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 announces the appointment of two industry veterans to lead its operations in Wisconsin and Indiana. Keith Gass has been named the new General Manager of Johnson Brothers of Wisconsin, while Mike Spring has been promoted to General Manager of Johnson Brothers of Indiana. Both Gass and Spring will play pivotal roles in advancing Johnson Brothers’ strategic initiatives and driving continued growth in their respective markets.

Keith Gass, General Manager, Johnson Brothers of Wisconsin

Keith Gass (pronounced goss) brings over 30 years of industry experience to his new role at Johnson Brothers. As General Manager, Gass will oversee all business activities across the state of Wisconsin. Gass’s extensive career includes progressive leadership roles across multiple regions of the country, delivering exceptional results.

Before joining Johnson Brothers, Gass served as a senior executive at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada. During his tenure, he successfully established and led its rapidly growing beer division, transforming it into the single largest-selling division in the state. His outstanding leadership and industry acumen resulted in a promotion to oversee the state’s Off-Premise division for wine, spirits, and beer.

Gass’s career spans over two decades at Anheuser-Busch, where he held prominent roles across various states, including New York, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and California. His extensive experience includes managing field sales, national accounts, category management, and sales strategy, as well as directing wholesale operations. His diverse and accomplished background underscores his exceptional ability to drive growth and innovation in the beverage industry.

“We are thrilled to have Keith join our team and look forward to the expertise and leadership he will bring to our Wisconsin operations,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers. “His extensive experience and proven track record in the industry make him a valuable addition to our organization.”

Mike Spring, General Manager, Johnson Brothers of Indiana

Mike Spring has been promoted to General Manager of Johnson Brothers of Indiana. Since joining the company in 2022 as the Retail Director, Spring has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and business acumen. His recent promotion to General Sales Manager further highlights his outstanding contributions and ability to drive success within the organization.

Prior to his tenure at Johnson Brothers, Spring served as Business Development Manager for E&J Gallo Winery in Wisconsin, driving profitable revenue growth by identifying opportunities and reducing costs. His career includes ten years at Breakthru Beverage of Illinois, where he progressed from Sales Consultant to District Manager to Sales Manager.

“Mike’s ability to build high-performance teams and drive growth have positioned him to lead our Indiana operations to new heights,” said George Marsden, Chief Commercial Officer, Johnson Brothers. “We are confident we will achieve success and continue to strengthen our presence in the region under his leadership.”