While the wine world continues to lurch and change, there lurks opportunity. Cameron Hughes is one the country's most successful negociants, founder of the nationally known Cameron Hughes Wine label. He'll offer his unique perspective at the talk: "Changes in the Wine World: a Negociant's perspective".  As the world of wine consumption changes, Hughes possesses a unique perspective about how current trends will affect the wine business and the future of wine enjoyment.

Part of the monthly series by the nonprofit Sonoma Home Winemakers, the talk is Thursday, May 8th at the Sonoma Community Center, Room. 110. 6:30pm registration, 7:00pm talk. No charge, nor RSVP necessary. 21+ only please due to wine tasting of our member's wines during the event. I.D. required. 

Raised in Modesto, CA, Hughes began his career at Corbett Canyon Winery transitioning to sales at The Wine Group, America’s second-largest wine supplier, rising to Regional Manager. Seeking new challenges, he helped to launch two wine import companies before launching Cameron Hughes Wine. There, he pioneered the now-iconic “Lot” model, offering limited-release wines that captured widespread attention, and popularized the term Negociant, French for “wine trader”. Under his leadership, Cameron Hughes Wine grew to account for over 1% of Costco’s total alcohol beverage sales and became the nation’s top direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine brand by volume. The company was acquired by Vintage Wine Estates in 2017.

In 2020, he launched de Négoce, a groundbreaking DTC wine futures platform that claimed the title of America’s #1 DTC wine brand by volume in its debut year. De Négoce was sold to Martin Ray Winery in 2023, paving the way for Hughes’ latest endeavor, Intergalactic Wine Co., an AI-powered platform connecting domestic and global bulk wine suppliers with key U.S. buyers, as well as the launch of his new brand, The Negociant, debuting this summer.  Hughes divides his time between San Francisco and Kenwood, California, where he continues to shape the future of wine and luxury goods.

Celebrating its 40th year, Sonoma Home Winemakers remains one of the region's largest, amateur viticulture and home wine making educational resources. Open to the public, the city of Sonoma based nonprofit promotes on-going education, a speaker series, social events and fellowship for beginning and seasoned home wine makers alike -- all in the place where the California wine legend started over 160 years ago. For more information, visit: sonomahomewine.org.