Business of Drinks

In this episode of Business of Drinks , we’re diving into a new-to-world tequila product that’s shaking up the industry: Quintaliza, the world’s first coffee-aged tequila. Founder and CEO Michael Winters joins us to discuss how he took an unconventional idea — aging tequila in coffee-seasoned barrels — and turned it into a fast-growing brand that’s gaining traction with both consumers and industry...

In this episode, Ryan Malkin, principal attorney at Malkin Law, returns to Business of Drinks to answer listener questions on essential legal topics, like: How far can you go with functional claims? Who needs D&O insurance? What’s happening with DTC spirits shipping?  We discuss everything from THC beverages and functional ingredients to distribution contracts and risk management. With the bev...

This is an essential episode for any drinks brand founder looking to break through the noise and build something truly disruptive. Contributor Caroline Lamb sits down with Aaron Trotman, founder of NON, who has not only pioneered the non-alcoholic wine alternative category — he’s redefining what premium non-alcoholic beverages can be. With a chef-driven approach, meticulous ingredient sourcing, an...

In the latest episode of Business of Drinks , we sit down with David Duncan, second-generation proprietor and CEO of Silver Oak, one of Napa’s most iconic and beloved wine brands. While many wine businesses have struggled, Silver Oak remains a category leader — balancing legacy with innovation, exclusivity with accessibility, and deep tradition with modern engagement. David shares how Silver Oak h...

In this episode of Business of Drinks, Scott Rosenbaum sits down with Monique Huston, Vice President of the Spirits Portfolio at Winebow, one of the country’s leading wine and spirits distributors. Monique has been leading the charge in the spirits world for over a decade, having quietly developed one of the most impressive spirits portfolios in the country, especially when it comes to agave spiri...

Who’s up in a down wine market? Mary Taylor Wine — that’s who! This brand is a quiet disruptor, having transformed how Americans discover and enjoy European wines over the past several years. Mary Taylor, founder of the eponymous brand, identified a unique opportunity in the market: bridging the gap between big brands and small growers.  By turning her import label into a trusted front-facing bran...

In this episode of Business of Drinks, contributor Caroline Lamb interviews Jess Druey, founder of Whiny Baby, a wine brand that’s helping to redefine wine culture for Gen Z and new wine drinkers. In a market often seen as intimidating and exclusive, Whiny Baby brings a fresh, playful, and inclusive perspective.  Since launching, Jess has scaled the brand to 6,000 cases in 2024, with plans to doub...

In this episode of Business of Drinks, Erica interviews Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, a luxury wine importer and marketer. Despite formidable industry-wide headwinds, Wilson Daniels achieved over 6% revenue growth in 2024, expanding its sales to $250 million — while the broader wine market contracted.  How did Rocco and the Wilson Daniels team come out ahead?  In this episode, Rocco...

As we head into 2025, we’re thrilled to bring you our annual drinks trends episode featuring Bryan Roth, director of insights for Sightlines and the consumer and market analyst for Feel Goods Company. Widely respected as one of the industry’s top forecasters, Bryan shares his perspectives on what’s shaping the future of beverages, from emerging categories to shifting consumer behaviors. In this ep...

This episode dives deep into the non-alcoholic cocktail space, featuring Megan Klein, founder of Little Saints. From its beginnings as an experimental product during the pandemic to its current $9 million annual revenue, Little Saints is a brand that’s forging new territory in the drinks space with its functional beverages featuring lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms. Whether you’re a founder in the...

It’s the episode you didn’t know you needed! We sit down with Steve Riboli, president and CEO of Riboli Family Wines, to unpack the incredible journey of Stella Rosa, the #1 import brand in the U.S. and a pioneer in flavored, semi-sparkling wines. Discover how this family-owned brand has become a powerhouse, scaling to 4.1 million cases in 2023, a 5% YOY gain, per Impact Databank, while the broade...

In this episode, we talk with Tom Baker, co-founder of Mr Black, America’s best-selling premium coffee liqueur. Tom shares the serendipitous beginnings of his company, the divine intervention of the "coffee gods" that led him to his co-founder, and how Mr Black carved an unexpected niche in the spirits industry. We track the brand's rise from a small Australian startup to a multi-million dollar co...

In this episode, we're joined by Brandon Joldersma, CEO of Surely and Arlow, two exciting players in the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wine space. Brandon brings a wealth of experience from the beverage industry, having worked in restaurants, hard cider, and whiskey before taking the reins at Surely. We discuss Surely's origin story, its growth strategies, and its transition from direct-to-consume...

Welcome to the Business of Drinks podcast. Today we're joined by Erik Segelbaum, founding partner of SWIG Partners, to discuss the complex world of beverage alcohol distribution in the United States.  Erik brings over 20 years of industry experience, having worked his way up from chef to sommelier overseeing $100 million in annual beverage sales across 42 restaurants. Now, as a leading beverag...

  Looking to raise funds? You’re in luck. Today we’re talking with Kat Weaver, co-founder of Power To Pitch. She’s a top pitching coach who’s helped hundreds of startups raise capital.  Kat was able to scale and sell her first company she started out of her college dorm room. After winning 22 of 23 pitches she entered, she founded Power To Pitch to help founders build a winning pitch, deck, and fu...

Today, we’re talking with Justin Fenchel, a co-founder and the CEO of BeatBox Beverages. For those unfamiliar with the brand, it’s an 11% ABV, wine-based RTD party punch in flavors like Blue Razzberry, Pink Lemonade, and Fruit Punch. Sound like fun? Well, fun — and fun flavors — are its main selling points, and this brand is on fire, especially with Millennial and Gen Z audiences. BeatBox did more...

Today we’re talking with Issamu Kamide, co-founder of the LA-based Wonderwerk House of Fermentation. What the heck is that, you might ask? "We are primarily a flavor-forward, progressive wine company," Issamu explains.  Wonderwerk is innovating with new-to-world wine products by focusing on flavor and occasion. In doing so, they’re making wine more accessible and appealing to younger con...

Today we’ve got a true innovator in the house. We’re talking with Britt West, executive vice president and general manager of Spirit of Gallo. If you’re not familiar with Gallo’s spirits division, it has quietly become one of the most formidable portfolios in bev alc. Over the past 6 years, Britt led the division up the ranks from the No. 8 spirits supplier by volume to No. 3. And that’s largely d...

Ready for a meteoric growth story?! Today we talk with Clement Pappas, co-founder and CEO of Stateside Brands, the maker of Surfside Iced Tea + Vodka, and Stateside Vodka and Stateside Vodka Sodas.  For listeners who are not on the East Coast, this brand is suddenly everywhere. Last year, the Surfside line alone grew by 1 million cases to 1.3 million cases. And they’ve already surpassed that amoun...

Is your beverage brand in fundraising mode? If so, this is the episode for you! We talk with Giuseppe Infusino, a partner and the chief investment officer at InvestBev, a private equity firm that deploys growth capital to drinks brands. He leads InvestBev’s investment sourcing, diligence, and structuring processes, and partners with portfolio companies to increase their likelihood of success. In t...

Today we’re talking with Allison Luvera, co-founder and CEO of Juliet, a wine company that’s reshaping the narrative around boxed wine.  Allison has a really interesting background having worked in fashion advertising for Vogue and InStyle magazines, then later as director of Pernod Ricard’s luxury marketing division, as brand marketing lead for Perrier-Jouet Champagne, Martell Cognac, Tequila Avi...

Some exciting news to share! The Business of Drinks podcast is growing by leaps and bounds, and with it — some new voices are coming onto the airwaves.  First up, Scott Rosenbaum is joining as the show’s new co-host. If you’re not yet acquainted with Scott, he’s a veteran strategist and analyst with deep experience building drinks portfolios. Currently, he is the North America search manager at Di...

Today, we’re talking shop! That is, how to work with mass-market retailers. For those who are new to the industry, mass retail refers to big-box stores like Target, Costco, and Walmart as well as supermarket chains like Safeway and Kroger. And what most people don’t realize is that these types of stores have their own ways of doing business, and even their own terminology (do you know what a cut-i...

Today’s episode is a case study on how a 140-year old winery was able to quickly shift its consumer base from Boomers to Millennials. Aly Wente, a 5th generation vintner and Wente’s vice president of marketing and customer experience, shares key learnings and insights relevant to all brands looking to engage younger consumers.  For those of you unfamiliar with Wente Vineyards, it was founded in 18...

WYNK is a cannabis drinks brand with a fascinating backstory. WYNK was founded in 2021 by Casey Parzych, Angus Rittenburg, and Shawn Sheehan, three friends (a beverage distributor, mechanical engineer, and energy trader) looking for a new opportunity in the cannabis beverage market. Their challenge: find a way to dose the seltzer with THC legally, as current laws for dispensary distribution requir...