Welcome to Episode 2705 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald sits down with Lauren Wiersma Ginter, Italian Portfolio Manager at Winebow Imports. They explore what happens after securing an importer partnership, the factors that help a wine brand stand out in a competitive market, and the evolving role of sales representatives.
Key Takeaways:
• Distribution creates availability, but people create demand.
• Price transparency has transformed the economics of wine importing, making it easier than ever to compare prices across states and retailers.
• Human connection remains the most effective relationship-building tool, with people throughout the supply chain playing the greatest role in a wine’s success.
More about the guest:
Lauren Wiersma Ginter didn’t exactly come from a wine family, unless you count the great-grandfather who took the fall for his sons during Prohibition after they purchased a little too much sugar in Talladega, Alabama.
Her journey into wine began at age 19 during a semester abroad in Chile, where a winery visit sparked a passion that would shape her career. More than 20 years later, she has worked across nearly every tier of the industry, including retail, distribution, national buying, and now as Italian Portfolio Manager at Winebow Imports. Along the way, she even spent time in Colorado’s craft brewing scene and recently added a WSET Diploma to her long list of accomplishments.
Today, Lauren lives in Jersey City with her husband, who also works in the wine industry, her teenage stepson, and their two rescue dogs. When she’s not immersed in wine professionally, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and finding the perfect reason to open a bottle worth sharing.
Connect:
Website: https://www.winebow.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_nebbiolo/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-wiersma-ginter-csw-dipwset-04152a86/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.wiersma.7
More about the host:
With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She’s led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.
As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/
Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/
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