As we approach the eve of 2025, I've been thinking a lot about the year we've had - the good, the challenging, and the growth that came from it all. After spending some time this month reflecting, I wanted to share a snapshot of what went right this year with Bozzano & Co.
GROWTH OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME MARKET
While we have never been focused solely on supply from the Central Coast, this year we expanded our bulk wine deal volume beyond our home market, particularly in Napa. Connecting with new buyers, tasting and exploring the wines of new suppliers, and building relationships in that market has been rewarding, educational, and energizing. It has reminded us how important it is to keep pushing beyond familiar ground while staying rooted in who we are and what we do best.
NAVIGATING A TOUGH MARKET
We all know how bad 2025 was for the California wine industry, and frankly I expected the market to have shown more recovery by now than it has. That said, we are proud that the Bozzano and Co. team saw not only an increase from 2024 in bulk wine and wine grape sales, but also an uptick in the number of transactions we facilitated. Some of this is just plain good luck, as it does feel like our home market in Paso Robles has fared a bit better than other regions within California. But more importantly for us, this growth is a testament to the trust you place in us, and I thank you for that trust immensely.
STEPPING BACK INTO THE VINEYARD
Maybe it was a longing to get a little closer to my agrarian roots, or just to be able to put my truck in the dirt a bit more, but after a decent break from actively marketing wine grapes (two kids in two years forced me to prioritize my time a bit…), this year I really wanted to get back to vineyards. Being back out with growers, watching shoots grow and fruit set, and tasting grapes with winemakers and grower reps has been rewarding. It reminded me of how we need to serve our industry and agriculture as a whole, but also how difficult and time consuming it is to market grapes. While much of what Bozzano and Co. does can be managed from our office, that is certainly not the case with selling grapes.
TEAM GROWTH
I am immensely grateful for the team that we’ve built at Bozzano and Co., and am fortunate that the team keeps growing in all the right ways. Jeanine has now been with us a full calendar year and it’s been great to see her bring her perspective, creativity, and eagerness to engage to Bozzano and Co. She’s also really, really good at designing cool stuff to give our clients. We also welcomed Madison (our Cal Poly intern) this Fall - a bright and thoughtful addition who’s already made her mark with us. Those suppliers that work with us have gotten to know her (at least via email) from her regular inventory requests.
MORE ENGAGEMENT
2025 brought us more opportunities to engage with clientele and industry professionals. We started the year with a strong showing at Unified, meeting our clients and having some really fun cocktail hours and meals. In the Spring we had a booth and presented to colleagues at WiVi Central Coast, in the Fall we presented to the PRWCA, and most recently attended WINExpo. We’ve also had a few opportunities to present to Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture classes and Vines 2 Wines (thanks to all the students that actually asked questions), and multiple trips both north and south to visit clients. It’s safe to say we’ve all become a bit more comfortable with public speaking.
PRIVATE LABEL PROGRESS
Another point of pride this year: we rolled out some exciting new private label items and deepened partnerships with local wineries. Helping bring great wine projects from concept to bottle, across retailers big and small, never stops being one of the most fulfilling parts of our work.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue to build and strengthen our relationships across California, focusing on being a meaningful partner for growers, wineries, and the wine industry. We will continue to find areas of growth, look for creative ways to add value and service to our clients, and support our team as we do our part to steer this ship towards a market recovery.
Thank you for your support, partnership, and shared commitment to this industry we love. We’re grateful for the opportunities this year brought and genuinely excited about what’s ahead. Here's to a strong year in 2026.
Cheers,
Anthony Bozzano + Bozzano & Co. Team
