Johnson Brothers, a family-owned and operated distributor since 1953, is excited to announce the expansion of its partnership with Whitehall Lane Winery into the Nebraska market beginning October 1. This move adds to existing collaboration in Hawaii, Indiana, and North Carolina. The luxury division of Johnson Brothers, Oxford Street Merchants, will oversee management of the portfolio.

Whitehall Lane, a family-owned Napa Valley winery, is renowned for its exceptional hospitality and authentic wines, primarily crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals. Since acquiring the winery in 1993, the Leonardini family has upheld traditional winemaking values while embracing innovation, sustainable practices, and diversity. Their commitment to modern technology, eco-friendly farming, and creative winemaking ensures a warm, approachable experience for wine lovers, preserving the winery’s legacy for future generations.

“Johnson Brothers shares our family-owned values and commitment to quality, making them the ideal partner to help us extend our reach in Nebraska,” said Tom Leonardini II, Proprietor and Vice President of Whitehall Lane Winery. “We look forward to sharing the distinctive character and tradition of Whitehall Lane wines with even more Nebraskans through this collaboration.”

“We are pleased to further our partnership with Whitehall Lane, a family-owned winery that shares our passion for quality and commitment to excellence,” said Yale Johnson, President of Sales for Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “Together, we look forward to driving the business to new heights throughout the Cornhusker state.”

Johnson Brothers, a leading distributor of wine, beer, and spirits in the United States, today announced that Yale Johnson has been appointed to the role of President of Sales, effective immediately.

In his new position, Johnson will report directly to Mark Hubler, President & Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Brothers. He will lead all commercial activities, including developing strategic partnerships to drive long-term growth across the company’s 17-state footprint and overseeing the Supplier Performance and External Affairs teams. Johnson will also be responsible for guiding commercial operations, fostering key supplier relationships, and ensuring that sales objectives are achieved.

“We are thrilled to announce Yale Johnson as our new President of Sales,” said Hubler. “Yale’s leadership has been instrumental to our success over the years, and his deep understanding of our business, combined with his ability to cultivate strong relationships, makes him the ideal person to lead our commercial team. His passion for driving results and dedication to our company values will undoubtedly help us achieve new levels of success.”

As a third-generation member of the Johnson family, Yale has deep roots in the industry and has advanced through a series of key leadership roles. He began his career at Gallo before joining Johnson Brothers, where he has worked closely with teams nationwide to implement strategic initiatives and drive business growth. Most recently, he launched and led Oxford Street Merchants, Johnson Brothers’ luxury wine and spirits division, playing a pivotal role in expanding the company’s presence in the premium segment.

“I’m honored to step into this role and continue the legacy that my grandfather, Lynn Johnson, started over 70 years ago,” said Johnson. “Johnson Brothers has always been driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and unparalleled execution. I look forward to working with our talented teams to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and supplier partners.”

Johnson Brothers, family-owned and operated since 1953, proudly announces the latest milestone in its ongoing partnership with Copper Cane Wines & Spirits: expansion in Rhode Island. This marks another significant step in the successful collaboration that began in 2014. Rhode Island will join the company’s established collaborations in Minnesota, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

Across the decade of partnership with Copper Cane, Johnson Brothers has seen remarkable success across all markets. The collaboration has not only strengthened the presence of Copper Cane’s distinctive and innovative wines but has also significantly enhanced Johnson Brothers’ portfolio, driving growth and customer satisfaction across multiple states.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Johnson Brothers into the Rhode Island market,” states Joe Wagner, owner and winemaker of Copper Cane Wines & Spirits. “Our collaboration has already flourished in several states, and we are excited to bring our innovative and high-quality wines to more New England consumers. Both of our family-owned businesses are committed to excellence, integrity, and providing exceptional experiences to our customers. We look forward to continuing our shared journey of growth and success in Rhode Island.”

One of the fastest-growing luxury wine suppliers in the industry, the expanded Copper Cane portfolio will be managed by Oxford Street Merchants, Johnson Brothers’ luxury organization.

“The Copper Cane Wines & Spirits portfolio includes some of the most dynamic and rapidly growing brands in the luxury wine space,” said Yale Johnson, Vice President of Johnson Brothers, who leads Oxford Street Merchants. “We are thrilled to extend this already successful partnership into the Rhode Island market. Our unwavering commitment to executional excellence, combined with Copper Cane’s innovative approach, ensures that we will achieve outstanding results and continue to provide exceptional experiences to our customers.”

###

About Johnson Brothers

Johnson Brothers is a multi-generational family-owned wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States. Founded by Lynn Johnson in 1953, the company remains committed to its founding values of work ethic, passion, innovation, teamwork, excellence, and integrity. Through forging strong partnerships with top-tier suppliers globally, Johnson Brothers offers an exceptional portfolio of world-class brands to customer partners across 17 states. With a dedicated team of 4,000, Johnson Brothers remains committed to delivering excellence and continued growth across its operations. For the second consecutive year, Johnson Brothers has been honored as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America by Newsweek. For more information, please visit johnsonbrothers.com or LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Oxford Street Merchants

Oxford Street Merchants is an organization of Johnson Brothers, a leading wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States, focused on luxury spirits and estate wines. Its dedicated, knowledgeable, and accredited team members bring a passion for brand stewardship and storytelling, ensuring each encounter leaves the customer with an unparalleled luxury experience. Committed to executional excellence and standards of performance, Oxford Street Merchants combines innovation and analytics to drive results. Its name pays homage to 43 Oxford Street, the Saint Paul, Minnesota building where Lynn Johnson founded the third-generation, family-run business. For more info, visit us at oxfordstmerchants.com | Instagram.

About Copper Cane Wines & Spirits

Founded in 2014 by Joseph Wagner, Copper Cane Wines & Spirits has redefined the modern winery with their unique approach to the winemaking process. When grapevine canes begin to lignify, or turn to winter hardy wood, they take on a copper hue. This color shift signals that the green character and harsh tannins have been purged from the vine (and therefore, the resulting wine). Only then are the grapes ready for harvest. For Copper Cane’s founder, Joseph Wagner, this patience is essential. While most growers pick their grapes as sugar content hits a certain mark, Wagner waits for physiological maturity to ensure consistency year to year. The result is a wine full of rich, ripe fruit flavors – a style Wagner and his family have always loved. Representative brands include Belle Glos, Böen, Elouan, Napa Valley Quilt, and Threadcount. For more information, visit www.CopperCane.com.