Joe was born and raised in Billings, Montana.   He graduated from MSU in Bozeman with a business degree.  His passion at the time was traveling and teaching, so he combined the two and spent some years teaching English abroad and exploring Southeast Asia.  

 

When he returned to the US, Joe landed back in Bozeman where he could spend time in the mountains skiing and running to his heart's content. Never one for a dull life, he was eager to try something exciting and fresh, which led him to the beverage industry. You could say his introduction to wine came through a mix of circumstance, opportunity, and curiosity.

 

Eventually, he landed on his feet with a distributor, and it was there that his love for wine truly took shape. He spent nearly a decade with the company, learning the ins and outs of the wine distribution world and building a deep foundation of knowledge and experience. As he learned more about the history, stories, and hard work behind the bottles, his appreciation for the wine world deepened — aided by the fun, knowledgeable, and supportive people around him.

 

Joe has an appreciation for all wines, shaped by the rich history and the hard‑working people behind every bottle. Not to sound cliché, but there’s a reason France and Italy are considered the gold standard, and some of his favorite wines come from Champagne, Burgundy, Priorat, and Piedmont.

 

In his spare time, Joe enjoys a mixture of adventure and relaxation. He can usually be found skiing, running, cycling, or paddle‑boarding when the weather cooperates, and he also enjoys reading, film, and time with his dog, Leroy.

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joe@winegardnerswines.com

Sales – Bozeman / Livingston 

406-697-3458

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