Unfiltered: A New Chapter for Uncorked

Over the past 13+ years, Uncorked has been such an important part of my life—building relationships,
discovering incredible wines, and working alongside so many talented people across the industry. It’s
been a journey I never could have fully mapped out at the beginning… and honestly, I’m not sure I
would have wanted to. Some of the best parts came from simply following where things led.
But as the business has grown, so has my perspective on where I can add the most value. What I’ve
come to realize is that what people often need isn’t just great wine (although that part is still very
important). They need guidance, they need clarity, and sometimes they just need someone who’s been
through it before to say, “Here’s how this actually works.”

Because as much as we all love the wine—the part behind the scenes isn’t always quite as romantic.
There’s licensing, there are label approvals, and there’s navigating state-by-state regulations that don’t
always seem to follow the same set of rules twice. It’s not exactly what people picture when they think
about getting into the wine business, and yet it’s the part that quietly determines whether things move
forward… or don’t.

Over time, I found myself having more and more of these conversations—talking through how to enter
the U.S. market, walking someone through the TTB process, or explaining why a label might get held
up and how to fix it without starting from scratch (which is always the goal). And somewhere along the
way, it became clear that this is the work I really enjoy.

The conversations, the problem-solving, and the part where experience actually makes things a little
easier for someone else—that’s where I found myself leaning more and more. It’s also where I realized
that I could offer something meaningful beyond just the product itself.

So, Uncorked is evolving—not away from what it has been, but toward where it naturally fits next.

Going forward, Uncorked will focus on wine consulting and compliance advisory, working with wineries,
importers, restaurants, and retailers who are navigating the U.S. market and everything that comes with
it. That might look like building or refining a wine program, helping an international winery understand
how to enter the U.S., guiding someone through TTB licensing or label approvals, or simply being a
sounding board for decisions that don’t come with a clear roadmap.

It’s still very much about wine—just a different side of it. A little less about what’s in the glass, and a
little more about what it takes to get it there.

I’m also stepping away from the traditional distribution side of the business, which was not a small
decision. There’s a lot of history there, and a lot of people I’ve genuinely loved working with. But
sometimes growth looks like letting go of one thing so you can fully step into another, and this feels like
the right direction.

More focused, more intentional, and honestly a little more aligned with where I am now.
If you’re in the middle of building something, figuring something out, or just not quite sure what the next
step looks like, I’m always happy to connect. And if nothing else, I’m still very much available to talk
about wine—that part hasn’t changed.

—Dianne