Chris Cary is the person that recommended JB Neufeld. I actually took a bottle off Chris in a poker game! That’s how it started.
Very satisfying story for everyone. Somewhere I posted the story of JB Neufeld first Berserkerday. Justin had a day job at another winery and Brooke was running point. On Berserkerday I called her on her mobile and she had to hang up, she was pulled over on the side of the road taking orders while she was attempting to drop the kids off at school.
Lots of inquiries about participating after the Forbes article - here’s how Newbie selection works:
This year 37 wineries applied to be first-time BerserkerDay participants. We selected about a dozen through our community vetting process.
How it works:
I review each applicant’s website, winemaking style, varietals, pricing
Recruit volunteer tasters from Monopole Crü members
Match tasters with appropriate producers based on preferences
Local groups taste blind and report recommendations
Only strong recommendations make the cut
As taster John Kane told Forbes: “The process ensures that if it’s for sale, it’s going to be good. And you can bet on it even if you’ve never heard of the producer.”
BD17 lineup is set. Applications for BerserkerDay 18 will open later in 2026. Quality bar is high - we’re protecting 17 years of community trust. Simply PM or email me directly if you want your winery to be considered for BerserkerDay 18 - it’s becoming an ever-increasingly difficult ticket to punch!
well, the article is bringing on plenty more inquiries, given the state of the market, so I had to prepare a detailed post to address those new inquiries!
@ToddFrench I am excited to join WineBerserkers. Not sure why it took me so long! We have a small family winery and I’d love to participate in presenting our wine to the group. How does the wine selling part of BerserkerDay 17 work?