Enquirer Consulting Group
Toby Morus | Phelps Creek Vineyards | October 2026
As of 14 Oct 2026
Phelps Creek Vineyards grows estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Columbia Gorge, sells to the trade through distributors and importers, and hosts private events at its Hood River tasting room.
This page maps the organizations that buy and pour wine like yours, and the groups that book private events, with who usually signs off at each.
Counts are national and banded. Planners and corporate event buyers have no clean public count.
| Group | Organizations in the US | Under 20 staff | 20 to 99 | 100 to 499 | 500 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine and spirits distributors and importers | about 2,200 | about 1,900 | about 240 | about 81 | about 46 |
| Wine and liquor shops | about 32,000 | about 31,000 | about 920 | about 95 | about 64 |
| Full-service restaurants | about 220,000 | about 160,000 | about 62,000 | about 3,100 | about 640 |
| Bars and wine bars | about 39,000 | about 34,000 | about 4,900 | about 230 | about 53 |
| Hotels and motels | about 45,000 | about 34,000 | about 9,400 | about 1,100 | about 380 |
| Wedding and event planners | no clean public count |
US firm counts by industry code, banded deliberately.
Titles vary by size. In a small shop or bar the owner is often the buyer.
| Group | Who usually decides | What they weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Distributors and importers | Portfolio Manager, Director of Sales, Brand Manager | Fit with the book, story the reps can tell, support material for accounts |
| Wine and liquor shops | Owner, Wine Buyer | Shelf story, critic notes, staff picks, reorder pace |
| Full-service restaurants | Wine Director, Sommelier, Beverage Director | List gaps by region and grape, by-the-glass fit, allocation |
| Bars and wine bars | Owner, Bar Manager, Beverage Manager | By-the-glass rotation, guest interest, price per pour |
| Hotels and motels | Food and Beverage Director, Director of Catering and Events | Banquet and room service lists, local wines for guests |
| Wedding and event planners | Owner, Lead Planner | Venue, bar service and catering handled in one place |
In most US states wine reaches shops and restaurants through a distributor, so each market has two decisions. The distributor's portfolio team agrees to carry the wine, then the account's buyer chooses to list it.
The second decision is where wines from small estates often stall. Reps carry large books, and a buyer who already knows the estate, its vineyard and its critic notes is far easier for the rep to close.
| Booker | Usual title | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| Companies near the Gorge or bringing teams in | Executive Assistant, Office Manager, People Operations Manager | Team offsites, client dinners, milestone gatherings |
| Wedding planners | Owner, Lead Planner | Welcome receptions, rehearsal dinners |
| Hotels near downtown Hood River | Director of Sales, Group Sales Manager | Group bookings that need an evening venue |
The people who usually sign at the groups above, one a company. Work emails and phone numbers checked on Oct 14, 2026.
| Name | Role | Company | Where | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagih William | Food & Beverage Director | Hilton University of Florida | Gainesville, VA | +1 571 216 8002 | |
| Brad Romoff | Corporate Food & Beverage Director | YHB Hospitality Group | Tustin, CA | +1 949 677 7201 | |
| Mark Maxfield | Owner | The Cottages Assisted Living & Memory Care | Meridian, ID | mark@thecottages.biz | +1 208 870 9878 |
| Sean Murphy | Owner, Founder and Chief Recruiter | Next Move Hospitality Search | Orlando, TX | sean@nextmovehs.com | +1 407 454 2464 |
| James D. Lawless | Co-Owner | The Gents Place® | Frisco, TX | jdlawless@thegentsplace.com | +1 817 825 0182 |
| Mike Ferreira | Owner, Founder & CEO | Meetings Made Easy, LLC | Detroit | ferreira@meetingsme.com | +1 702 755 2679 |
| Argus Wiley | Franchise Owner | Red Door Foods | Greenville, SC | kate@reddoorfoods.com | +1 770 871 0336 |
| Itzy Holczler | Co-Owner | Purple Exhibits | New York | itzy@purpleexhibits.com | +1 845 587 5936 |
| Dan Horwich | President, Executive Director & Owner | CAMP IT Conferences | Chicago, IL | +1 847 778 0999 | |
| Ray Lainez | Owner | World Class Parking Systems LLC | Miami | rlainez@worldclassparking.net | +1 305 812 8071 |
Built from public federal registries and the company's own website, counts banded deliberately.
If a walk-through is useful, pick a time at cal.com/ecg.
Prepared by Ben Beattie, ben@enquirerconsulting.com.