Sponsored by Frederick Wildman’s Attitude by Pascal Jolivet, El Esteco, Fattoria dei Barbi & Riunite
Hosted by Wine Enthusiast Editor-in-Chief, Susan Kostrzewa
Featuring a selection of panelists representing the major trends in wine retail nationwide including Wine.com, Costco Wholesale, ACME Fine Wines & Graft Wine Shop & Wine Bar.
Details: Wine Enthusiast magazine taps top innovators in the retail space for their strategies in successfully operating businesses and evolving reach to wine consumers in the current unprecedented environment. Offering real-life examples and solutions for pivoting practice and overcoming the challenges of a landscape impacted by COVID-19, wine tariffs and more, these experts will also identify key current consumer trends and reveal their predictions on what’s to come in the months and years ahead in this essential consumer/trade space.
Why You Should Watch: This panel will offer vital, practical insight on navigating current challenges, as well as preparing for what’s to come in retail and beyond.
What You Will Learn: Attendees will gain expert insight on pivoting quickly as the business environment shifts as well as engage in a discussion of current consumer purchasing behaviors that reveal new opportunities.
Original Webinar Date: Tuesday, August 4th
Duration: 30 minute panel with a 15 minutes Q&A session
Host:
Susan Kostrzewa, Wine Enthusiast, Editor-in-Chief
Kostrzewa joined Wine Enthusiast as a senior editor in 2006 after 10 years in the travel, lifestyle, wine and food content realms in Northern California. In her 13-year tenure at the company, she has led a comprehensive rebrand of the legacy media group, including a complete redesign of the print magazine, website and expansion of the editorial and tastings teams on the West Coast, Europe and beyond. Kostrzewa was awarded Folio’s Changemaker of the Year award in 2018 for her successes in content attracting age- and gender-diverse audiences, and her efforts in mobilizing California wildfire relief support.
Panelists:
Michael Osborn, Wine.com, Founder & Executive Vice President
(Wine Enthusiast America’s Best 50 Wine Retailers: Best Online Retailers)
Michael Osborn has been a pioneer in online wine retailing since founding the Company as eVineyard in in 1998. Mike now leads merchandising for San Francisco-based Wine.com and manages its key industry relationships. Wine.com revenues have surpassed $240 million, through June 30, 2020. Wine.com has created the better way to buy wine and spirits, enabling customers to eliminate the guesswork and start buying wine with confidence. The company 90% of the U.S. population and 96% of the wine market, providing its customers access to the world’s largest wine selection—an offering impossible to replicate in brick and mortar stores.
Chad Sokol, Costco Wholesale, AVP / GMM Spirits/Wine/Beer
(Wine Enthusiast America’s Best 50 Wine Retailers: Best Value-Driven Retailers)
Chad has spent the majority of his 26-year career with Costco on the Foods buying side. After graduating from UC Berkeley, he worked as a regional buyer in Northern California and served as an advisor to the California Organic Product Advisory Committee for the CA Dept. of Agriculture. After relocating to Washington State in 2017, he oversaw the buyers for the Cooler, Freezer, and Deli Departments for Kirkland Signature private label. Chad was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 2019 to oversee the Liquor Department.
Karen Williams, ACME Fine Wines, Founder & Proprietor
(Wine Enthusiast America’s Best 50 Wine Retailers: Best Single-Focus Retailers)
Proprietor Karen Williams founded ACME Fine Wines in St. Helena, CA in 2003 and quickly established ACME as the source to procure highly allocated, iconic wines from both cult and classic producers, as well as under-the-radar debut projects. Prior to ACME, the Georgia native co-managed the wine program at the famed Tra Vigne, also in St. Helena.
Femi Oyediran, Graft Wine Shop & Wine Bar, Co-Owner & Sommelier
(Wine Enthusiast America’s Best 50 Wine Retailers: Best Natural Wine Retailers)
Femi is a Sommelier based in Charleston, South Carolina where he runs his wine store and wine bar along with business partner & old friend, Miles White. He’s a self-professed ‘music junkie’ who likes to share the gift of a great glass over the sounds of a great album –while living in one of the greatest cities on earth.
Sponsored by Frederick Wildman’s
Attitude by Pascal Jolivet, El Esteco, Fattoria dei Barbi & Riunite
Discover El Esteco wines from Argentina.
Abundant sunshine, little rainfall, combined with high altitude create a recipe for a winemaker’s paradise.
The first imported Brunello and a pioneer in Tuscan wines.
One taste and you will fall in love with it’s refreshing, slightly sweet and subtle fizz. To be enjoyed alone or with friends, there is always a reason to open a bottle of Riunite!
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Last Updated: May 8, 2023
