INSIGHT

How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your Winery 

Matt TeLindert, James Elliott, Jamie Emerson-Heery • January 14, 2026

Services: NetSuite for Wineries Industries: Wine & Agribusiness

---

Running a winery means juggling countless moving parts. You’re managing grape purchases, tracking inventory through fermentation and aging, fulfilling wine club allocations, shipping orders across state lines, and staying compliant with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) reporting requirements. Your accounting software should simplify these complexities, not add to them. 

The right system can transform how you manage your business. The wrong one will leave you spending more time fighting your software than making great wine. This article will walk you through the key features to look for, the questions you need to ask, and how to match software capabilities to your winery’s specific needs. 

Start by Understanding Your Winery’s Specific Needs 

Before you evaluate any software, take stock of your current operation. Are you selling primarily through a tasting room, or do you also manage wholesale distribution? Do you run a wine club? How many different sales channels are you managing?  

Your complexity matters as much as your size. A small winery with direct-to-consumer sales, a wine club, and out-of-state shipping faces different challenges than a larger operation selling exclusively through distributors. Write down your pain points. Where are you spending the most time on manual processes? Where do errors creep into your records? 

Look for Wine Industry-Specific Features 

Generic accounting software wasn’t built with wineries in mind. You need a system that understands how wine businesses actually operate. 

Your software should track wine lots from harvest through final sale. This capability gives you accurate cost of goods sold figures, which are essential for pricing decisions and profitability analysis. Systems that only track inventory by type rather than by specific lot will leave you guessing about your true costs. 

TTB compliance reporting should be straightforward, not a monthly headache. Your software should generate the reports you need without requiring manual data entry or complex workarounds. For newer winemakers, automated compliance features can save hours of frustration and help you avoid costly mistakes. 

Inventory management needs to work for your reality. Can the system track bulk wine separately from bottled goods? Does it handle different package sizes? Will it alert you when supplies are running low? Your software should deplete inventory automatically as you use it and give you real-time visibility into what you have on hand. 

Learn more about our NetSuite for Wineries

Evaluate Integration Capabilities 

Your accounting software doesn’t exist in isolation. It needs to work seamlessly with your other systems. 
 
If you use point-of-sale software in your tasting room, e-commerce platforms for online sales, or wine club management software, your accounting system should integrate with these tools. Manual data entry between systems wastes time and introduces errors. Look for software that can automatically sync transactions from your sales channels. 

NetSuite stands out in this area. It offers robust integrations with specialized winery software and can handle multiple sales channels within a single platform. This unified approach eliminates the blind spots that come from disconnected systems. 

Consider Scalability and Access 

Your winery won’t stay the same size forever. Choose software that can grow with you. 

Cloud-based systems offer flexibility that on-premises solutions can’t match. Your team can access data from the vineyard, the production facility, or home. You can check inventory levels, review reports, or approve transactions from anywhere. 

Pay attention to user licensing. Some providers charge per user, which can become expensive as your team grows. Look for solutions that include unlimited users in their pricing structure. 

Don’t Overlook Support and Training 

The best software in the world won’t help you if you can’t figure out how to use it effectively. Ask about training resources and consider the following: 

• Does the vendor offer onboarding support?  
• Are there tutorials and documentation?  
• Can you reach customer support easily when problems arise? 

Implementation matters too. Moving to new accounting software is a significant undertaking. You need a partner who understands both the technical requirements and the wine industry’s unique needs. 

Match Software to Your Operation’s Complexity 

Small wineries with straightforward operations might do well with basic accounting software paired with specialized wine club or direct-to-consumer (DTC) tools. This approach can be cost-effective and easier to learn. 

However, if you’re managing multiple distribution channels, tracking complex allocations, or operating in multiple states, you need more robust capabilities. An all-inclusive, industry-specific platform like NetSuite can actually simplify your operations by bringing everything under one roof. 

The Right Partner Makes All the Difference 

Choosing accounting software is just the beginning. You need a partner who understands both the technology and your business. 

BPM brings specialized knowledge in both NetSuite implementation and the wine industry. We don’t just set up software—we redesign your processes to eliminate inefficiencies and position your winery for growth. Our team helps you optimize your financial structure, build strong controls, and ensure your system delivers real value from day one. 

Whether you’re making your first vintage or managing a heritage brand, we provide ongoing support to ensure your accounting software evolves with your business. To discuss how NetSuite can streamline your vineyard-to-bottle operations, contact us.