Winery Spotlight: Terlato Wines International on Modern Marketing, Legacy, and Fine Wine

Elisabeth (Elise) C. Terlato has worked in the wine industry for five years now, joining the family’s company in October of 2018 as the Associate Marketing Manager. In this role, she was responsible for marketing and managing Terlato Wines International’s Estate Division portfolio of brands, including Terlato Vineyards, M. Chapoutier, Mathilde Chapoutier, Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, and Anselmi. Elise is the fourth generation to be involved in the family business, along with her sister, Jo, and brother, Tony.

In 2020, Elise was promoted to Digital Marketing Manager, responsible for managing and growing the DTC business through e-commerce, social media, and various other digital platforms. In 2021, she spearheaded and managed two large-scale projects: the renovation and launch of Terlato.com and the Uncorked.com websites.

In 2022, Elise advanced to Marketing Manager for Terlato’s Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) side of the business. In this role, she is responsible for all direct marketing from family wineries, which includes increasing, creating, and analyzing promotions and programs to drive the Terlato Wine Group’s (TWG) e-commerce business, assisting in all electronic and physical communications (including newsletters and websites), managing and executing content, driving business to websites, and managing all loyalty and club programming.

Prior to joining Terlato, Elise worked at Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) Global Chicago for three and a half years, where she progressed from an Assistant Account Executive to Account Executive. At FCB, she managed clients such as Choose Chicago, Bioverativ, and Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, she produced advertisements for high-profile brands such as Mazzoni and Adelphi scotch whisky, which were published in national beverage publications including Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits, and The Tasting Panel. Elise also has experience working at Modern Luxury Publications in their marketing department.

During her internships at the Il Poggione and GAJA wineries in the Tuscan and Piedmont regions of Italy, Elise studied the retail and production sides of the wine industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida’s University of Miami and is continuing her wine education with a WSET II (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) certificate and diploma in Wine Management and Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu in London.

For more than 50 years, Terlato Wines International has been influential in the wine and spirits industry. They introduced Pinot Grigio to America, revolutionized different varietals, and became a well-loved legacy brand. But they’ve never stopped looking for the next best thing for consumers across the globe, which is why they’ve grown year after year. 

According to Elise Terlato, much of the brand’s success comes from the ability to adapt, utilize cutting-edge technologies, and meet the consumer where they are. The digital world will only continue to expand, so it’s crucial that wineries — including legacy brands — learn how to navigate this space and build their online presence. So if you’re a brand that wants to embrace digital and reach a wider audience, what does Elise recommend? 

In this episode of VINTed, Scout Driscoll is in conversation with Elise Terlato, DTC Marketing Manager at Terlato Wines International, to talk about legacy brands, marketing to the modern consumer, and getting involved in the digital world. Elise shares how Terlato is elevating and partnering with other brands, their strategies for connecting with younger consumers, and their mission to promote sustainability through their wineries and vineyards.