaign co-founders, added: “Our campaign was created to address some of the headwinds the industry is facing at a key selling period.”

‘Our campaign was created to address some of the headwinds the industry is facing at a key selling period’

The campaign was launched in May 2024 to encourage friends, family and colleagues to “come over” during the month of October to share wine and celebrate connection. Since then, the co-founders – PR professionals Gino and Kimberly and wine journalist Karen MacNeil – have helped raise $150,000 to create campaigns and take a strong position on the relevance and significance of wine, historically and contemporarily. Come Over October is the first of these campaigns.
“We have $75,000 in media contributed and $150,000 total with cash donations included from the industry. We count over 95 supporters – from small wineries to major wholesalers, to entities such as Lyft, to regional associations from around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Chile,” Kimberly said.
Supporters in the US include Total Wines & More, Jackson Family Wines, J Lohr, Joseph Phelps, Lyft, VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, Somm Journal, The Tasting Panel, Napa Valley Vintners, Visit Napa Valley, Palm Bay International, Freixenet Mionetto, WineAmerica, Amici Cellars, Benchmark Wine Group, Dragonette, LXV, Silicon Valley Bank, Tomorrow Cellars, TOR Napa Valley, Willamette Valley Wineries Association, Southern Wine & Spirits, Realm Cellars, Walla Walla Valley Wine, and Folio Fine Wine Partners.
Overseas, support has come from Wines of Chile, Wines of Australia, the Champagne Bureau, New Zealand Wine, Wines of South Africa, Wines of Sicilia DOC, the Chianti Classico Consortium, Wine in Moderation, and Vinitaly International.
Gino, president of PR firm Colangelo & Partners, said: “We’re getting enthusiastic support from all corners of the wine world... and more associations and producers are embracing the Come Over October campaign. I think the international wine community is feeling the same pressures we’re feeling in the US and responding accordingly. And wine’s ability to bring people together transcends borders.”

‘Wine’s ability to bring people together transcends borders’

Karen added: “We are living in trying times, and we all know that good company, good conversation, laughter, and conviviality contribute to an enhanced lifestyle. We want to encourage people to put down their devices and share in each other’s company. Historically and socially, wine has often played a role in facilitating conversation, nurturing new friendships, and deepening old ones.”
Over time, the wine industry has experienced ebbs and flows and has met numerous societal and generational challenges. But the industry has taken those challenges in its stride, as wine has often been the preferred beverage when people gather. This is what Come Over October advocates – a chance to share stories, be together, celebrate an event or occasion; ostensibly, a chance to reconnect in a digital world.


This is the Come Over October logo for the trade. If you are planning an event, tell Canopy: Canopy(at)internationalwinechallenge.com