Brian Baker didn't just enter the beverage alcohol industry—he helped reshape how brands connect with consumers. As founder of Cultivar Marketing, he's built the go-to agency for brands ready to break through in an increasingly crowded market.

Back in 2004, Brian did something nobody else was doing: he became one of the first CRM executives at a multi-brand wine company in the United States, pioneering direct-to-consumer strategies at Jackson Family Wines when most wineries were still figuring out what "DTC" even meant. That early vision paid off—he's since led marketing and sales for industry heavyweights like Chateau Montelena, Mayacamas Vineyards, Hestan Vineyards, and Copalli Spirits.

Today, Cultivar Marketing cuts through the noise with four core specialties: direct-to-consumer strategies that actually convert to sales, distributor relationships that move product, import go-to-market plans that cut through red tape and get brands in front of consumers, and hand-selling library inventories for vintners who need to find homes for their wines. Brian also navigates the maze of beverage alcohol licensing and compliance—because great marketing means nothing if you can't legally sell your product.

When he's not building brands, you'll find Brian judging what makes great spirits and wine tick. He spent 25 years on the panel of the SF International Wine Competition and five years with the SF World Spirits Competition. As a sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine, he brings both the business acumen and the palate expertise that brands need to succeed.

USC graduate. Napa Valley veteran. The kind of marketing strategist who understands that in beverage alcohol, authenticity isn't just a buzzword - it's everything.