Brad, Ted, and Tim Coleman, owners of Warnerville Wine Co. said they plan to launch their own wine brand, French Bar.
Members of the Gallo Family “G3” Third Generation of winegrowers, the Colemans are incredibly excited to embark on this new venture. “With a family history in California winemaking spanning nearly 85 years, it is exciting and natural for the brothers to continue this history,” said DrinkSpace Co-Founder & Principal Steve Reed.
Initially, Ted will be focusing on producing Petite Sirah and a Red Blend, and will eventually add Cabernet Sauvignon. French Bar’s wines will retail for $20 – $25 and will be green certified under the “Lodi Rules” for sustainable certified green winegrowing standards.
DrinkSpace will consult on the development and launch of the French Bar brand. “Our priority is to help the family understand the categories of wines they are interested in developing and identify price points that reflect the greatest opportunity, as well as the best profile and quality of the wines we want produced,” said DrinkSpace Co-Founder & Principal Thomas Vogele. “Our collaborative work will create a durable brand and a marketing platform for long-term success” added Reed. The team aims to release French Bar’s first vintage Fall 2017.
The inspiration for the French Bar name is rooted in the history of the vineyard’s location in Stanislaus County. The ghost town of La Grange, the original seat of the county—and epicenter of the California Gold Rush—was originally named French Bar after the French fur trappers and explorers who literally jumped ship to head for Gold Rush country. French Bar’s vineyards are situated near the site of the trappers’ ultimate destination in the central Sierra Foothills belt.
Washington-based DrinkSpace was founded in 2014 by Steve Reed, a marketing and advertising veteran, and Thomas Vogele, formerly of Michael Mondavi’s FOLIO Fine Wine Partners. The company provides sales and marketing expertise to producers, helping them navigate the myriad hurdles small wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries encounter in the U.S. alcohol beverage industry.