Email Mavens: Email Marketing for Wineries
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Subject Line Mistakes Wineries Keep Making (And How to Fix Them)

Your email subject line is the corkscrew. 🍷

If it doesn’t work, no one’s opening the bottle—or your message.

And yet, wineries often treat subject lines as afterthoughts.

Here’s the thing: without a strong subject line, it doesn’t matter how great your copy, offer, or design is. The email won’t get opened.

Let’s fix that.

Here are the 4 biggest subject line mistakes I see wineries making—and how to flip them into subject lines that get opened and drive sales:

🍇 Mistake 1: No Curiosity, Just Content

Bad: “July Wine Club Release”
Better: “Guess what’s landing this July for members…”

Your subject line should invite readers in—not summarize everything up front. Use curiosity to spark interest without veering into clickbait territory. A little mystery goes a long way.

🕰️ Mistake 2: It’s All Info, No Urgency

Bad: “Summer Wines Now Available”
Better: “These chill-worthy bottles won’t last long 🍾”

Create urgency without sounding spammy. Phrases like “limited time,” “only a few left,” or “before it’s gone” help move people from passive to clicking now.

💌 Mistake 3: It Feels Like a Mass Email

Bad: “Winery Newsletter – July”
Better: “A little vineyard magic, just for you…”

Make it personal. Even if it’s a bulk send, it shouldn’t feel like one. Subject lines that sound like a handwritten note tend to outperform formal, corporate ones.

✨ Mistake 4: You Forgot the Sparkle

Use emojis sparingly, lean into sensory words like “crisp,” “sun-soaked,” or “lush,” and always test before you send. Your subject line is your first impression. Make it memorable.

🧠 Pro Tip: Use Subjectline.com

Before you press send, plug your subject line into Subjectline.com. Aim for a score of 100—and tweak until it gets there.

Need Help Upleveling Your Email Game?

Subject lines are just the start. If you want to consistently send winery emails that sell (without sounding salesy), here’s where to start:

📺 Watch the full episode: Subject Line Mistakes Wineries Make (And How to Fix Them)

💬 Let’s hear it: What’s your go-to subject line trick? Or the worst wine email subject line you’ve ever seen? Drop it in the comments—we love a good (or bad) example!

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