Brewery and Winery Lead Generation: Distribution and Event Outreach

Growing Beyond the Taproom

Craft breweries and wineries often start with a tasting room and local following, but sustainable growth requires expanding distribution to restaurants, bars, retail stores, and event venues. The challenge is that these potential accounts are approached by dozens of beverage brands, so standing out requires a targeted and professional approach.

Email outreach lets breweries and wineries systematically contact potential distribution partners, event venues, and corporate clients across their target market. It is more scalable than personal visits and more professional than social media direct messages.

Distribution Prospect Categories

Expand your distribution by reaching out to businesses that serve or sell beverages:

• Restaurants: Especially those with craft beer menus or curated wine lists. Independent restaurants make their own purchasing decisions.
• Bars and pubs: They rotate tap selections and bottle lists regularly, creating ongoing opportunities for new products.
• Specialty retail and bottle shops: They curate selections and are always looking for interesting local products.
• Hotels and resorts: Their bars, restaurants, and room service menus need beverage suppliers.
• Event venues: Wedding venues, banquet halls, and conference centers need beverage partners for their events.
• Grocery stores: Local and regional grocery chains increasingly stock craft beverages from local producers.

Finding Distribution Contacts

Easy Email Finder makes it straightforward to build a list of potential distribution partners. Search for restaurants, bars, bottle shops, hotels, or event venues in any city and extract their contact emails. This is particularly effective for expanding into new geographic markets where you do not have existing relationships.

Writing Distribution Outreach Emails

Your outreach should make it easy for buyers to say yes to carrying your products:

1. Lead with your story: Craft beverage buyers care about the story behind the product. Share your founding story, brewing philosophy, or winemaking approach briefly.
2. Highlight awards and recognition: If you have won competitions, received press coverage, or earned notable ratings, mention them prominently.
3. Offer a tasting: Invite the buyer to your facility for a tasting or offer to bring samples to their location. Let the product sell itself.
4. Explain your support: Detail what you offer accounts beyond just the product. Staff training, promotional materials, tap handle displays, and event partnerships all add value.
5. Make ordering simple: Include your distribution contact, minimum order requirements, and delivery schedule. Remove any friction from the ordering process.

Event and Private Booking Outreach

If your brewery or winery hosts events, email outreach can fill your calendar with private parties, corporate events, and wedding receptions. Target event planners, corporate event coordinators, and wedding venues who may want to partner or refer clients to your space.

Building Brand Relationships

The craft beverage industry thrives on personal relationships. After your initial email outreach, follow up with invitations to release parties, harvest events, or industry networking gatherings. These personal touchpoints turn distribution partners into brand advocates who actively promote your products to their customers.

Conclusion

Breweries and wineries that proactively reach out to distribution partners and event venues grow faster than those that wait for buyers to discover them. Use Easy Email Finder to build targeted lists of restaurants, bars, retail stores, and venues in your target markets. Combine professional email outreach with product quality and personal relationships to expand your distribution footprint and fill your event calendar.