Michael David Winery](https://www.michaeldavidwinery.com) has named Michael Stein Vice President of National Sales, effective immediately, bringing a resume that spans some of the wine industry's most prominent sales organizations to the family-owned Lodi, California producer.
Stein's career includes senior sales leadership roles at Robert Mondavi, Icon Estates (a Constellation Brands subsidiary), Terlato Wine Group, and King Estate Winery — a collective track record exceeding two decades of distributor development and national brand building across both on-premise and off-premise channels.
The Role
In his new position, Stein will own national sales strategy and oversee U.S. distributor partnerships, working directly with executive leadership to extend distribution reach for Michael David's portfolio of brands, which includes Freakshow, Earthquake, Inkblot, and Misfits & Mavens. The hire signals a deliberate push to sharpen the winery's commercial infrastructure as competition for shelf space and wine-list placement intensifies across retail and restaurant accounts.
Melissa Phillips Stroud, Vice President of Michael David Winery, pointed to Stein's distributor relationship-building and team leadership as the qualities that drove the decision. "His extensive experience building distributor partnerships, leading successful sales teams, and growing brands across the country makes him a tremendous addition as we continue to build on the momentum of Michael David Winery," she said.
Lodi's Expanding Footprint
Michael David Winery is a sixth-generation family farming operation that released its first commercial wines in 1984 and today farms more than 900 acres in the Lodi Appellation. The appointment reflects broader momentum in Lodi's standing as a premium wine-producing region, with family-owned producers increasingly investing in professional sales infrastructure to compete against larger portfolio houses for distributor mind-share and on-premise placements.
For restaurant and beverage program buyers, the hire may translate to more aggressive trade outreach and promotional support from Michael David as Stein builds out his national team. Operators tracking shifts in wine distribution and on-premise beverage strategy will want to note how a seasoned hire like this accelerates a regional winery's ability to compete for chain and independent restaurant accounts alike.
The move also underscores a wider trend of established wine brands investing in senior commercial talent to drive volume in a tightening market — a pattern covered in depth across restaurant beverage and wine program reporting as operators reassess their pour lists amid evolving consumer preferences.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
