Let's cut to the chase. You're selling wine, not just fermented grape juice in a bottle. You're selling an experience, a story, a vibe. And using Instagram for your wine account is one of the sharpest tools in your drawer to pull in more customers and build a brand people actually care about.
But how do you turn casual scrollers into devoted followers? Here are the real-deal Instagram growth strategies to achieve more Instagram followers and get your wine account the attention it deserves.
First things first. Before you even think about growth, you need to make sure your house is in order. Your Instagram profile is your digital storefront, your first impression, your handshake.
Think of your Instagram bio as the homepage for your brand. If it’s a mess—no clear bio, a blurry profile pic, a nonsensical username—how will anyone know who you are or why they should care?
Skipping this step is like handing out blank business cards at a networking event. Pointless.
Your bio, username, and photos are the foundation of your brand's identity on the platform. Put in the effort to make a killer first impression.
"The world remembers not the fleeting shadow, but the steady light."
A wanderer once sought many paths, wearing different cloaks for every road. But the world only truly saw them when they chose a single garment, woven with the threads of their deepest truth. For it is not the many faces, but the one unwavering presence, that carves a legend into time.
Your brand is no different. Your Instagram feed should feel like a cohesive story, not a random collection of photos. Every single post should reinforce who you are. If you’re stuck, peek at other brands in your industry that have an aesthetic you admire. Get inspired, find your lane, and then own it. Consistency is what makes you memorable.
This sounds simple, but it's where most people trip up. You need to become a detective and figure out what content makes your audience tick. On Instagram, the smallest details can make or break a post.
Stay on top of social media trends, but don't just copy them blindly. Figure out what works for your audience. Once you find that sweet spot of engaging instagram content
, double down on it. If your current followers love it, you'll start attracting new ones just like them.
When you're brainstorming content, don't just think, "How can I sell this bottle?" Instead, ask, "Would someone share this?"
People love sharing a stunning shot of a winery, a beautifully lit glass of wine, or an infographic that teaches them something cool. Viral content is rarely a direct sales pitch. Look at what’s going viral in the wine world and figure out how to put your own unique spin on it.
Feature accounts are basically niche-specific curators with massive followings. Getting your content re-shared by one of them is like getting a golden ticket—it exposes your brand to their entire audience.
Start by identifying the big players in the winery social media
space. Tag them in your relevant photos and use their dedicated hashtags. Engage with their posts and their community. Play the long game. When they finally notice you, make sure your feed is polished and ready for its close-up.
Here's another way to tap into someone else's audience: get them to tag you. When a user tags your account in their post, their followers can click right over to your profile.
A simple way to do this is to run a user-generated content campaign. Ask your followers to post a photo with your wine using a specific hashtag. You can then re-share the best ones and even offer a prize. It's a win-win: they get a shout-out, and you get free promotion.
Working with a wine influencer
can be a game-changer, but you have to be smart about it. While 78% of wine consumers are influenced by influencer recommendations (gitnux.org), not all influencers are created equal.
Forget follower count for a second and look at engagement. Micro-influencers (5k-50k followers) often hit engagement rates of 4-7%, blowing the 2-3% rate of bigger accounts out of the water (zigpoll.com). Why? Because their connection with their audience is more authentic.
One boutique winery partnered with micro-influencers who genuinely loved their brand and saw a 7% average engagement rate and an 18% sales bump from that traffic (zigpoll.com). The lesson? Find partners who align with your values, not just those with the biggest numbers.
Newsflash: not everyone is your competitor. A smart wine social media strategy
involves partnership. Don't be afraid to reach out to other brands for an Instagram collaboration.
The right partnership can expose both of you to new audiences. For example, team up with a local cheesemaker for a giveaway where entrants have to follow both brands and tag a few friends. Get creative, but make sure the collaboration makes sense for your brand and doesn't confuse your followers.
If you have a loyalty program, you're sitting on a goldmine. These are your ride-or-die customers. Reward them for following you on Instagram.
An exclusive discount for followers? Early access to a new vintage? A loyal client who also follows you on social media is far more likely to stick with you and become a true brand advocate.
Two words: Free. Wine. Need we say more?
Contests are a fantastic way to boost engagement and get a quick influx of followers. Make the entry simple: follow our account and tag a friend in the comments. Promote it ahead of time and make the rules crystal clear. The goal is excitement, not frustration.
Okay, so this isn't a free method. But using Instagram advertising is a legit and powerful way to accelerate your instagram growth
by getting your content in front of fresh eyes.
But here's the secret: don't advertise your products.
You heard that right. You might make a few sales, but you won't gain a ton of followers. The goal here is followers, not immediate sales. Instead, boost your best-performing content—a stunning video, a beautiful photo, a hilarious Reel. Promote the content that wine lovers will actually enjoy. That's how you get them to hit the follow button.
So there you have it. The modern playbook for winery social media
domination. You can work with a wine influencer
, run contests, and use ads to get your name out there. Because nothing says 'sophisticated vintage' like a well-executed digital strategy, right?
The real secret isn't just picking one tactic; it's about being creative, consistent, and a little bit audacious.
But remember this: True growth, like fine wine, is rarely rushed. It's a quiet unfolding, a result revealed only to those who have the patience to see it through. The greatest brands aren't built on speed, but on the steady patience of a single, uncommon vision.
Now it's your turn. Do you have any other brilliant instagram growth strategies
up your sleeve? Drop them in the comments below.
Cheers to your success.
While these strategies are proven to work, every account is unique. Get a personalized audit that analyzes your specific account data and provides tailored recommendations for growth and monetization.