Calhoun & Company works exclusively within the fine wine and premium spirits industries, placing clients in high profile consumer lifestyle, epicurean and travel outlets while also running trade initiatives aimed at industry buyers and press. The agency has built this specialized focus over more than two decades, giving its staff a working knowledge of how wine and spirits brands move through both consumer media and trade channels.
Core services center on media relations, brand communications and social media strategy, including carefully executed media buys and ongoing assessment of a client's social media presence. Work is handled by a small team with distinct roles: Katie Calhoun, President, brings a broad perspective developed across her time in the industry; Michelle Keene, Account Director, leads wine tasting seminars as part of client programs; Ashley Zerpa, Account Executive, holds a WSET Level III certification that informs her work with clients; Nina Bradley-Ruiz serves as Account Coordinator and Clip Master, tracking media coverage; and Robert Rinauro manages bookkeeping.
The combination of trade-specific media relations and consumer-facing placements reflects the agency's positioning within a narrow category rather than general lifestyle PR. Staff credentials such as WSET certification and direct experience running tasting seminars tie the agency's day-to-day services back to the fine wine and spirits categories it has served since 2003.