Ep. 2321 Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard | Masterclass US Wine Market

Welcome to Episode 2321 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Jason Haas, second-generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard in California. They discuss the impact of tariffs on imported wines to the U.S. and explore Jason’s perspective on how these trade policies could affect the domestic wine producers as well.

Key takeaways:

• Navigating market uncertainty, as distributors and importers delay key decisions.
• The risks and complexities within the U.S. wine distribution system.
• The looming impact of retaliatory tariffs on international trade.

More about the guest: Jason Haas

Jason Haas is the second-generation proprietor of Tablas Creek, serving as Partner and General Manager and directing operations there for two decades. In addition to his work at Tablas Creek, Jason has led the boards of directors of both the Rhone Rangers and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, and is a board member of Free the Grapes and WineAmerica. He is principal author of the Tablas Creek blog, and his writing has been published in Wine Business Monthly, Wines & Vines, Decanter, Wine Industry Network and Wine Searcher.

Jason was voted by his peers 2015 Paso Robles Wine Country Wine Industry Person of the Year and 2017 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Person of the Year, and in 2022 was named a Food & Wine Magazine Drinks Innovator of the Year. 

Tablas Creek Vineyard, founded in 1989 in the Paso Robles Adelaida District, is a pioneer of the American Rhone movement and the first Regenerative Organic Certified™ winery in the world. 

Connect:

Website: https://tablascreek.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tablascreek/# 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tablascreek 

Twitter: https://x.com/tablascreek 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-c-haas/ 

More about the host: Barbara Fitzgerald

With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara 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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