REVOLT WINE CO — Know Your Pros // — On the Flipside Music

Written by Jessica Klausing

Heather and Steve Hudson. Photo by Sydney Prather.

Heather and Steve Hudson live by the motto to inspire others to follow their dreams through the power of wine and music.

Heather Hudson began her career working at the Soaring Wings Winery in Springfield, Nebraska where she developed a desire to learn more about the wine industry. In 2011 Heather and her husband moved to Napa Valley, California to pursue their winery dreams. Hudson earned her second degree in wine business at Sonoma State while working for the Fontanella Family Winery.

Hudson recalls, “When we moved to NorCal it was tough to leave our friends and family behind. After I got that degree and was working with that wonderful family, I just got inspired to want to start creating and sharing my own story. So, we decided to launch our own brand.”

In 2013 Heather and her husband launched WTF - Wine That’s Fun. During this time the Hudsons were vacationing in San Diego, and upon arrival fell in love with the SoCal beach scene. The couple decided then to base their brand out of San Diego where they happily remain to this day.

Of course, every new business must face some obstacles. WTF faced fierce competition against many top winery brands. Hudson tried various marketing techniques to stand out until she got the idea to incorporate music.

“I had a band reach out to me. They were doing their very first EP release. We got involved and thought it would be cool to send their EP and some band swag to our wine club members across the country. We got a lot of positive feedback and I just thought, ‘hey, we may be on to something cool here.’”

Hudson made the decision in 2016 to close WTF in order to re-brand the new label, REVOLT WINE CO that focuses solely on the connection between wine and music.

REVOLT WINE CO is not like your average winery. There is no tasting room, but instead the company has pop up tastings at live music events and various bars and restaurants that serve their wine. REVOLT WINE CO prefers to have their wine at music centered venues rather than just any bar.

“We like to offer Tasting and Ticket Takeover events. When we partnered with The Offspring – We popped up at Amplified Aleworks where we did complimentary samples of our wines. Anyone that bought a glass of our wine was entered in a raffle for free concert tickets,” says Hudson.

The Hudsons believe their brand should be all about making connections through drinking wine while listening to your favorite artists at local events.

Hudson explains, “My favorite part is getting to connect with people and sharing the product. We don’t sell direct to consumer. We hope that these pop up tastings will bridge the gap for anyone that wants to try the wine out first before making a purchase. We strive to make it a fun experience. It’s all about chilling with your friends at a bar or venue just listening to music while enjoying a glass of wine!”

Hudson credits her father for her love of music. She fondly remembers listening to classic rock with him in the car at a young age.

“I have just always enjoyed music. Music just like wine has the ability to take you to a moment. For me, if I hear a song I listened to in high school or played at graduation, whatever the occasion may be it always takes me back to that moment. I pair music with situations and wine has the same ability. You may crack open a bottle of wine and be like, ‘I remember when I used to drink this with these people.’ I just feel it has a deeper meaning than the surface value.”

Hudson’s brand has gained attention in the music and wine world by having partnered with many artists such as The Offspring, Atlas Genius, Pepper, Less Than Jake, Yellowcard, Cartel, and The Spill Canvas. The company also partnered with The Vans Warped Tour VIP party, was an active participant in the Wine Riot Chicago, and sponsored the Skateboard Marathon in San Diego, along with Rock Vs. Cancer event at The Gibson Showroom in Beverly Hills.

“Every quarter we partner with a different band. I do an interview and they will send in a handwritten note, T-shirt, wine opener, or some merch that we can include with our wine. We do this because I think it’s really powerful to crack open a bottle of wine and receive an inspirational note from your favorite band,” elaborates Hudson.

REVOLT WINE CO has three wines – CA Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Moscato. All of the wines fit every occasion, whether you want one for a night out, dinner, or to just enjoy a glass with your favorite song playing in the background. Hudson shares her favorite music recommendations for each wine.

“The Chardonnay is awesome. It’s been aged in stainless steel for a crisp and light taste. I would pair that one with an easy listening song, like something from 311. The Cabernet is a little more big and bold. It’s the kind of drink I like to prime with before a show. I would pair the music with something a little heavier like a classic rock or an Incubus song. The Moscato is a little sweeter. That one is kind of a ‘Sunday-turn-it-into-sangria-Funday’. I might pair that one with a 90’s pop tune.”

Hudson hopes to see her wine served at music festivals and concerts worldwide one day.

“My dream is to look into a crowd and see fans just enjoying the music and sipping on a glass of our wine. For us, it’s not about being a sophisticated brand. We serve our wine in stemless glasses. It doesn’t matter how you want to drink it as long as you drink it.”

Anyone in San Diego can currently enjoy REVOLT WINE CO’s wine at the Amplified Aleworks, 710 Beach Club, and Winston's OB.

Be sure to follow REVOLT WINE CO for upcoming news and tasting events.