Frog’s Leap Winery in 2011—The Sustainability Agenda [Case + Video]

Abstract

From 2000 to 2010, John Williams, co-founder and winemaker of Frog’s Leap Winery in Rutherford, California made investments in dry farming, organic and biodynamic agriculture, geothermal and solar power, year-round employment and benefits for immigrant workers, and the industry’s only LEED-certified tasting room. Wine production remained static over the decade, but cased goods inventory and company debt load increased. To generate cash flow, Frog’s Leap innovated a “wine-by-the glass” program using kegs and initiated a “Fellowship of the Frog” wine club. In May 2011, Williams considered options to grow “while remaining small,” become more sustainable, and assure Frog’s Leap’s transition to the next generation. The written case and video case (www.youtube.com/watch?v=auVieQ2MGG0&feature=youtu.be) were developed for use in tandem to provoke student debate over how success should be defined and measured.