Bloomberg Businessweek Beyond the Bottle with the CEO of B. Stuyvesant Champagne
Feb 18, 2026
Marvina S. Robinson, founder and CEO of B. Stuyvesant Champagne, a woman-owned luxury Champagne house with a Brooklyn tasting room. She discusses tariffs and legal battles that shook shipments and planning. She talks seasonal tasting-room demand, launching during COVID and retail growth. She also explains her cuvées, tasting notes, and the push for more shelf space for small grower Champagnes.
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Delay Shipments During Policy Uncertainty
- Slow shipments when policy risk is imminent to avoid sudden tariff costs.
- Adjust production and hiring plans based on inventory and regulatory uncertainty.
Tariffs Forced Production Cuts
- Tariffs forced Marvina to cut half-bottle production, raise prices, and delay hires.
- She still awaits a Supreme Court decision on recouping the tariff costs she paid.
Policy Noise Disrupts Small Business Planning
- Tariff rhetoric and inconsistent threats make long-term business planning very difficult.
- Small businesses bear disproportionate costs compared with large firms that can preemptively move inventory.