Juliana Colangelo interviews Heini Zachariassen and learns of some of his newfound hobbies while quarantining – especially hiking and outdoor activities. Heini describes his family time at home and the two exchange pointers on how to reduce stress between work hours. Heini also notes an overall increase in wine sales and consumption via online deliveries. He analyzes an apparent increase in Italian wine consumption and discusses how this information has helped to support the industry. Juliana and Heini conclude that people adapting to digital tools during the global pandemic has been an important development.
Heini Zachariassen is Vivino’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Largely credited with bringing a technology revolution to the wine industry, Heini founded Vivino because he was frustrated by not knowing which wine to buy. It’s been his passion project ever since. During his tenure, Vivino has grown into a community of 43 million users, raised $66 million in funding, and rolled out a worldwide wine marketplace. Prior to starting Vivino, Heini co-founded several startups, including global internet and mobile security company BullGuard. Heini leads the team from Vivino’s headquarters in San Francisco, where he resides with his wife and three children.
Juliana Colangelo is the West Coast Director for Colangelo & Partners, based in San Francisco, and has been with the agency for seven years. She completed her Masters in Wine Marketing at Sonoma State in 2019 and holds a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 degree. Before heading to California to build Colangelo & Partners’ domestic wine business, Juliana worked on international campaigns for clients including Wines of South Africa, Frescobaldi, Charles Heidsieck, and others. A graduate of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City, Juliana developed skills in communication, event-planning, development, and fundraising through various internships performed concurrently with her education, including positions with The Clinton Foundation and the Manhattan Borough President’s office.