Tom Bryfczynski
Wine Division Manager
Tom began his career in the alcoholic beverage industry in 1982 at ShopKo Liquor. He worked his way up in the retail industry over the following 30 plus years from stock to sales, to inventory control, management and ownership.
Over time, his focus on retail wine sales resulted in the development of the area's first wine shop. Through this, he developed strong relationships and friendships with some of the best winemakers in the world.
Tom continually strove to increase his knowledge of wines. It was his knowledge and his California connections that allowed him to develop the first and largest charity wine tasting in Northeast Wisconsin, helping to raise over $1.5 million for the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay.
Over the years Tom has taken his wine knowledge to the wholesale level. When Triangle Distributing made the decision to diversify, expanding into wine, Gary Ziegelbauer chose Tom to lead the wine division now known as Legacy Brands. Tom's connections have already made Legacy a strong and respected wine distributor with great plans for the future.
In his free time, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife, and family.
Email: tbryfczynski@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -
Shane Ebel - Sales
Area Sales Manager / Madison Territory
When I was 20, I found myself in Tuscany for a semester abroad. I had the opportunity to spend my time with a generous host family who made amazing food for dinner every night and let me drink outstanding wine with them. I studied every type of wine we drank, and found more to buy at the market. It was a formative time in my wine-drinking life.
Later in my 20s, I spent more time abroad learning about customs, food and drink, and people from all over the world. I've spent time in Asia, Central America, and Europe drinking the local drinks, eating the local eats, and finding adventure along the way. These experiences make me so excited to help other people experience wines. To me, any meal can find the perfect companion in wine, even if it's from the other side of the world.
There isn't a food in the world that can't be paired with a wine to make the food go from delightful to transcendent.
“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.” -Andre Simon
Being a member of the Legacy team is a delight. I have the opportunity to sell our excellent wines in Madison and south-central Wisconsin, and the trust that Legacy has in me gives me all the confidence in the world. The wines that Legacy has to offer sell themselves. It is hard to beat the focus on estate wines and small, unique producers. It's an exciting time to drink wine.
Email: sebel@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -
Nichole Ise - Sales
Fox Valley Territory
As I was growing up, my parents would let me taste wines from time to time and I slowly grew to love sweet wines like Riesling. My world was opened in college when I was "forced" to take a wine and food pairing class as part of my degree. On the very first day of class my instructor had six different varietals of wine for us to taste. The last wine we tasted was the 1998 Opus One Cabernet Sauvignon. All of a sudden my palate exploded and I felt the wine was telling me a story, it had a beginning, a middle and an end that just kept lingering forever.
I started working at the college wine shop shortly after completing that class, then moved to California and started working at a Sonoma winery two weeks after graduating and stayed working in the wine industry in many different capacities for almost eleven years before moving home to Wisconsin.
My favorite part about wine is how human it is. Wine has legs, a nose, a body, a personality, and the more struggle the vines go through to get water and nutrients, the more complex the grape. Wine also brings people together, it's opened at special occasions or turns a typical night into a spectacular night. I look forward to sharing these moments with you and introducing unforgettable wines that enhance our lives.
Email: nise@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -
Greg Hoover - Sales
Southeast WI Territory
I have always enjoyed wine with my family in Michigan growing up, especially during the holidays. Later in college I was able to spend a semester traveling all over Europe. I was amazed at all the great wine paired with our lunch and dinners.
I have previously worked in the animal health industry for 20 years in several sales & senior sales positions. After meeting the outstanding team at Legacy Brands I knew I found a great company to further my career in the wine business. They have an excellent portfolio of wines from all over the world for every customers palate. Superior customer service and product knowledge is my intent here at Legacy Brands.
I have spent extensive time traveling in the wine regions of France, Portugal, Italy, Austria, and North America. When I’m not promoting our brands of wine, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my three children boating, golfing and camping. I also enjoy cooking for friends and family, and sharing a great pour of Champaign, Pinot Gris, Burgundy and Cabernets.
“Beer is made by man wine by God” - Martin Luther
Email: ghoover@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -
Jon Robash- Sales
Milwaukee Territory
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde
My journey in the wine business began while looking for a summer job during his sophomore year of college to escape moving back home. Twelve hour shifts in a chemical factory, noon to midnight or midnight until noon, four days on three days off, to relieve full time employees so they could enjoy their summer vacations.
I was fortunate to find a vacancy at a small liquor store four blocks from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to save myself from the monotony of mindless labor. It was an incredible little store that also launched the careers of many great wine sales people in the Milwaukee area.
Before graduation I thought I found an internship at a local advertising agency that would lead to a career I really wanted. Three weeks in I realized that life in cubicle land wasn’t for me and as luck would have it, a merchandiser position at a fine wine company became available and I was hired to fill the position. Until then, I had no idea how large and diverse the Metro Milwaukee marketplace was for fine wine or how many wineries and wine brands there were available to the consumer.
Twenty five years later I am still amazed at how much more there is to learn in this ever evolving industry. Change is constant, I must learn to embrace it in order to succeed.
Legacy Brands is truly a team orientated wine distributor that realizes the importance of customer service and relationship based selling and I am honored to be a part of a family owned company that shares my values. I look forward to meeting many new customers and growing our distribution in southeastern Wisconsin.
When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife Colleen, my son Thurston and my daughter Margaux listening to records, camping and spending time with extended family and friends.
Email: jrobash@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -
Sara Bowler - Sales
Eau Claire, La Crosse, Hudson Territory
A central Minnesota native, my adventurous spirit brought me to Chicago, to experience the city life. After 13 years in the restaurant industry there, my (now) husband and I packed up our car and moved to Napa. I had gotten my feet wet learning about wine through my work and wanted to learn more! I enrolled in the Wine Immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, worked in the valley as a wine buyer and, later, acquired a Level 3 certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
I will forever be a student and wine provides endless learning for me. It encompasses so many of my most beloved subjects – geography, chemistry, art, food & drink, biology, nature and language. The most valuable thing I’ve learned in my wine studies is how to connect what goes on in the vineyard or winery with what’s in my glass. I love to chat about wine and food, sharing my knowledge with others and learning from them at the same time. The best wine encounters for me are those that include trying a new grape or region, especially an off-the-beaten path one! Some of my current favorites are the Canary Islands, Savoie (France) and Alto-Adige (Italy). I also love a good Oloroso or Manzanilla Sherry. Such a fascinating beverage!
I’m excited to join the team at Legacy Brands and look forward to more wine adventures! Aside from wine, I also enjoy hiking, wildlife, travel and watching my two boys play baseball.
Email: sbowler@legacybrandswi.com- Click On Your Region -