Ep. 2772 A Surprising Partnership between Japanese Sake & Italian Wine with Monica Samuels | Masterclass US Wine Market

Welcome to Episode 2772 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo is in conversation with Monica Samuels, President of Kome Collective, a leading U.S. importer of Japanese sake and spirits.

Together, they explore the fascinating intersection of Japanese sake and Italian wine, discussing why Japanese restaurants have become one of the strongest markets for premium Italian wines in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

Why Japanese restaurants have become one of the strongest accounts for premium italian wines in the US.

How wine & sake compliment rather than compete with one another.

What Italian wineries can learn from the Japanese hospitality and beverage industry.

More about the guest:

Monica is the President of Kome Collective, a leading US importer of Japanese sake and spirits. Monica spent many of her formative years in Tokyo with her grandfather, formerly a sake brewer, and was inspired to carry on his legacy through her career in restaurants, distribution, and importation. In 2017 she received the prestigious honor of “Sake Samurai,” awarded by the Japan Sake Brewers Association. Some of her other personal accolades include IWSC “Future 50” 2018, Wine Enthusiast’s “40 under 40” 2014, and judging several of the top sake competitions around the world, from the International Wine Challenge to the US National Sake Appraisal.

Connect:

Website: https://www.komecollective.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msamuels1212/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-samuels-b352738/

More about the host:

Juliana Colangelo is the Director of Marketing at T. Edward Wines & Spirits, the NYC-based national importer and distributor. She leads the company’s marketing strategy across a growing portfolio of global wine and spirits producers, driving brand development, trade engagement, and national visibility during a period of significant expansion.

Previously, Juliana was Senior Brand Manager at Frederick Wildman & Sons, where she played a key leadership role in the Italian wine division, overseeing marketing strategy for shareholder brands within the Gruppo Italiano Vini and Cantine Riunite portfolios. Prior to that, she served as Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S., where she opened the firm’s first secondary headquarters in California in 2016, establishing its Bay Area office. Over the past decade, Juliana has become one of the most dynamic and influential marketing and communications executives in the wine industry. She is widely recognized as a mentor and connector for women in beverage alcohol, leveraging her network to create opportunities and elevate others in the field. Juliana has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and other leading publications speaking on the future of wine marketing and consumer growth.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julezcolang/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/

Twitter: https://x.com/JulezColang

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/

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