Sam Bronfman

Sam Bronfman is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bacchus Capital Management. With over 30 years of experience in the wine industry, he is actively involved in the management of all of the Bacchus portfolio wineries. Prior to founding Bacchus, Sam successfully led the premium wine division of the Seagram Company and served as the Chairman of Diageo Global Wines.

As Chairman of Diageo Global Wines from 2001-2003, he consulted on the company’s global acquisition strategy and advised the company on its U.S. wine-based businesses, which included the former Seagram Chateau and Estate Wines and Beaulieu Vineyards.

From 1996 to 2001, Sam was President of Seagram Chateau and Estate Wines, a premier producer, importer and distributor of wine with revenues of about $300 million. The company’s portfolio of owned wines included Sterling Vineyards, Mumm Champagne, Mumm Napa, Barton & Guestier and Perrier-Jouёt. As an importer, Chateau and Estate Wines imported approximately 25% of all classified growth Bordeaux wines from France, including wines from all of the First Growths, as well as Trimbach, the leading Alsatian wine brand in the U.S., and many other wines from France’s premier wine growing regions: Burgundy, Rhône, Chablis, and Loire. During Sam’s tenure, Seagram launched Brancott Vineyards, which became a leading imported New Zealand wine, and marketed the company-owned Sandeman Ports, the top selling port in the U.S., and Sherries.

Prior to his role as President of Seagram Chateau and Estate Wines, Sam held other key positions at Seagram, including Executive Vice President of Sales of the Seagram Wine Company, President of Seagram Classics Wine Company, Chairman of the Seagram Beverage Company (annual sales in excess of $200 million) and Director of the Seagram Company Ltd.

Sam maintains leadership roles in both non-profit groups and wine industry professional organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, on the Board of the Vail Colorado Health Services, and Executive Committee member of the Deerfield Academy Board of Trustees. Sam has been the Chairman of the Northern California Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization and Chairman of the California Wine Institute.

Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College. He was an Editor of the Williams Record and earned varsity letters in tennis and basketball.