Guide to Wine Podcast: Episode 117

Disrupting the Wine Industry w/ Currently Wine Co. Part 1

Air Date: Wednesday, August 13th, 2025

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What if the wine industry’s biggest problem isn’t quality, but the connection to the wine?

Today’s guest, Daniel Rodriguez, saw an opportunity to bring fresh energy and better marketing to wine. With a deep passion for wine and a sharp eye on consumer trends, he's building a brand that meets today’s drinkers where they are.

Daniel, the owner and CEO of Currently Wine Co., plans to use his skills in building tech brands to bring a disruptive wine brand into a slow moving industry, ripe for change. Over the previous 11 years, he has led the marketing function for 3 startup B2B tech companies. In 2021, he co-authored "Experience is Everything," a book about the future of customer service in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, you’ll hear how one bottle of Argentinian Malbec opened the door to Daniel’s wine obsession, and why he believes wine brands are failing to connect with modern consumers. We explore what younger wine drinkers really care about, why Sauvignon Blanc is Currently’s first release, and how branding and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

Daniel also breaks down the marketing mistake many wine brands make: selling to themselves, not their customers. He shares what makes lifestyle wine buyers different from collectors and why understanding that difference is key to standing out in a crowded market. Plus, Daniel shares why he believes the wine industry is missing a massive opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint and how packaging plays a key role in that shift.

So, if you’re curious about how someone outside the traditional wine world is rewriting the playbook, this episode will give you a whole new perspective on what’s possible and what’s needed to move the industry forward!

Thank you to Wine.com for sponsoring this episode. Go to Wine.com/corkfizz and use code CORKFIZZ for FREE shipping on your order over $150. (Limit one per customer.)

As a listener of this podcast go to https://currentlywine.com/ and you will receive a 20% discount with promo code CorkandFizz20 - discount valid through 9/23/2025 and up to 3 purchases per customer.

This is part 1 of my interview with Daniel so don’t miss part 2 next week!

Connect with Daniel 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drodriguez4/

Episode Highlights:

• Discovering his passion for wine
• The wine that changed everything
• Starting a wine brand
• Why most wine brands are marketing to the wrong audience
• Three types of wine consumers and which one Currently targets
• What makes Currently wine disruptive (and it’s not the wine itself)
• Sustainability and packaging
• Future plans for Currently Wine Co

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