SONOMA, CA (March 23, 2021) – Bundschu Company, a sixth-generation family-owned wine company and parent company of California’s oldest family-owned winery, Gundlach Bundschu, welcomes Nora Torki DiMinno, Steve DuToit, and Laura Gabriel to the 160+-year-old business.
Nora Torki DiMinno will manage the West Coast region for Bundschu Company, and is responsible for growing, developing and maintaining business relationships, while Steve DuToit will manage the South Central Region business relationships for Bundschu Company, identifying key accounts both on/off and chain accounts. Closer to home, Laura Gabriel joins the team as brand manager and will oversee and manage the company’s portfolio of wine brands. Her position will include brand strategy, developing long-term brand growth and portfolio growth.
“People are the center of what we do, and I’m humbled that Steve, Nora and Laura with all of their combined talent and experience have decided to join our growing company, ” says Katie Bundschu, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Bundschu Company. “Combined, Steve and Nora have over 30+ years wholesale experience, while Laura comes to us with the unique understanding of building brands both in DTC and wholesale. We have significant growth ambitions for our company in the next five years, which include tripling the volume through our wholesale channel. With the additions of these key hires, we are positioning ourselves to support this anticipated growth.”
Nora joins the company from her most recent position with Signorello Estate as their Director of National & International Sales for the US and Canada. Prior, she worked with The Winebow Group as the Regional Sales Manager for the West with the imports division. She oversaw a 12-state region and a seven-person team. Nora is based out of Marina del Rey, California.
Steve is a wine industry veteran with five years of distributor sales experience and 12 years of multi-state, regional supplier experience including time with Legends Spirits, Vintage Point and Hundred Acre Wine Group, where he developed market plans and maintained relationships with key off-premise chain accounts and independent retailers. Steve is a certified sommelier and has completed his WSET Level II. He is working out of and based in Dallas, Texas.
Laura joins Bundschu Company after spending the last four years with Huneeus Vintners. Most recently the Marketing Director for Quintessa in Napa, she developed a global omnichannel strategy to deliver thoughtful growth across wholesale, export, membership, and e-commerce. Laura is also the co-founder of Paper Planes Wine Company, a business that she and her husband began over seven years ago where she spearheaded the brand ideation, development and sales strategy for the Paper Planes, Hidden Track and Flight School brands. Prior to Huneeus Vintners, Laura worked for Treasury Wine Estates in a brand management capacity. She earned WSET Level II certification and is a Roots Fund mentor.
About Bundschu Company
Since 1858, the company has embodied the belief that quality wine need not be divided from experience, but that one enhances–and connects–the other. Since then, the multigenerational company has deliberately grown an intentionally small portfolio of wineries and brands that each uniquely embody that spirit, including Gundlach Bundschu, Abbot’s Passage, Towle Wine Company, and Huichica Music Festival. While the Bundschu Company honors the family’s legacy, they quest for the future by cultivating a diverse group of brands and businesses at the intersection of top-tier wine and experiences, investing in innovation and sustainable practices, and championing the next generation of diverse leaders. For more information, please visit www.bundschu.com
