Toad Hollow Vineyards and V2 Wine Group Announce Sales & Marketing Agreement

SONOMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--V2 Wine Group of Sonoma, California will handle sales and marketing for Toad Hollow Vineyards of Healdsburg in an exciting new partnership announced by the two wine organizations today. The agreement became effective August 16, 2010. Toad Hollow Vineyards, best known for its popular Francine’s Selection Unoaked Chardonnay, is making the move to propel its already successful business further.

“Our team’s close ties to the trade along with Frankie’s vision and passion for Toad Hollow make this a dynamic partnership which will drive Toad Hollow’s further growth in a consolidating marketplace.”

“We have been very gratified with the growth of our business over the years,” stated Toad Hollow Owner and President Frankie Williams. “However, we also realize we need more horsepower in this changing marketplace to take Toad Hollow to the next level. We feel confident that V2 Wine Group is the right company to help boost our business even further.”

“Toad Hollow and V2 are a perfect fit as both were created with a similar spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship,” explained Dan Leese, president of V2 Wine Group (www.v2winegroup.com). “Our team’s close ties to the trade along with Frankie’s vision and passion for Toad Hollow make this a dynamic partnership which will drive Toad Hollow’s further growth in a consolidating marketplace.”

Longtime friends Todd Williams and Rodney Strong created Toad Hollow Vineyards when they released their first vintage of chardonnay in 1994. Eventually Williams and his wife Francine (Frankie) assumed all responsibility for the winery, growing the brand to over 100,000 cases of several varietals including a Russian River Pinot Noir and Merlot, a Sonoma Country Dry Pinot Noir Rosé (Eye of the Toad) and a delicious red blend (Erik’s the Red). Along with its wines, Toad Hollow’s distinctive and playful labels boasting a toad (representing Todd) in various states of celebration have earned the winery ardent fans all over the country. “We have dedicated ourselves to making high quality wines at an affordable price and believe the best is yet to come,” said Erik Thorson, general manager for Toad Hollow.

“Toad Hollow has a great story with a devoted following; it is a unique brand that fits well with the V2 vision,” said Katy Leese, co-Founder and general manager for V2 Wine Group.

V2 Wine Group is a wine producer that also provides sales and marketing services to a limited group of third-party wineries. With a wine portfolio that includes Steelhead Wines of Dry Creek Valley, V2 is dedicated to building strong, innovative wine brands in the North American marketplace. The company is a partnership between wine industry veterans Dan and Katy Leese and entrepreneur Pete Kight.

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