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Smith Story Wines

Private Label Wine Procurement & Program Development

Smith Story Creative

From vineyard to finished bottle, we help you build a private label wine program that’s smart, profitable, and built to last.

Inquire About Private Label

SMITH STORY CREATIVE

Private Label Wine, Done Right

Smith Story Creative is the private label division of Smith Story Wine Cellars, dedicated to helping businesses source, develop, and grow thoughtful, profitable private label wine programs.

With decades of combined experience in wine buying, production, and brand-building, we guide you through every step of the process from selecting the right wines to managing compliance, bottling, and long-term planning.

You bring the vision. We bring the relationships, the know-how, and the follow-through.

From Idea to Pour-Ready Bottles

Sourcing & Selection

Access high-quality fruit or finished wines from trusted producers and vineyards. We help you secure the right style, region, and price point for your goals.

Program Strategy & Financials

Build a program that pencils. We assist with budgeting, forecasting, and margin modeling so your private label supports both your brand and your bottom line.

Production & Bottling Coordination

Navigate the moving pieces cellar work, bottling timelines, logistics, and scale so your program is consistent from vintage to vintage.

Compliance & Label Approvals

Wine laws and label approvals are complex. We help you understand requirements, avoid costly mistakes, and keep your program compliant.

Pricing & Channel Strategy

Whether for on-premise, retail, club, gifting, or internal use, we advise on pricing, positioning, and release strategies that make sense for your audience.

Optional Story & Packaging Support

When You’re Ready for the Story Behind the Wine

The foundation of any great private label program is what’s in the bottle. Once that’s in place, we can help with the layer that brings it to life:

  • Guidance on label and packaging direction
  • Support with naming and brand positioning
  • Light storytelling and copy to connect your wine to your guests, members, or customers

Storytelling is a powerful tool—but we treat it as the finishing touch, not a substitute for quality.

Why Smith Story Creative

Built on Real-World Wine Industry Experience

Smith Story Creative is led by Ali and Eric Story, founders of Smith Story Wine Cellars. Together, they bring:

  • Years of international and domestic wine buying experience
  • Hands-on winemaking and production expertise
  • Deep relationships with family-farmed vineyards and trusted producers
  • A track record of building a small, independent wine brand into a nationally recognized label

We’ve been on the production floor, in the vineyards, in distributor meetings, on the sales floor, and behind the scenes of countless partnerships. We know what it takes to make a private label program work in the real world.

Who We Work With

Is Smith Story Creative Right for You?

We’re a strong partner for organizations who see wine as a strategic asset and brand builder. 

Hotels, resorts, and restaurant groups
Specialty and boutique retailers
Private membership clubs and lifestyle brands
Corporate gifting and hospitality programs
Nonprofits and fundraising organizations
Entertainers and media projects seeking premium private labels

Minimum Commitment

Most programs begin at a minimum of 256 cases. Exact quantities and timelines vary depending on your goals, budget, and desired wine style.

How It Works

Our Process

Introductory Call

We learn about your business, where and how you plan to use the wine, and what success looks like for your program.

Program Blueprint

We outline recommended styles, regions, volume, timing, and budget ranges. This includes a realistic view of margins and logistics.

Sourcing & Planning

We tap our network to identify the right wines and production partners, then shape the plan for your first bottling and beyond.

Production & Compliance

We help coordinate production details, bottling, labels, and compliance to keep the process moving.

Launch & Beyond

When the wine is ready to pour, we remain available for ongoing support as your program grows, evolves, and scales.

SMITH STORY CREATIVE

Limited Project Availability

To maintain quality and attention, we only accept a limited number of private label clients each season. If you’re considering launching or refreshing a private label program in the coming year, we recommend reaching out early so we can discuss timing and capacity.

Email us to start the conversation.

About Ali & Eric

Meet the Team Behind Smith Story Creative

Alison Smith Story

Ali Smith Story is the co-founder and storyteller-in-chief of Smith Story Wine Cellars. With a background in brand development, sales, and building communities around independent wine, Ali brings a grounded, strategic approach to helping businesses use wine thoughtfully and effectively.

Eric Story

Eric Story is the co-founder and winemaker of Smith Story Wine Cellars, with deep experience in wine buying, European and domestic wine regions, and hands-on production. Eric’s expertise ensures every private label decision— from sourcing to bottling—starts with integrity in the glass.

Together, they approach private label work with one guiding principle: The wine must be something you’re proud to pour.

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