Our Story.
─ We show up for the brands that deserve more.
The Balanced Grape was built on a simple observation: the best wine doesn't always win. Mark spent a decade inside the largest distributors in the U.S. and saw
brilliant producers that deserve a place on the finest tables. Not because the product isn't ready. Because the sales infrastructure isn't there.
Mark has built his career inside the industry. At Breakthru Beverage Group, he rose to lead portfolios worth $45M–$85M across major U.S. and Canadian markets, directing commercial strategy for brands including Diageo, Treasury Wine Estates, E&J Gallo, Wilson Daniels, Jackson Family Wines, Vineyard Brands, Red Bull, and Nestlé. He was responsible for end to end execution including distributor accountability, depletion planning, on-premise programming, P&L ownership, and teams of up to 24 people.
From there, as Director of North America for Tenute del Mondo (Stoli Group), he owned the U.S. and Canadian strategy for Achaval Ferrer and Arinzano — two estates that demanded the kind of precise, relationship-led execution that major distributors rarely give a brand of that size.
He brings all of it to The Balanced Grape. The relationships inside Breakthru Beverage, SGWS and Johnson Brothers. The commercial instincts earned from a decade of managing what actually moves product. And the ability to walk into a distributor conversation not as a vendor asking for attention, but as someone who used to sit on the other side of that table.
Outside the industry, Mark is a 39-time Canadian National Champion, 500-hour yoga teacher and ashtanga practitioner.
Founder & President · WSET Level 3 · Senior Sales Executive
Alex brings the operational precision of managing large-scale events like the Olympic Games, the strategic thinking of a senior executive, and the performance mindset of an Olympian.
Over a 15-year career spanning global sport, international consulting, and premium brand experiences, Alex has built a reputation for making complex things look effortless. She has orchestrated major international sporting events, led strategic growth initiatives, and developed experiential programs at the intersection of hospitality, and brand storytelling.
At The Balanced Grape, Alex leads the pillars that turn great sales execution into a great brand experience. Operations, client management, marketing strategy, and the visual and identity that makes fine wine and spirits brands feel as premium as the liquid in the bottle.
Cornell EMBA · Olympian · Operations · Marketing
There's no catch. If we're a fit, we'll talk about next steps. If we're not, you'll leave with better clarity on your U.S. strategy than you arrived with. Either way, the call pays for itself.
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