LEGENDS WINE MARKETING

Laura Salo Long

Like most people who find themselves in the wine business, Laura's entry came from a different path. Ms. Salo Long, a former flight attendant, seized the opportunity to travel around the world and has literally circumnavigated the world on two occasions. "Experiencing different foods and wines became second nature to me during my flight attendant years. This is when I caught the wine bug." Laura reveals.

To round out her accomplishments, while she was a flight attendant, in 1979 she opened the first Bed & Breakfast in Sonoma County, California, The Grape Leaf Inn. The Inn was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bon Appétit Magazine and many Bed & Breakfast guide books. Shortly thereafter she founded a wine touring company, California Tastings and a wine tasting group, Sonoma Enology Society.

Laura Salo Long’s initial supplier career spanned 16 years with De Loach Vineyards. First as Director of National Accounts, where she organized and developed distributor marketing plans nationwide. Then as Vice President, Public Relations she was responsible for international corporate accounts, public image, and public relations. At De Loach, she also helped establish and coordinate an import company, O.F.S. Imports.

She then took the newly created position of Vice President, International Business Development with Jackson Family Farms, the luxury brand division of Kendall-Jackson Winery. One of her tasks was to mentor the Directors of Sales and Marketing at all ten luxury wineries in the Jackson Family Farms portfolio, in appropriate sales development.

In 2003 she became a partner in Acme Wine Marketing, a national sales and marketing company. Finding that smaller is better, Laura took another path to concentrate on small production family owned wineries and in 2006 started Legends Wine Marketing with good friend Jennifer Hicks Bowers. Laura states "Jennifer and I share the same passion for wine and the wonderful kindred spirits that the industry attracts."

Laura’s past accomplishments include, Press Committee Chair for the Sonoma County Wineries Association Showcase 2000; President, Sonoma County Wine Library Associates; Board of Directors, Friends of the Coast; Co-Chair, Santa Rosa City Counsel and Sonoma County District Attorney election campaigns; Originator, Wine Country Inns, the first Bed and Breakfast Inn Association in Sonoma County and served as a spokesperson representing a major airline four times on a nationally syndicated television program.

Laura shares a lovely home in the hills of Sonoma County with her loving husband David. They entertain more than they should and enjoy cooking, wine, travel and golf.

Laura Salo Long