Wine importer and distributor who built many well-known brands through his company Vineyard Brands, re-established industry connections between Europe and the United States lost during Prohibition and the World Wars, and influenced how Americans buy, drink, and think about wine. An important early advocate for estate bottling and a champion of California wine, he co-founded Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, planting grapevine cuttings imported from Château de Beaucastel in France, making the clones available to the community and proving the potential of Rhône grape varieties, and influencing organic viticulture.