After finishing a long and successful career in the California wine industry, Fred Reno retired to Virginia, the original American winegrowing region. Vines were first planted there in 1619 under orders from the British crown. They were hoping to find an alternative to French wine in its then-colonies. The founding fathers were investors in the wine business too, in 1773. In this 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Fred and host Carol Collison talk about the history of the Virginia wine business, including viticulture, growing regions and issues in sales and distribution. Fred shares details about his favorite Virginia grape, Norton. And he ends the interview with his keys to success in the wine business, what he calls “the two P’s”: Packaging and Price.

https://finewineconfidential.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Andy Hoxsey’s family came to the Napa Valley in the early 20th century and through successive generations have farmed and sold grapes, as well as taken significant entrepreneurial risks. Andy tells the story of his (and the Pelissa family’s) acquisition of Napa Wine Company in 1993, with the expressed intention of creating the first high-touch custom crush business, certainly in the Napa Valley but quite possibly in the world. Napa Wine Co was where such brands as Pahlmeyer, Colgin and the star consulting winemaker Helen Turley incubated their brands. On the podcast, Andy shares some interesting stories from his long history in the wine business.

https://www.napawineco.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The Podhouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

While looking through LinkedIn comments on the platform, host Carol Collison came across a fascinating marketing campaign for a high-end wine product released on Black Friday: Tank Garage’s Black Market. She reached out to the winery’s General Manager to learn more. In this conversation you’ll hear what a wine company founded and managed by marketing professionals looks like. Tank Garage is a company that addresses the wine consumer who wants access to the company’s inventive, limited-run products. This strategy creates exclusivity and scarcity which keeps the winery’s customers interested and engaged.

https://www.tankgaragewinery.com/

https://www.tankgaragewinery.com/lubrication/black-market

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Third generation wine business owner Jason Haas joins host Carol Collison to talk about how his “Tablas Creek Blog,” which he’s maintained consistently for 20 years, has helped him promote his Paso Robles-based wine brand. The discussion identifies the reasons why the blog has helped his business, why he is able to stick with it, and touches on other newer social media efforts. In addition, the subject of how the company has embraced direct-to-consumer sales, and why they still maintain a strong wholesale presence. For example, he has found that wine writers across the country are more likely to write about his company if the wines are available in their readers’ markets. This pioneer of the California Rhone movement has many fascinating insights into what it takes to succeed in the wine business.

https://tablascreek.com/

https://blog.tablascreek.com/about/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

In this episode of the Small Fortune Podcast, host Carol Collison talks with fellow UCLA Bruin and IRS Records founder-turned-winemaker Jay Boberg. Jay talks about the difference between launching a band and launching a wine brand, why he and partner Jean Nicolas Meo chose Oregon’s Willamette Valley (hint: profitability is in that mix), and various growth strategies such as developing a brand first; staging sales growth to reduce cash burn; and staging estate development so that it can be funded from cash flow.

https://www.nicolas-jay.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Listen in on a live panel discussion from Wine Business Monthly’s 34th Annual Wine Industry Financial Symposium. Event Host Erin Kirschenmann, Managing Editor of Wine Business Monthly, invited a group of financial professionals in the wine industry to share their insights and observations about current financial markets: Carol Collison M&A Advisor and podcast host; Tony Correia, vineyard and winery appraiser and owner of The Correia Company; and Adam Beak, Managing Director Vertical Head Wine & Beverage Groups, BMO. Hear about how current grape and wine demand is affecting vineyard values, how banks and other creditors are adjusting their lending practices and loan pricing; and how to position your wine company for sale (spoiler alert – you really can’t).

www.winebusinessfinancial.com

https://www.globalwinebank.com/2025/11/california-winery-and-vineyard-markets/

For more than three decades, the Wine Industry Financial Symposium has been the premier conference for wine professionals to collaborate on innovative solutions, discuss the latest in finance and economics, receive industry data, develop bold strategies, and network with their peers. Join us in November 2026 at the prestigious CIA at the Copia in downtown Napa, California, for an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your financial knowledge and stay ahead of today’s evolving market and wine industry landscape.

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

In this episode, host Carol Collison talks with Janie Heuck, who is Managing Director of her late brother Jimi Brooks’ eponymous wine company, based in the Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This wine company’s history tells the unique story of the collaborative nature of the wine industry. Janie stepped in when her brother died tragically in the midst of harvest in 2004. With the help of Jimi’s friends in the winemaking community Janie got through harvest and then carried forward her brother’s legacy, growing the business into the success it is today. Carol and Janie talk about her latest creation, a DTC sales network called “The Atlas Collective”, through which a group of wineries based in different appellations across the country are building a cross-referral network where each winery’s club members are treated like their own in affiliated tasting rooms.

https://www.brookswine.com/

https://www.wineatlascollective.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

It can be done. Learn from one of Napa Valley’s greats about how he started his winery – V. Sattui - in the ‘70’s with a shoestring budget and built a business so profitable he was able to construct a 150,000 square foot medieval Italian castle with the proceeds. In this interview, Carol and Dario outline the keys to his success: focus on sales, control costs, and plan for catastrophes. Small Fortune Podcast listeners really shouldn’t miss this one.

https://www.vsattui.com/

https://castellodiamorosa.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran