Industry veteran brings more than two decades of marketing, strategy and innovation leadership to drive continued growth in sparkling wine.
Rack & Riddle, the nation’s leading custom sparkling wine producer, has announced that Laura Webb has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer. Webb will be based out of Rack & Riddle’s Bacchus Landing location in Healdsburg.
Webb brings more than 20 years of experience leading marketing, sales, and strategic growth initiatives for premium consumer brands and business-to-business enterprises. She joins Rack & Riddle most recently from Cakebread Cellars, where she served as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and DTC, overseeing revenue channels including wholesale, direct to consumer e-commerce and wine club, hospitality, events and culinary. Earlier in her career, Webb held leadership roles across corporate strategy, global innovation and brand portfolio management at Brown-Forman and worked in sales management at E. & J. Gallo Winery. Her career spans leadership roles in brand strategy, innovation, commercialization, and customer growth across the wine, consumer products, hospitality, B2B and technology sectors.
As a member of Rack & Riddle’s Executive Leadership Team, Webb will spearhead the company’s strategy, innovation, commercialization and marketing functions partnering closely with leaders across the organization to strengthen its market position, accelerate growth, and support its long-term strategic vision. “As we expand our offerings and leadership in more categories, Laura’s combination of forward-thinking mindset, commercial expertise, customer focus, and collaborative style will be a tremendous asset for our company,” said Jeff Tuttle, CEO.
Webb’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Rack & Riddle, as the company continues to expand its production capacity and footprint across Sonoma County. Her focus on innovation and commercial strategy is expected to complement Rack & Riddle’s ongoing investments in operations and infrastructure, reinforcing the company’s position as the premier partner for wineries and retailers seeking custom sparkling wine production.
Webb sums up real opportunity at Rack & Riddle, saying “Sparkling is one of the most dynamic parts of the wine business, and Rack & Riddle is built to lead it, with the expertise and range to make everything from Méthode Champenoise to CALSECCO® and Charmat, flavored, and alcohol-removed and low alcohol wines. Consumers are exploring new styles, occasions and formats. Our opportunity is to help our partners meet them there, with innovation that brings new people into wine and grows the category for everyone.”
Wine industry finance veteran brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to the nation's leading custom sparkling wine producer
Rack & Riddle, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the U.S., today announced the appointment of John Moore as Chief Financial Officer. Moore joins the company with more than 25 years of finance, investment banking and executive leadership experience, including extensive experience across the wine industry. He will be based at Rack & Riddle’s Bacchus Landing facility in Sonoma County.
Moore joins Rack & Riddle from Boisset Collection, where he served as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing Accounting, Finance, IT and Compliance across the company’s U.S. operations. During his tenure, he helped lead significant business transformation, modernize financial and accounting systems, establish the company’s first dedicated FP&A function, strengthen long-range planning and support strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions and debt financing.
“John brings an exceptional combination of financial expertise, strategic perspective and firsthand understanding of the wine business,” said Jeff Tuttle, CEO. “His experience navigating growth, building strong financial systems and partnering across operations will be invaluable as Rack & Riddle continues to expand and invest in the future of custom sparkling wine.”
Prior to Boisset Collection, Moore served as Chief Financial Officer of Lawrence Wine Estates, where he oversaw finance and other corporate functions across a portfolio of wine businesses and real estate holdings. He also spent nearly a decade with Duckhorn Wine Company, progressing through roles from Financial Analyst to Vice President of Finance as the company grew significantly. Across these positions, Moore developed extensive expertise in financial planning and analysis, operations, acquisitions, capital management and organizational growth.
Earlier in his career, Moore spent eight years with Bank of America Securities in leveraged finance, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring and advisory. He executed more than 30 transactions and helped raise more than $15 billion in debt capital.
Moore’s connection to the wine industry extends beyond finance. He completed three harvest internships with Kosta Browne, Corbans in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, and Williams Selyem, gaining hands-on experience across vineyard sampling, crush, fermentation, pressing, barrel aging and bottling.
Moore holds a B.A. in Economics from Davidson College and studied Financial Statement Analysis and Options, Futures and Other Derivatives at the London School of Economics. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, cycling, woodworking, skiing, tennis and spending time with his family.
The Vision Behind CALSECCO®
Co-authored by Manveer Sandhu, Executive Director of Winemaking and Kim Kulchycki, Sr. Director Marketing, Rack & Riddleecutive Director of Winemaking and Kim Kulchycki, Sr. Director Marketing, Rack & Riddle
Why California Needs Something Fresh & New
Sparkling wine is increasing in popularity, filling more need states for consumers than almost any other type of wine. Once regarded as the primary celebratory beverage for holidays and special occasions, its market position has shifted dramatically in the last 10 years. Sparkling wine has now evolved into an everyday beverage enjoyed throughout the year.
The popularity of Prosecco has made sparkling wine accessible and popular with a new and younger group of wine drinkers — the elusive Gen Z and Millennials. The ones who grew up drinking sparkling water, seltzers and other refreshing beverages from other categories but haven’t quite “gotten” wine. Well, they understand Prosecco!
Given California’s popularity and appeal are undeniable and pervasive — the wines, culture, food and lifestyle — it stands to reason consumers would love a premium sparkling wine made in this style from California.
For decades, California has made traditional method sparkling wine that stands proudly beside the world’s finest. California has offered exceptional value in Charmat based sparkling wines.
Even so, there was still a prominent gap on the shelf. The premium Charmat sparkling wine space was left unfilled by California, ceding to the approachable style owned by Italy with Prosecco.
When the Rack & Riddle winemaking team began thinking about creating CALSECCO, we were not interested in simply replicating an Italian wine in California. The more interesting opportunity was to understand what made that style so successful, then ask what California could bring to the conversation. We have the terroir, the grower partners, and winemaking talent. The opportunity was to put those pieces together in a way that felt distinctly Californian.
We wanted something bright, fresh, fruit-forward and approachable, but we also wanted the quality and discipline behind it to be unmistakable. The process took us from the Prosecco houses of Italy back to the vineyards of California, through dozens of blending trials and into a very different way of thinking about what the promise of CALSECCO could be.
At heart, CALSECCO is a love letter to the California wine industry, a promise made and kept to the sparkling wine category and a belief that when we
build something new together, growers, producers, retailers and sparkling wine lovers will all share in the growth. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Inspiration for Making CALSECCO: Visiting Prosecco Houses in Italy, 2022
A 2022 visit to Prosecco producers gave our winemaking team an important reminder that there is no single Prosecco profile. There are meaningful differences in style, scale and expression.
Tasting the wines in their intended setting revealed their true character: their stylistic diversity, natural approachability, versatility at the table, and the fact that Prosecco is enjoyed far beyond celebrations and special occasions.
There were other important winemaking lessons learned in Italy. Prosecco is made at remarkable scale, with large-capacity presses designed to handle significant volume during a compressed harvest window. And its supply often rests on a European model of small growers and co-ops feeding programs both large and small, much like Champagne. Those observations about grape sourcing and gentle processing, and how an entire region organizes itself around a style, would shape every decision that followed once the team came home. Our own approach to coordinated sourcing, shared standards and long-term grower partnerships in California seemed well-suited to this model.
Manveer Sandhu, our Head Winemaker, came back convinced that the classic varietals used in traditional method sparkling programs were not automatically the right toolkit for CALSECCO.
Rack & Riddle is growing, and we're looking for talented individuals to join our Customer Service Team on both our Winery Services and Custom Brands sides of the business.
If you enjoy building relationships, solving problems, and helping deliver exceptional client experiences, we'd love to connect with you.
Join a team where no two days are the same and your career will sparkle.
Apply at RackandRiddle.com/careers
Sparkling wine is now the #3 selling wine category, and Prosecco-style sparkling accounts for nearly 90% of the category's growth.
For a state known for exceptional sparkling wine, California was missing one thing: its own take on this fast-growing category.
That's why we created CALSECCO, a brand-new sparkling wine style crafted from 100% California-grown grapes.
CALSECCO gives California wineries a new way to:
Attract tasting room visitors
Expand your sparkling portfolio
Capture consumers looking for a fresh, approachable sparkling wine
Ready to bring CALSECCO® to your portfolio?
CALL US TODAY!
(707) 433-8400
In this webinar, Rack & Riddle and SOLOS will explore the consumer trends driving category growth, the science behind alcohol removal, and why sparkling wine naturally performs better in alcohol-removed applications.
Join Rack & Riddle, Solos, and Wine Industry Network for an upcoming webinar exploring one of the fastest-growing categories in the beverage industry: alcohol-removed wine.
Watch Now!
Our team will join industry leaders to discuss the trends, technology, and market opportunities shaping the future of no- and low-alcohol beverages.
Rack & Riddle speakers:
Manveer Singh Sandhu Sandhu, Executive Director of Winemaking
Sarah Qualters, Vice President of Marketing
Together with Matthew Hughes, General Manager at Solos, the panel will cover:
Consumer demand driving category growth
The challenges and opportunities in crafting premium alcohol-removed sparkling wine
How innovation and technology are transforming production
What wineries and beverage brands should consider before entering the category
Where the market is headed next
As the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the U.S., we’re proud to help lead conversations shaping the future of the wine industry.
We hope you’ll join us for this timely discussion.
Event Type: Webinar
Location: Webinar
Date: 6/11/2026 — 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
We’re excited to invite you to an upcoming Wine Industry Network (WIN) webinar exploring one of the fastest-growing categories in the beverage industry: alcohol-removed wine innovation.
Hosted by WIN in collaboration with Rack & Riddle and Solos, this webinar will bring together industry leaders to discuss emerging consumer trends, production innovation, and the future opportunities within the no- and low-alcohol category.
Rack & Riddle speakers include:
Manveer Sandhu
Executive Director of Winemaking
Sarah Qualters
Vice President of Marketing
Alongside Matt Hughes, Solos General Manager, they will share insights into the evolving market landscape, advancements in sparkling wine production, and how innovation is helping shape the future of the category.
Topics will include:
Why consumer demand for alcohol-removed options is accelerating
The challenges — and opportunities — of crafting high-quality alcohol-removed sparkling wine
How innovation and technology are transforming production capabilities
What wineries and beverage brands should know before entering the category
Where the market is heading next
As the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the U.S., Rack & Riddle is proud to help lead conversations shaping the future of wine innovation.
We hope you’ll join us for this timely discussion and encourage you to register today.
Expand Your Wine Brand with Rack & Riddle’s Canning & Bottling Solutions
Full-Service Canning & Bottling Options
At Rack & Riddle, we’re here to help bring your wine brands to life with our canning and bottling options for both sparkling and still wines. Whether you’re scaling up or just starting out, we’ve got you covered!
With 3.5 million cases of capacity across 4 state-of-the-art facilities, we’re ready to grow with you. Our facilities are SMETA, CCOF, and GMP certified, ensuring exceptional quality from start to finish. Speaking of finishes, we offer a variety of popular formats and finishes, including:
- 750ML, 375ML, 187ML, and limited 1.5L
- Cork finish, screw cap, and crown cap (on select sizes)
- 200ML and 250ML cans
Plus, our automated production lines and advanced on-site lab services ensure your wines are crafted with precision and care.
Let’s talk about how we can support your brand’s growth. Call us today for more info! (707) 433-8400
Sparkling wine is a bright spot in today’s challenging wine market. It ranks third among wine categories in sales, behind Cabernet and Chardonnay, and is the fastest-growing varietal.[*] The lower alcohol and light, fizzy taste appeals to the healthy mindset of today’s consumers, and the lower price point appeals to their stretched budgets. Sparkling wine is also a natural entry point for younger generations to engage with wine, as it delivers the fruity flavor and familiar effervescence they favor.
Mark Garaventa, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager of Healdsburg, California-based custom production and crush facility, Rack & Riddle, provides insight. “When I started here in 2009, drinking sparkling wine was a celebratory event, unlike the Europeans who drank it daily. Now that trend is developing here and driving the growth.”
Rack & Riddle has grown from its 2007 founding by Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist to become America’s premier sparkling wine producer. From the beginning, their focus was on partnering with family-owned wineries, and the new leadership team the duo has assembled is expanding those partnerships into the future.
CEO Jeff Tuttle says, “We are committed to bringing the industry sparkling wine in ways to keep it fresh and appealing to a wide range of demographics. We are enablers, eager to partner with wineries and retailers with brands of their own.”
CALSECCO: California’s answer to Prosecco
One of the Rack & Riddle team’s most exciting innovations is coining the name “CALSECCO” to give California its own affordable sparkling wine brand, a response to the booming Italian Prosecco import market.
“California didn’t have a cachet name like Champagne, Crémant or Cava,” Garaventa explains. So, we blended California’s fruity flavor profile with the Charmat method to create a high-quality yet affordable alternative that partners can add to their portfolios.
Expanded Charmat & Flavored wine capacity
Rack & Riddle is adding capacity for the Charmat process, which completes its second fermentation in tanks instead of bottles. The result is a youthful and aromatic sparkling wine that is faster and more cost‑effective to produce.
“Lower cost does not mean lower quality, even though past Charmat wines have struggled with that,” says Garaventa. “But we can get every bit as much quality out of the tank second fermentation as out of the bottle fermentation used in Méthode Champenoise.”
No- and Low-Alcohol Wines
Rack & Riddle has entered an exclusive partnership with SOLOS to use its patented Aroma Recovery System (ARS), a cutting-edge technology that preserves the flavors in dealcoholized wine. This capability will support the development of no- and low-alcohol (NOLO) sparkling wines, two additional industry growth areas.
Rack & Riddle entered into an exclusive partnership with SOLOS, which installed its patented Aroma Recovery System (ARS) in January to support Rack & Riddle’s no- and low-alcohol (NOLO) sparkling wine programs. Solos’ cutting-edge technology preserves the authenticity and original flavors of a product that has been dealcoholized so these wines preserve the aromas, flavors and mouthfeel of traditional wines.
Kim Kulchycki, Rack & Riddle’s Senior Director of Marketing, points out, “Sparkling wine from tank fermentation also makes a great base for cocktails, which are increasing in popularity as cocktail drinkers look for some lighter, fresher, maybe lower alcohol versions. Prosecco cocktails have really taken off.”
Rack & Riddle is living up to its tagline, “The best of all things sparkling,” by expanding its expertise from traditional sparkling wine to include in-line carbonation, Charmat, added flavors and NOLO options and by introducing the thoroughly modern CALSECCO.
Rack & Riddle will be showcasing CALSECCO at its Unified Booth #1218.
[*] Based on Circana data for the year ending November 2025.