What Colangelo & Partners does

Colangelo & Partners is a New York-headquartered, integrated communications agency founded in December 2006 by Gino Colangelo and operating exclusively in the wine, spirits, and food industries. As of 2026 the firm employs approximately 90 communications professionals across offices in New York, San Francisco, Miami, and Napa in the United States, with European coverage in London, Paris, and Verona. More than half of staff hold Wine and Spirit Education Trust certifications, and leadership includes category-specialist partners and a European president hired from Amorim Cork.

The firm's core offering is an integrated platform of eleven service disciplines covering public relations and earned media, trade and industry programs, content marketing and social media, website design/development/maintenance, paid media advertising, influencer marketing, events and experiences, branding and brand strategy, product development and positioning, email marketing and database, and print/collateral/POS. Digital execution capabilities were materially expanded in September 2024 through the acquisition of a majority stake in Napa-based WineGlass Marketing, which supplies website, email, and performance-marketing services. The technology footprint is otherwise non-proprietary: standard agency stack (WordPress/Vimeo/Google Analytics per website telemetry) with no disclosed AI/ML platform or in-house software.

Colangelo & Partners operates a professional services business model, earning fees through customized retainer and project-based engagements with wine, spirits, and food brands, trade commissions, consortia, and international producers seeking U.S. market expansion. The client base spans 50+ wineries, regional consortia, and spirits brands including Consorzio Prosecco DOC, González Byass USA, Disaronno, Kōloa Rum, Ornellaia, Avignonesi, Vinhos Verdes, APCOR, Paul Hobbs, Charles Krug, and Sagamore Rye. Go-to-market is sales-led, driven by industry reputation, trade relationships, event participation, and case-study-driven referrals. The firm has reported profitability throughout its history, including through the 2008–2009 financial crisis.

Name

Colangelo & Partners

Legal name

Colangelo & Partners PR

Website

https://colangelopr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colangelo & Partners is a New York-headquartered integrated communications agency founded in 2006 that serves exclusively the wine, spirits, and food industries, employing about 90 professionals across U.S. and European offices to deliver PR, trade, digital, events, and branding services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations & Communications Services

NAICS

Wineries (312130)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Wine industry marketing
• Spirits brand communications
• Trade relations programs
• Influencer marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Integrated Communications Services: Colangelo & Partners generates revenue through fees for integrated communications services including public relations, trade programs, content marketing, social media, website design, advertising, influencer marketing, events, branding, product positioning, and email marketing. Services are provided to wine, spirits, and food brands on a retainer or project basis.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colangelo & Partners is a B2B integrated communications agency that provides public relations, trade and industry programs, content marketing, social media, website design and development, paid advertising, influencer marketing, events, branding, product positioning, and email marketing services exclusively to wine, spirits, and food brands. Services are delivered on retainer or project basis to domestic producers, international exporters, trade commissions, and consortia seeking U.S. market expansion, with digital capabilities extended through its 2024 acquisition of WineGlass Marketing.

Product overview

Colangelo & Partners is a full-service integrated communications agency operating as a unified platform of coordinated service modules. The agency's core offering consists of 11 integrated service disciplines: Public Relations & Earned Media, Trade & Industry Programs, Content Marketing & Social Media, Website Design/Development/Maintenance, Advertising (Paid Media), Influencer Marketing, Events & Experiences, Branding & Brand Strategy, Product Development & Positioning, Email Marketing & Database, and Print/Collateral & POS. In 2024, the agency expanded its platform through acquisition of WineGlass Marketing, a digital marketing and web development firm serving as the West Coast hub for website strategy, digital campaigns, and technical maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations & Earned Media Media relations and earned media coverage across national, regional, print, digital, broadcast, and trade media to build brand credibility and third-party validation for wine, spirits, and food clients.
• Trade & Industry Programs Trade and industry programs supporting brands at every stage of growth, from emerging brands to established global portfolios, working with importers, distributors, retailers, sommeliers, and buyers.
• Content Marketing & Social Media Strategic content creation and social media management designed to build credibility, spark conversation, and reinforce brand positioning through community management, campaign storytelling, and influencer partnerships.
• Website Design, Development & Maintenance Website strategy, UX design, development, and ongoing technical maintenance delivered through WineGlass Marketing, ensuring brand storytelling is supported by measurable digital growth for wine and beverage brands.
• Advertising (Paid Media) Paid media planning and buying across print, broadcast, digital, streaming, social, and experiential environments with award-winning creative development for wine, spirits, and food brands.
• Influencer Marketing Long-standing relationships with creators across wine, spirits, food, travel, and lifestyle, from niche voices to nationally recognized personalities, including ambassador programs and curated trips.
• Events & Experiences Event design and execution including intimate press dinners, trade tastings, consumer activations, and large-scale showcases, managing venue selection, guest targeting, logistics, and production.
• Branding & Brand Strategy Brand strategy services defining positioning, sharpening messaging, and articulating brand distinctiveness for emerging producers, established houses, and global portfolios in the U.S. market.
• Product Development & Positioning Product development and market positioning services defining audience, pricing strategy, competitive set, and market opportunity for new or existing SKUs in wine, spirits, and food.
• Email Marketing & Database Database growth, audience segmentation, compliance management, automation strategy, and email campaign execution to convert subscribers into engaged communities for wine and beverage brands.
• Print, Collateral & POS Design and production of sell sheets, trade materials, in-store displays, and tasting collateral supporting trade engagement and consumer decision-making.

Quantifiable outcome

• US Wine Trade Alliance campaign: 562 media placements, 6.35 billion impressions, $19.1M earned media value
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• APCOR (Portuguese Cork Association)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026Colangelo & Partners serves as agency of record for APCOR's U.S. integrated campaign promoting natural cork and its environmental benefits, targeting younger audiences and educating consumers about sustainability.
• Avignonesi WinerycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2026Colangelo & Partners appointed Agency of Record for Avignonesi Winery, a prominent Tuscan estate. The partnership focuses on expanding Avignonesi's presence in the U.S. market and demonstrating leadership in responsible viticulture and sustainability.
• Vinhos VerdescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2026Colangelo & Partners leading Vinhos Verdes' 2026 U.S. marketing campaign including tastings, masterclasses, media visits, and industry events such as TEXSOM to increase awareness and premium positioning.
• Slow Wine US TourminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2026Colangelo & Partners supported the 2026 Slow Wine US Tour, events promoting sustainable wine practices across San Francisco, Austin, and New York, drawing over 750 trade and media professionals.
• González Byass USAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026Colangelo & Partners appointed Agency of Record for González Byass USA's international wine brands including wineries from Spain, Chile, France, Austria, and Italy.
• Akin Gump (Lobbying Firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Colangelo & Partners worked alongside lobbying firm Akin Gump on the US Wine Trade Alliance campaign to advocate against wine tariffs.
• Come Over October / Share & Pair SundayscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Gino Colangelo partnered with Karen MacNeil and Kimberly Noelle Charles to launch Come Over October, a national wine advocacy movement encouraging connection and responsible wine enjoyment. The initiative expanded with Share & Pair Sundays campaign in 2025-2026.
• WineGlass MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024In September 2024, Colangelo & Partners acquired a majority position in WineGlass Marketing, a wine and spirits-focused digital marketing agency. WineGlass Marketing specializes in direct response advertising, web development, and email marketing. Susan DeMatei founded WineGlass Marketing in 2011 and continues to lead the business, which operates as a separate entity drawing on Colangelo & Partners' PR, trade, and branding resources.
• Wine OpinionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Colangelo & Partners partnered with Wine Opinions to conduct annual U.S. wine industry surveys providing data-driven insights for client strategies. Surveys cover consumer attitudes, market trends, and health-related behaviors.
• Volcanic Wines InternationalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Colangelo & Partners hosted the first Volcanic Wine Conference in 2018 and continues to support the annual conference and Volcanic Wine Awards, bringing global attention to volcanic terroir.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• M Booth: Independent creative communications firm with a consumer practice covering food, beverage, and lifestyle brands. Comparable integrated earned-media-plus-digital offering but with broader category mix and larger scale.
• Zeno Group: Global communications firm (part of DJE Holdings) with a Consumer practice that includes food, beverage, and lifestyle clients. Overlaps with Colangelo in serving consumer-facing beverage brands but at broader scope and larger scale.
• Prosek Partners: Independent global PR and marketing firm with a Consumer practice that includes wine, spirits, and lifestyle brands. Competes with Colangelo for premium beverage accounts, typically at larger scale and with financial communications capability.
• Weber Shandwick: Global Interpublic-owned PR firm with a dedicated wine, spirits, and beverage practice. A frequent competitor for large spirits and wine accounts where clients want multi-region capabilities.
• Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm with a Food & Beverage practice spanning wine, spirits, and consumer brands. Competes for major spirits and beverage accounts at a global scale that Colangelo cannot match but covers overlapping categories.

Direct peers

• RF|Binder: Independent PR and communications firm purpose-built around food, beverage, and lifestyle brands. Similar boutique scale, vertical focus, and integrated communications offering as Colangelo & Partners.
• Coyne PR: Independent full-service PR agency with a strong consumer food, beverage, and lifestyle practice. Comparable to Colangelo in serving consumer-facing food/beverage brands with integrated communications, including wine and spirits accounts.
• BPCM: NYC-headquartered public relations and communications agency specializing in lifestyle, food, beverage, wine, and spirits brands. Closely comparable in vertical specialization, account size, and service offering (PR, influencer, events, brand strategy) to Colangelo & Partners.
• Gregory FCA: Mid-sized independent PR firm with a Consumer practice that includes food, beverage, and wine/spirits clients. Similar in size, multi-office footprint, and integrated communications approach to Colangelo & Partners.
• 5W Public Relations: Top-25 U.S. consumer PR agency with a dedicated Food & Beverage practice serving wine, spirits, and food brands. Comparable integrated offering (PR, digital, events, influencer) at similar boutique-to-mid scale.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ColangeloPR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colangelo-&-partners-public-relations
• Instagraminstagram.com/colangelopr
• Xx.com/ColangeloPR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colangelo & Partners