Tom Cole was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Following his career at the University of Miami, Florida, where he swam on the university’s swim team, Tom worked the 1978 harvest in Bordeaux at Chateau Gloria and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, where his passion for wine was born. 

Tom has been in the wine & spirits industry since college. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Tom is one of the first and few master keepers in Keepers of the Quaich from the United States. Tom is a member of Chevalier de Tastevin. 

Tom began his career in 1979 with United Liquors in Memphis as a route salesperson. He moved to Jacksonville and Florida Beverage in 1981, then to Duval Spirits Company. Tom was named president of Magnolia Marketing Company in 1991. He has continued in the chief executive position through several expansions and mergers over the last 30 years.

Tom is a member of the New Orleans Business Council and a director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Council. Tom and his wife, Debbie, are major benefactors of the Dragon Café at their church, St. George’s Episcopal, which feeds the local community of uptown New Orleans persons in need. He and Debbie have been married for 40 years. They have a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.