Patz & hall:
A website that feels like James Hall’s winery again
Problem
Patz & Hall had two problems. The first was urgent. In March 2024, founding winemaker James Hall bought the winery back from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, eight years after selling it, and the website and online store were still running on Ste. Michelle’s ecommerce. Patz & Hall had to move onto a platform of its own, and fast. The second problem took longer to solve. The site had been built for one brand in a large portfolio, and an independent Patz & Hall needed a site that felt like James Hall’s winery again.
Background
Patz & Hall was founded in 1988 by Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz, and built its name on single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a small group of growers across California. Once the move to Commerce7 was done, there was time to do the work properly: the research, the detail, and new photography by Jimmy Hayes, which Patz & Hall commissioned. We took James Hall’s love of language, literature and poetry as the starting point.
Solution
We replatformed Patz & Hall as quickly as possible after the buyback. With that done, we designed and built a personality-forward second site, launched in 2025. Alongside the site, we set the new team up to run their own advertising and content marketing, with a Meta advertising setup, a season of ready-to-run ad copy, and a three-pillar content plan built for storytelling and findability. Patz & Hall came away with the plan, the copy and the measurement to carry on without us.
Speed first, then the site they deserved
Patz & Hall needed two things in quick succession: a move off Ste. Michelle’s ecommerce before anything else could happen, and then a website and marketing plan that belonged to the new owners. We did the urgent work fast and took our time over the rest, so the team could carry on without us.
Commerce7 replatform
Moved Patz & Hall off the Ste. Michelle ecommerce and onto Commerce7 quickly, as the first job after the buyback.
Research
Took the time, once the move was done, for the research and detail the second site was built on.
Website design
Designed the second site around James Hall’s love of language, literature and poetry, rich and textural like old books.
Marketing plan
Reviewed past Meta advertising, wrote the 2025 digital marketing plan, and drafted ad copy and a content plan.
Before and after
Project details
Client
Patz & Hall
Region
Services
Winery websites, Commerce7 websites, Winery marketing, Winery advertising, Wine marketing strategy and growth
Website