Gary Agajanian

About Gary Agajanian

As Founder and CEO, Grapes & Wine are more than my business. It’s my heritage, my passion, and the legacy I carry forward.Growing up on our family’s vineyards in Madera, California grounded me in the rhythms of the land. At sixteen I started leasing land to grow grapes, melons, and cotton. I studied Agricultural Business with a focus on Viticulture and Enology at Fresno State University. In the 1980s I gained international experience marketing fresh produce across 37 countries. In 1991 I purchased my first vineyard, planted the Moush Zinfandel block in 1996, and launched our first Zinfandel in 1998—founding Agajanian Vineyards & Wine Company Today I lead the company as a full-service Bulk Wine Négociant and Winegrape Merchant, serving over 720 wineries globally. We source premium-to-luxury grapes from more than 360 growers across California, Oregon, and Washington. My leadership rests on three guiding principles:• Lead by example. It’s essential that people know they can trust I’ll give my best in every endeavor. I expect the same from my team. “Do as I say, not as I do” has no place here.• Always be learning and pushing yourself. Complacency is the death of innovation. I push myself and our team to learn continuously and grow every day.• Take risks and go beyond your comfort zone. If your role no longer challenges you, it’s time to raise your hand and ask for something new.I value working with people who are hungry, humble, and smart. That mindset drives innovation, resilience, and shared success.I build our business with strategic alignment and deep relationships. My goal is to match wineries with the exact grapes they need, while ensuring growers find the best markets for their harvests. I stay optimistic about the industry\'s future. At the 2025 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium I shared my belief that \"it’ll bounce back\"—predicting a healthier market by 2026 and solid footing by 2027. I lead with both vision and heart. Guided by my Armenian heritage, my grandfather Ardash Agajanian emigrated from Moush, Armenia in 1914 and my father Joseph expanded our vineyards in California. In Addition, he painted our iconic Sailing Ship label used on our family brand. I’m proud to honor our legacy while embracing progress. On a personal level, I’m driven by helping people. I believe in connecting growers, winemakers, brands, and team members to create something greater together. Helping farmers sustain their businesses and watching careers grow. That’s my greatest reward.

Experience

1. Founder & CEO

   Agajanian Vineyards

   Jun 1993 — Present · Napa County, CA, US

   Commercial Merchant of Premium Winegrapes and Premium Bulk Negociant - We buy and sell winegrapes, and wine. Develop private labels for clients. Producer of wine brands: Agajanian Vineyards, Marmalde, Arrowflight.We engage with wineries to perform Grower Relations Services - Searching and matching premium winegrapes with the winery\'s needs, Contracting to buy and sell winegrapes, and Assist in quality control through delivery. For winegrape growers, we List your grapes for sale, and buy winegrapes for our clients or our own negociant winemaking.

Education

• California State University, Fresno

  BS

  1978 — 1982

Skills

• Food & Beverage
• New Business Development
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Marketing
• Budgets
• Food
• Marketing Strategy