The difference is I listen to what my client wants. I bring educated curiosity that goes below the surface issues into the deeper, more persistent and impactful challenges.

Seeing the whole picture, together we can assess your business and develop successful strategies. I create a short term and long-range plan customized to your specific needs. I help with implementation, filling the gaps, and executing the plan. The length of engagement is tailored to your plan, the stated outcomes and the winery’s current infrastructure. My fees are reasonable. Your resources are optimized at a fraction of the cost of other options.

I started in the industry in Chicago in 1995 working for a mid-size fine wine wholesaler with direct imports. From 1997 to 2012, I managed regional and national distributor networks for category leaders who were small and medium sized: King Estate, Francis Ford Coppola Presents, and Gundlach Bundschu.

I was drawn into distribution management during 2012 – 2018 building and leading teams in the fine wine divisions – starting at Vice President of Sales for Young’s Market Company’s Estates Group in Oregon and Washington with a reputation for creating dynamic programs that garnered distribution in some of the toughest “indie” accounts and landing regional account placements that drove brand awareness and generated volume. I transitioned to Noble Wines, a Member of the Winebow Group as their Vice President/General Manager, leading a renown team of fine wine professionals in Washington and opened the Oregon counterpart from the ground up. I recruited some of the best talent, activated key account relationships in retail and restaurants creating a successful launch and brought a wider base to build brands and sell more wine.

In 2018, it was time to branch out on my own and make my dream come true of connecting with authentic winery owners, listen to their stories and bring their wines to market in a new way that could guarantee sustainability and profitability, despite market volatility, changes and complexity. It has been the joy of my vision to partner with so many wineries and witness what gets created when we partner strategically.

“I love great wine and brands that have authentic and unique stories to tell. My passion for these wines is to be successful and sustainable financially. I create this with market knowledge, excellent strategies and strong connections I continue to learn, explore and expand finding new ways to aspire and achieve in this incredible industry I also love.” – Kathy Byrd, CSW, CSS