The News
Colangelo & Partners, a communications agency specializing in wine and spirits, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by continuing its focus on the industry. The company has expanded from five founding members to 90 professionals over the past two decades. It offers full communications services including press relations, event marketing, digital communications, email marketing, website development, and trade marketing. The agency has strong relationships with media and trade opinion leaders in the wine and spirits sector.
Colangelo & Partners announced it will expand its workforce ahead of its 20th anniversary, adding a digital division and growing the team to 90 people.
By adding digital marketing capabilities, Colangelo builds on its long tradition of combining PR with online tactics. In 2024 it acquired Napa‑based WineGlass Marketing, bringing in website development, email campaigns and direct-response advertising.
With more than half the team holding WSET certifications, the agency offers a level of technical knowledge uncommon for media‑centric firms.
U.S. wine volume slipped 4.4 % in 2023 while on‑premise spirits sales rose 4.9 %, according to WineBusiness.com and CNBC.
The drop in wine demand highlights the need for brands to use smart, integrated marketing to keep customers and support premium pricing. Colangelo’s new digital tools let brands reach consumers via email and web experiences that can boost loyalty even when shelf space is scarce.
Colangelo’s advocacy efforts—Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays—show how it is tackling industry headwinds, addressing the growing anti‑alcohol tone in mainstream media and competition from cannabis and other new categories.
Distributors might see Colangelo’s expanded skill set as a competitive edge.
Bar managers should understand that Colangelo’s services won’t alter the weight or price of any SKU, but they provide tools to build demand via targeted campaigns.
The launch of its digital division positions Colangelo to help brands launch email campaigns and web experiences that can lift engagement—and potentially boost sales—in an increasingly premium‑oriented market.
Original Press Release
Industry-Leading Communications Agency Celebrates Milestone with Continued Investments in New Services, Staffing, Education and Advocacy
NEW YORK, NY, June 3rd, 2026 — Heading into its 20th anniversary year, Colangelo & Partners continues its commitment to the wine and spirits business with new investments, team education, expanded services, and support for wine advocacy campaigns. “Colangelo & Partners was founded as a vertically-oriented agency focused on wine and spirits,” explained Founder and President Gino Colangelo. “We’ve worked hard to be integral players in the alcoholic beverage space. That focus has paid off with steady growth and profitability over the past 20 years, even during challenging times like the financial crisis of 2008-9 and the headwinds the industry is facing now.”
Over the past 20 years, Colangelo & Partners has grown from a team of five founding members to 90 wine and spirits communications professionals, delivering the full breadth of communications services from press relations (the core of the agency’s business) and event marketing to digital communications, email marketing, website development and trade marketing. The agency has unmatched relationships with the press and trade opinion leaders who drive the wine and spirits business. Divisionally structured with no single division comprised of more than 15 team members, Colangelo & Partners continues to deliver boutique agency services to its clients while being able to offer the full suite of communications services in-house. “Having professionals in all disciplines of communications on staff allows us to provide services cost efficiently and swiftly, a necessity in today’s fast-paced world where budgets are increasingly tight,” said Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon, COO and head of trade marketing at Colangelo & Partners. “We have built Colangelo & Partners with great intention and care for our staff and clients alike, and look forward to carrying our values and vision in our milestone anniversary and beyond.”
Following years of organic growth, Colangelo & Partners acquired WineGlass Marketing, a digital agency specializing in branding, DTC marketing and website development, in 2024. “The WineGlass Marketing acquisition allowed us to add website capabilities, email marketing and direct response advertising to our existing services,” said CFO and founding Partner Michael Colangelo, who spearheaded the acquisition. With offices in downtown Napa, WineGlass Marketing gives Colangelo & Partners a presence in California wine country. “WGM Founder Susan DeMatei, now C&P Creative Director, has also greatly enhanced our creative and branding services for all clients,” added Michael.
Creating opportunities for staff education and team growth has remained crucial to the agency’s success. “In our ever-changing industry, it is critical that the staff is clued in on what moves the needle for our clients; everything from how to write an eye-catching pitch and delivering an on-brand experience, to tied-house laws that are applicable for an ever-changing digital landscape,” noted Felipe. “It is our responsibility to facilitate that knowledge for the team.” Every employee at Colangelo & Partners receives an annual stipend to further their knowledge (either in beverage alcohol or their field of expertise). Hospitality professionals and media are regularly brought in for real-time training, and staff frequently attend global events to further their professional development. At present, more than half of the agency holds a certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
Colangelo & Partners further demonstrates its commitment to the wine world through the wine advocacy campaigns, Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays, which Gino Colangelo created with co-founders Karen MacNeil and Kimberly Charles. Colangelo has donated his time and communications skills for the past 2 1/2 years to promote wine culture in the US and help the wine community confront anti-alcohol media bias, as well as respond to challenges from a turbulent economy and new forms of competition such as cannabis and THC beverages.
The Colangelo & Partners business splits relatively between domestic product and imports, and between private companies and trade marketing groups. The agency is able to manage a wide breadth of clients because the team combines deep technical knowledge about wine and spirits with expertise in the various communications disciplines. “We pride ourselves on having the best and most diverse team of wine and spirits communications professionals that has ever been assembled,” added Gino. “Our team is international, technically trained and passionate about wine and spirits.”
Sources consulted (web research):
- In 20th Anniversary Year Colangelo Partners Doubles Down On Commitmen…
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- Colangelo Partners Named Agency Of Record For Millesima Usa
- Colangelo Partners Acquires Majority Position In Wineglass Marketing…
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- Colangelo Partners Spirits Division Grows With New Clients 302451533
- Looking To Elevate Your Wine Brands Presence In The Us Market 1062
- Best Wine Beer Spirits Marketing Agencies
Source: BevNET