Leadership

Johnson Brothers is pleased to announce it will expand its partnership with Rémy Cointreau to include all of Wisconsin, effective July 1. Prior to this agreement, Johnson Brothers represented the portfolio in Iowa and select Wisconsin markets, adding Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska in 2022.

“Expanding our footprint with Johnson Brothers to include all of Wisconsin furthers the partnership we extended into Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska one year ago,” said Nicolas Beckers, President & CEO Americas at Rémy Cointreau. “We are confident this expansion strengthens our potential for success in these key markets.”

The Rémy Cointreau portfolio crosses many important spirits categories and segments, including Rémy Martin Cognac, The Botanist Gin, Bruichladdich Single Malt Scotch, and Cointreau Liqueur.

“Growing our partnership with Rémy Cointreau to include the entire state of Wisconsin better positions us to build upon the strength of their elite portfolio,” said Mark Hubler, President & CEO of Johnson Brothers. “Rémy is world-renowned for their exceptional spirits, and we are excited about our shared vision for future growth.”

Oxford Street Merchants, the luxury wine and spirits organization of Johnson Brothers, today announced its partnership with wine icon Dave Phinney to exclusively introduce Our Lady of Guadalupe, or “OLG,” across 13 U.S. markets.

In 2015, Phinney first set his eyes on a property just outside the Central Coast town of Lompoc, California, where the combination of sandy, silica-rich soil and the cool, windy climate produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes unlike anywhere else in the world. In 2021, he decided to make his own wine from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, giving him complete control of the vineyard and cellar.

“We spared no expense planting Our Lady of Guadalupe, so much so that we even found corners to be uncut; it is probably the most thought-through vineyard out there,” said Phinney. He spent two years feeding the soil to revive the earth of the once-abandoned row crop farm before planting a single vine. OLG is the only project in the United States where Phinney produces wine from a vineyard he owns.

“I can’t think of a better way to introduce our enhanced commitment and capabilities in the luxury category than this exciting partnership with Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “Dave has a long history of creating iconic and impactful brands, and we could not be more excited to introduce this wine to the world.”

The 2021 vintage of 100% OLG Pinot Noir will be available for purchase in Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

“We are thrilled to partner with Oxford Street Merchants and the Johnson family,” Phinney said. “Their commitment to execution and brand-building make them the perfect partner to help us share this passion project with consumers.”

To learn more, visit ourladyofguadalupe.com.

With the continued growth of the ultra-premium business, Johnson Brothers today unveiled its new luxury wine and spirits organization, Oxford Street Merchants.

The inspiration behind the name is 43 Oxford Street, the address in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where founder Lynn Johnson first opened his doors for business at Johnson Brothers in 1953.

“Over the past 70 years, we have worked relentlessly to establish ourselves as the best-executing distributor in the country,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who will oversee the new organization. “Our mission at Oxford Street Merchants is to bring that same focus, tenacity, and commitment of executional excellence to the luxury category.”

Oxford Street Merchants will expand on Johnson Brothers’ current Epiphany division with its committed, passionate, and accredited team members transitioning into new roles for the organization. The enhanced team will provide dedicated coverage and accountability against targeted accounts to drive results for its luxury wine and spirits supplier partners.