Changemakers: Maker Wine

TL;DR

Maker Wine is a mission-driven wine company that partners with small independent wineries to can their flagship wines, aiming to make wine more approachable, sustainable, and inclusive.

Transcript

We launched with product in market in January of 2020. We had imagined doing events and concerts and selling in restaurants. All of that disappeared overnight. We found ourselves with about 40,000 cans of wine and no way to get them out there. [MUSIC] My background is actually not in wine. I was previously in healthcare and consulting. >> I worked ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😖 Maker Wine was founded by individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, including healthcare, corporate strategy, and marketing.
• 👨‍💼 The company partners with small independent wineries, aiming to highlight their craft and support their business.
• 🍷 Canned wines offer a more approachable and sustainable wine experience compared to traditional glass bottles.
• 🍷 Maker Wine's launch during the pandemic required creative strategies, such as virtual wine tastings, to reach customers.
• 👨‍💼 The founders credit their experience at Stanford's Graduate School of Business for shaping their entrepreneurial journey and giving them the confidence to start the business.
• 🙍‍♀️ Maker Wine aims to not only make wine more accessible but also highlight minority and women-owned wineries, contributing to a more inclusive industry.
• 🍷 The company values putting the human at the center of the wine industry, focusing on the stories and experiences behind the wines.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the pandemic impact Maker Wine's initial plans?

The pandemic caused the cancellation of events and sales in restaurants, leaving Maker Wine with an excess of canned wines and no distribution channels.

Q: How did the founders come up with the idea for canned wines?

The founders recognized the need for a more approachable and sustainable wine experience, drawing inspiration from the craft beer industry's success with cans.

Q: What are the advantages of canned wines compared to traditional glass bottles?

Canned wines are more sustainable because aluminum is easier to recycle compared to glass. They are also lighter, resulting in lower carbon emissions during transportation.

Q: How did Maker Wine overcome the challenges of launching during the pandemic?

Maker Wine adapted by hosting virtual wine tastings, leveraging their network to promote their products and build brand awareness during a difficult time.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Maker Wine launched in January 2020 with plans for events and sales in restaurants, but the pandemic disrupted their original strategy.

• The founders, with backgrounds in healthcare, corporate strategy, and marketing, partnered with small wineries to create an innovative wine company.

• Maker Wine aims to make wine more accessible and sustainable by providing a new kind of wine experience through canned wines.