Jake Taub represents the fourth generation of his family to play an instrumental role in the fine wine and spirits realm in the United States, as Director of Business Development at the Taub family’s NYC-based wholesale business, Independence Wine & Spirits (IWS).
In early 2020, Jake had the desire to help bring his family back to their roots as leaders in the New York distribution business, and vastly expand their presence in this key market with a focus on fine wine. He spearheaded the strategic partnership between their import operation Taub Family Selections and their wholesale company Independence Wine & Spirits in this critical region, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this initiative, IWS successfully doubled the size of its salesforce, tripled sales revenue, and catapulted the organization to the forefront of fine wine distribution in New York.
As IWS continues to evolve, Jake has taken on added responsibility at his family’s proprietary California wineries, Saracina in Mendocino and Taub Family Vineyards Napa, both in national sales efforts and in the direction of vineyard sourcing and winemaking with the aim of creating gems and highlighting the unique terroirs within these regions. Today, he is an integral voice for his family’s companies, which also include top importer Palm Bay International.
Jake graduated from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2019 with a concentration in Business, Viticulture and Enology. Throughout his studies at Cornell, Jake spent extended semesters on the ground both in France and Italy, learning the intricacies of winemaking and the dynamic business of wine from those countries’ greatest vignerons. After graduation, he spent time on the right bank of Bordeaux working for the Pomerol properties of one of his greatest mentors, Christian Moueix. These included Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Château Trotanoy, and Château La Grave.