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Case Study

US Wine Trade Alliance

Colangelo Service Icon: Public Relations & Earned Media

Public Relations & Earned Media

Objective

Increase Public Awareness and Understanding, Inform and Educate the Public and Policymakers on the threats tariffs have on American businesses, Mobilize Wine & Hospitality Industry Leaders for Advocacy

Results

The campaign generated 562 media placements and more than 6.35 billion impressions, with coverage across national, regional, and trade outlets. The program delivered an estimated $19.1 million in earned media value and helped establish USWTA as a leading authority on wine trade policy. In addition, 36 industry spokespeople were trained and activated with unified messaging, strengthening advocacy efforts and ensuring consistent industry representation in media and policy conversations.

The U.S. Wine Trade Alliance represents all tiers of the American wine industry—from importers and wholesalers to retailers, restaurants, and producers—advocating for fair trade policies and the elimination of tariffs on imported wine.

Colangelo & Partners led a national communications campaign to raise awareness around the economic impact of potential wine tariffs on American businesses and consumers. Working alongside the lobbying firm Akin Gump, the team developed a strategic messaging platform and executed a multi-channel program that combined national media outreach, grassroots storytelling, and targeted engagement in key political districts. The campaign elevated the voices of restaurateurs, retailers, importers, and small business owners through media interviews, virtual roundtables, and industry events, reframing wine tariffs from a technical trade issue into a broader economic and cultural story about American jobs, hospitality, and consumer choice.

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