CEO, Palm Bay International and Taub Family Selections
“Credit must go to my amazing family of employees and our long-term supplier partners,” said Marc D. Taub upon learning he had been named Wine Star Person of the Year. “Together, we worked through the adversities and inspired each other to reach greater heights, to firmly establish our path forward, and to cement a stronger, more positive shared future.”
Taub is president and CEO of sister organizations Palm Bay International and Taub Family Selections and represents the third generation of his family to work in the import and wholesale business. He was referencing the past year, calling it, “the most difficult period I can recall.”
Despite the many challenges of 2021, Taub led his team with resilience and succeeded. Since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Taub’s businesses have showed strong performances, especially for the company’s biggest brands, in particular Cavit and Roscato. A new, modernized focus on sweet wines, particularly within the Confetti and Roscato labels, showed great retail interest and return.
As on-premise sales withered during shutdowns, his fine wine team pivoted to retail placement for many of its top producers, including Bertani, Jean-Luc Colombo, Los Vascos, Planeta, Rocca delle Macìe, Saget La Perrière, Salentein and Trimbach.
Taub also invested heavily in growing the team at his New York based distribution company, Independence Wine & Spirits (IWS). This funding enabled IWS’s swift development and success.
The recent introduction of Jacob’s Pardon, a high-end American whiskey, marks a return to the Taub family tradition as innovators in the spirits business. Taub has also gone all-in on imported spirits such as Dos Maderas Rum and Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which experienced double-digit growth even through the difficulties of the past year.
The development and growth of Taub Family Vineyards’ proprietary Napa wines has seen impressive evolution. The latest releases have received outstanding scores from Wine Enthusiast, ranging from 93 to 95 points.
There has also been a lot of action at Taub’s first brick-and-mortar winery and estate, Saracina, in Mendocino, California. There, he and his team are working on an extensive replanting of the vineyards in order to maximize the growing conditions of each plot.
Although many in the wine industry have great respect for and sing the praises of Taub, the most important accolade may be from his son Jake, director of business development at IWS.
“He doesn’t stop and wait for something to become a success,” says Jake “He knows when he’s on to something, and then moves with relentless conviction to bring it to life.”
For his unparalleled leadership, vision and growth through unprecedented times and unexpected challenges, Wine Enthusiast is honored to name Marc D. Taub as the 2021 Wine Star Award winner of Person of the Year.
Published: October 21, 2021
