Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2378 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Barron Beltz, a leading executive in the U.S. wine and spirits industry, to unpack the news of RNDC’s decision to exit the California market—a move that’s sending ripples across the entire distribution landscape. RNDC (Republic National Distributing Company), the second-largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S., recently announced that it will cease all operations in California by September 2, 2025. As the largest market in the country, California has long been a key player in the wine trade—and this sudden shift raises critical questions for producers, retailers, and on-premise operators alike. Key takeaways: What are the root causes and major factors that led RNDC to withdraw from California? How RNDC’s departure will affect suppliers, retailers, and on-premise accounts? Why could this major shift serve as a catalyst, encouraging producers and distributors to rethink their go-to-