Innovation & Building a Wine Brand for Gen Z with Jess Druey, Founder of Whiny Baby

In this episode of the Vintage Podcast,  Billy and Brady are joined by Jess Druey, the founder of Whiny Baby, a wine brand designed to resonate with Gen Z drinkers. From her early career at Red Bull to winning Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, Jess shares how she built a wine brand that breaks the mold. They dive into the challenges of the wine industry, how younger consumers engage with wine, and why brands need to rethink their marketing strategies. Jess also teases new developments for Whiny Baby—including an upcoming orange wine—and shares insights into making wine fun, accessible, and relevant to a new generation.Topics Covered:How Jess got into the wine industry despite no formal backgroundThe inspiration behind Whiny Baby and why it stands outHow Red Bull influenced her approach to wine brandingThe importance of storytelling, packaging, and cultural relevanceThe rise of Gen Z wine drinkers and what they actually enjoyThe challenges of launching a wine brand and scaling nationwideHow to make wine fun while maintaining qualityThe future of Whiny Baby, including a new orange wine releaseWhere to Find Whiny Baby Wines:Now available at Target, Total Wine, and BevMo in select states.Follow Jess & Whiny Baby:Instagram | WebsiteChapters:00:00 Introduction to the Vent Podcast00:49 Stage One Master of Wine Program Insights04:31 Napa's 2023 Vintage and Wine Tasting09:02 Introducing Jess Drury of Winey Baby12:33 Creating a Wine Brand for Younger Consumers16:01 Winey Baby's Unique Marketing Approach28:10 Whiny Baby's Next Steps28:55 Challenges and Adaptations30:33 Pricing and Market Strategy35:51 Strategic Partnerships40:20 Innovative Marketing Tactics44:33 Navigating Industry Regulations56:03 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email [email protected]!