🍷 Uncorking Success: Reflections from Connect West 2025 with Vinebox

I recently returned from Connect West 2025 in Lake Tahoe, and the experience reminded me why there’s simply no substitute for in person connection—especially when you have a truly experiential product to share.

In an age where so much of our communication happens through screens, there’s something powerful about looking someone in the eye, sharing ideas, brainstorming and building genuine connections. Those moments — the spontaneous conversations, shared laughs, and the delight of discovering something new — are where real business gets done.

Connect West, long known as “Where Events Business Gets Done,” once again proved that relationships are the heart of our industry. This year, the buzz around the Vinebox table was curious, electric and contagious.

The Unforgettable 'WOW' Factor

Our prime location, right near the registration, meant that virtually everyone stopped by our table. And they were immediately WOW'd by the presentation and concept of our iconic holiday gifts: 12 and 24 Nights of Wine-– an exclusive journey into the world of fine wines. This year's Collections feature sommelier-curated wines from prestigious regions including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, California, Oregon and Washington. The Bold Collection features nine sumptuous reds and three structured whites. The Bright Collection brings a lively mix of distinctive reds, expressive whites, and radiant rosés. 

Another conversation showstopper that resonated deeply with corporate and event professionals? The fact that we offer semi-customization on our 3, 4, 6 or 9 pick boxes, allowing them to add their company or client logo to the packaging sleeve. It transforms a premium wine tasting into a perfectly branded, high-impact marketing and team building tool. Seeing the lightbulb go off for attendees as they realized how easy it is to elevate their gifting at scale was one of my favorite moments of the week.

Why Vinebox Proved to be the Best Gift for Events & Corporate Gifting

The constant theme from planners at Connect West was a hunger for gifts that are unique, meaningful, experiential, and stand out from generic swag. This is precisely why Vinebox wine tastings are the unrivaled choice for:

• Event Planners: Seamless, sophisticated in-room amenities, virtual event kits, and unforgettable thank you and welcome gifts.

• Hotels & Hospitality: Upscale loyalty gifts that reflect a premium brand experience.

• VIP/Client Appreciation: A powerful way to strengthen relationships, celebrate deals, and show sincere gratitude.

• Holiday Gifting: The annual sell-out sensation, our 12 and 24 Nights of Wine advent calendars, offer a daily moment of delight throughout the season.

Standing Out in a World of Sameness

The world has enough generic swag. Today’s event professionals are craving gifts that are meaningful, sophisticated, and create a shared memory.

That's where the Vinebox Tasting Experience shines:

• Virtual Event Kits: Perfect for hybrid or virtual meetings or celebrations, offering a shared activity everyone can enjoy remotely.

• In-Room Amenities: A luxurious, portion-controlled upgrade from a single, generic bottle (perfect for travelers!).

• Client & Speaker Appreciation: A refined and highly valued gift that shows true esteem.

• The Ultimate Holiday Box: The go-to wine advent calendar that sells out every year.

Leaving Lake Tahoe, I felt energized—from the conversations, the personal connections and friends I made, and the shared excitement for an elevated future of corporate gifting. Connect West reminded me that while technology can streamline logistics, it’s our human connections, amplified by shared experiences, that drive true progress. 

The gratitude and excitement were truly noticeable on the final day as the event wrapped up and everyone prepared to leave. When I offered the planners and suppliers—who had been on their feet all week —a wine box sample to take home, it provided a quick, restorative moment of "you deserve this" at the end of the chaos. They were not only delighted to reflect on the event while sampling our wines but genuinely touched and appreciative of our friendship and connection we had made while there. 

At Vinebox, we’re proud to help our partners turn those moments of connection into lasting memories—one perfectly-poured glass at a time.