Author: Sarah Oslund

Johnson Brothers Appoints Yale Johnson as President of Sales

Johnson Brothers, a leading distributor of wine, beer, and spirits in the United States, today announced that Yale Johnson has been appointed to the role of President of Sales, effective immediately.

In his new position, Johnson will report directly to Mark Hubler, President & Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Brothers. He will lead all commercial activities, including developing strategic partnerships to drive long-term growth across the company’s 17-state footprint and overseeing the Supplier Performance and External Affairs teams. Johnson will also be responsible for guiding commercial operations, fostering key supplier relationships, and ensuring that sales objectives are achieved.

“We are thrilled to announce Yale Johnson as our new President of Sales,” said Hubler. “Yale’s leadership has been instrumental to our success over the years, and his deep understanding of our business, combined with his ability to cultivate strong relationships, makes him the ideal person to lead our commercial team. His passion for driving results and dedication to our company values will undoubtedly help us achieve new levels of success.”

As a third-generation member of the Johnson family, Yale has deep roots in the industry and has advanced through a series of key leadership roles. He began his career at Gallo before joining Johnson Brothers, where he has worked closely with teams nationwide to implement strategic initiatives and drive business growth. Most recently, he launched and led Oxford Street Merchants, Johnson Brothers’ luxury wine and spirits division, playing a pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence in the premium segment.

“I’m honored to step into this role and continue the legacy that my grandfather, Lynn Johnson, started over 70 years ago,” said Johnson. “Johnson Brothers has always been driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and unparalleled execution. I look forward to working with our talented teams to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and supplier partners.”

Johnson Brothers Continues Partnership Expansion with Copper Cane into Rhode Island

Johnson Brothers, family-owned and operated since 1953, proudly announces the latest milestone in its ongoing partnership with Copper Cane Wines & Spirits: expansion in Rhode Island. This marks another significant step in the successful collaboration that began in 2014. Rhode Island will join the company’s established collaborations in Minnesota, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

Across the decade of partnership with Copper Cane, Johnson Brothers has seen remarkable success across all markets. The collaboration has not only strengthened the presence of Copper Cane’s distinctive and innovative wines but has also significantly enhanced Johnson Brothers’ portfolio, driving growth and customer satisfaction across multiple states.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Johnson Brothers into the Rhode Island market,” states Joe Wagner, owner and winemaker of Copper Cane Wines & Spirits. “Our collaboration has already flourished in several states, and we are excited to bring our innovative and high-quality wines to more New England consumers. Both of our family-owned businesses are committed to excellence, integrity, and providing exceptional experiences to our customers. We look forward to continuing our shared journey of growth and success in Rhode Island.”

One of the fastest-growing luxury wine suppliers in the industry, the expanded Copper Cane portfolio will be managed by Oxford Street Merchants, Johnson Brothers’ luxury organization.

“The Copper Cane Wines & Spirits portfolio includes some of the most dynamic and rapidly growing brands in the luxury wine space,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “We are thrilled to extend this already successful partnership into the Rhode Island market. Our unwavering commitment to executional excellence, combined with Copper Cane’s innovative approach, ensures that we will achieve outstanding results and continue to provide exceptional experiences to our customers.”

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About Johnson Brothers

Johnson Brothers is a multi-generational family-owned wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States. Founded by Lynn Johnson in 1953, the company remains committed to its founding values of work ethic, passion, innovation, teamwork, excellence, and integrity. Through forging strong partnerships with top-tier suppliers globally, Johnson Brothers offers an exceptional portfolio of world-class brands to customer partners across 17 states. With a dedicated team of 4,000, Johnson Brothers remains committed to delivering excellence and continued growth across its operations. For the second consecutive year, Johnson Brothers has been honored as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America by Newsweek. For more information, please visit johnsonbrothers.com or LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Oxford Street Merchants

Oxford Street Merchants is an organization of Johnson Brothers, a leading wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States, focused on luxury spirits and estate wines. Its dedicated, knowledgeable, and accredited team members bring a passion for brand stewardship and storytelling, ensuring each encounter leaves the customer with an unparalleled luxury experience. Committed to executional excellence and standards of performance, Oxford Street Merchants combines innovation and analytics to drive results. Its name pays homage to 43 Oxford Street, the Saint Paul, Minnesota building where Lynn Johnson founded the third-generation, family-run business. For more info, visit us at oxfordstmerchants.com | Instagram.

About Copper Cane Wines & Spirits

Founded in 2014 by Joseph Wagner, Copper Cane Wines & Spirits has redefined the modern winery with their unique approach to the winemaking process. When grapevine canes begin to lignify, or turn to winter hardy wood, they take on a copper hue. This color shift signals that the green character and harsh tannins have been purged from the vine (and therefore, the resulting wine). Only then are the grapes ready for harvest. For Copper Cane’s founder, Joseph Wagner, this patience is essential. While most growers pick their grapes as sugar content hits a certain mark, Wagner waits for physiological maturity to ensure consistency year to year. The result is a wine full of rich, ripe fruit flavors – a style Wagner and his family have always loved. Representative brands include Belle Glos, Böen, Elouan, Napa Valley Quilt, and Threadcount. For more information, visit www.CopperCane.com.

Johnson Brothers Expands Relationship with Chinola

Johnson Brothers, a family-owned and operated business since 1953, is excited to announce the expansion of its partnership with Chinola into Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Carolina, effective as of July 1. This expansion builds upon an existing relationship in Indiana. The Chinola portfolio will be managed by Johnson Brothers’ luxury division, Oxford Street Merchants.

Chinola produces natural liqueurs made from 100% fresh fruit and neutral cane spirit, offering a unique blend and proprietary formulation that delivers unparalleled taste and versatility. They can be enjoyed on their own or mixed with any base spirit to create top-quality cocktails.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Johnson Brothers to bring Chinola to four new markets,” said Andrew Merinoff, CEO & Co-founder of Chinola. “Johnson Brothers’ commitment to unmatched customer service makes them the perfect partner to help us share our passion fruit and mango liqueurs with a wider audience. We look forward to a successful collaboration and the continued growth of our relationship.”

Inspired by the Dominican passion fruit, Chinola was crafted in 2014 through a collaboration between hospitality experts, spirit industry professionals, and a master blender. The success of the award-winning Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur has fueled the launch of their first innovation: Chinola Mango Liqueur. The latest addition to their portfolio continues their tradition of natural, low ABV liqueurs made from 100% fresh fruit with no artificial additives. Chinola is dedicated to authenticity and eco-friendly practices in the production of their liqueurs from farm to bottle.

“Chinola’s commitment to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to bring exceptional products to our customers,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “Many of the best accounts in America are featuring Chinola as a key part of their cocktail program and we’re excited to further partner and introduce more consumers to the brand.”