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Tom Donegan’s wine career is nothing short of dynamic. From working as a sommelier in Melbourne to studying wine in Adelaide, he’s built a deep understanding of the industry from multiple angles. As a founding member of Hudson Wine Brokers, he tackled the complexities of bringing Australian wine into the highly competitive U.S. market. Since returning to Australia, he’s led market strategy at Voyager Estate in Margaret River and now oversees key brands—Shaw + Smith, Tolpuddle, and MADD—within the Shaw + Smith Group.

In this episode, Tom takes us behind the scenes of launching a distributor in the world’s toughest wine market, sharing the lessons he’s learned from both successes and setbacks. We also dive into how today’s challenges are reshaping his approach to wine marketing and sales. With the industry facing uncertainty, Tom offers valuable insights on staying focused, adapting to change, and trusting your instincts.

This conversation is packed with wisdom from someone who’s seen the business from all sides. A huge thanks to Tom for joining me

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