Kirk Drake is a serial entrepreneur and the chief extrovert of Resistance Wine Company. Kirk leads several boards and companies as executive and revenue officer. In addition, Kirk has launched and remains involved with several “CUSO”s (Credit Union Service Organizations). You can learn more about his business endeavors here.
Kirk specializes in building collaborative business models, launching new “fintech” (financial technology) companies, and helps entrepreneurs develop, launch, fund, and build their companies within the community financial industry.
Kirk spends time with his wife Kimberly, the Resistance Winemaker and chief introvert, and their three amazing kids. Occasionally he performs stand-up comedy, travels the world, and jointly runs Resistance Wine Company with his wife in their beautiful hometown of Ashland, Oregon. Kirk@resistancewineco.com https://www.resistancewineco.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your winery brand?
When Kimberly and I think about our most amazing wine experiences over the past 20 years, they always have involved a winemaker or the owner. There were great stories, deep connections, and lots of laughter—probably too much if that’s even possible. Resistance isn’t just about crafting exceptional wines; it’s about defying the norm and embracing the boldness of the untold story. Our journey started in the heart of the Rogue Valley, where Kimberly and I set out to create a wine brand that’s as unfiltered and raw as life itself.
What sets us apart is our unapologetic commitment to storytelling. Each bottle of wine isn’t just a product but a narrative that connects our past, present, and the wild future we envision. And, let’s be honest, those stories often involve epic failures and embarrassing truths. For example, we’ve been trying to grow grapes for five years now, but I’m such a terrible farmer that we haven’t used any of our own fruit in our wine. We’ve underwatered, under-fertilized, forgotten to spray, dealt with jerk deer, and survived a series of other farming calamities. But hey, at least we have great wine stories to tell!
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained. Sky’s the limit!
Starting a business is a journey, and the fun part is all the crazy stuff, the people you meet, and the problems you solve along the way. Constraints? They’re just part of the baggage you lug around in this wild game of wine-making. Playing Monopoly with all the money in the bank isn’t as fun—trust me, I’ve tried. So far, our constraints have been self-imposed, bordering on our core values: First, do what’s right for the wine and make great wine. Second, don’t lose money (seems like a good idea). Third, have fun. And fourth, build great relationships.
If none of these constraints existed, I’d hire the best storytellers and entertainers who are as passionate about wine and connecting with people as I am. I’d surround them with a back office that lets them do what they do best and then get out of their way. I’d build a system to capture all the great stories from our clients’ lives, where we could record 10,000 celebrations and memories made with our wine-writing shotgun. Then, we’d spread these moments as far and wide as possible because who doesn’t need a little more joy in their lives?
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Our Malbec wines are the truest reflection of our values and our journey, more than anything else. Each year has been wildly different, but the results have always been great. Our fruit sources have changed, and the microclimates have been inconsistent—yet we’ve made the right investments in the wine for each vintage. The result? When you drink three vintages side by side, people are blown away by the variation and the quality. The hardest part? Picking a favorite.
And once people pick a favorite, that wine seems to weave its way into their lives. They come back to the winery to celebrate a birthday, and five minutes later, two friends join them who had tasted the wine at their house three weeks prior. Within an hour, 11 people are sitting at a table laughing and connecting. The birthday boy’s partner stops me and makes a special request: “Can you play Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday’ song?” Of course! Soon, the whole tasting room is rocking out and singing along. BOOM! Lifetime memory made! And most importantly, Stevie Wonder will receive his .004 cents from Spotify… Check out the 2018 Malbec wine review here.
Bonus Question – What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
You might be surprised to learn that despite my intense and rebellious persona, I’m a bit of a closet romantic. The wines we craft at Resistance Wine Company are deeply influenced by my love for storytelling, but they’re also inspired by moments of quiet reflection, simple joys, and the connections we make with others. At the heart of all the chaos, there’s a deep appreciation for the beauty of the journey and the relationships that sustain us—because, after all, isn’t that what great wine is all about?