Kevin Klein and Josh Green, lifelong friends, had a unique idea: create a sparkling wine that pairs perfectly with pizza. They brought this concept to Shark Tank in Season 15, hoping to land a deal for their business, Pie Wine.
Although the sharks liked the taste, the duo left without an investment. Still, their story didn’t end there. If you’re curious about Pie Wine’s journey, their unique flavors, or want to taste it for yourself, this article has you covered.
Read on to learn what happened after their Shark Tank experience. Find out how you can join the growing number of pizza lovers embracing Pie Wine.
Founder Profile: Who’s Behind Pie Wine?
Kevin Klein and Josh Green are lifelong friends who bonded over their shared love for pizza and wine. Kevin, a radio host with a flair for branding, and Josh, with a background in sales and marketing, teamed up in 2022 to launch Pie Wine.
They saw a gap in the beverage market , no wine was designed specifically for pizza lovers.
“We reimagined what pizza-loving Italians have known for generations , that pizza and slightly sweet, bubbly wine are the perfect match,” Kevin said during their pitch.
Their combined skills made for a strong duo: Kevin drove the branding, while Josh handled distribution strategy. At its peak, the company was valued at $2.7 million.
While their individual net worths are not publicly available, sources estimate Kevin’s to have crossed $300,000 due to prior media ventures, while Josh’s hovered near $250,000 pre-Shark Tank.
The company launched three canned sparkling wines: Sweet Za, World Famous Red, and Classic Crisp. Each wine was crafted to enhance the flavor of various pizza styles, filling what they saw as a gap in the beverage market.
As Kevin put it during their Shark Tank pitch: “We reimagined and reintroduced to the masses what pizza-loving Italians have known for generations, that pizza goes best with a sweet, slightly bubbly wine”. With these wines, they aimed to make pizza nights more special.
The Shark Tank Pitch: High Stakes in the Tank
In the Season 15 premiere, Klein and Green sought $200,000 for 7.5% equity in their company. The sharks were intrigued by the wines’ perfect pizza-pairing qualities. Daymond John, who had never tried wine with pizza before, remarked, “I’ve never had wine with pizza, but it’s delicious”.
Though the sharks liked the taste, concerns arose about competition in the canned beverage market. Mark Cuban, who had invested in BeatBox Beverages, and Kevin O’Leary, who was launching his own wine line, saw conflicts of interest and opted out.
Kevin explained, “The market for such wine is growing,” but his pre-existing investments made it impossible for him to back Pie Wine.
Although they didn’t land a deal, the exposure from the show was invaluable. The episode aired to over 3.5 million viewers. This generated significant traffic to their website and social media. Josh later referred to this as “free advertising worth thousands of dollars”.
What Happened to Pie Wine After Shark Tank? Growth and Expansion
Despite the rejection, Pie Wine experienced a surge in interest after the show aired. Their website saw a flood of pre-orders. They also secured distributor commitments in eight states, with revenue projections reaching as high as $6.5 million for 2023.
Reflecting on their progress, Kevin shared, “The response to Pie Wine has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re thrilled to see our product resonating with consumers””.
Their growth can be attributed to partnerships with key distributors like NewLine Beverage, which helped them scale quickly.
The founders also learned from the sharks’ feedback. Lori Greiner pointed out issues with the product’s branding, saying, “It’s confusing, and I think it’s going to hurt you.”
Klein and Green worked to make the packaging clearer. They emphasized that Pie Wine was crafted specifically for pizza pairing.
How Much Was Pie Wine Bought For? Was It Sold?
Pie Wine was never officially acquired. Instead, the founders attempted to pivot the brand by rebranding to Za Za Wine Co., but this move didn’t come with an acquisition. No Shark or outside company purchased the business.
According to insiders, Kevin and Josh explored acquisition talks with regional distributors, but no deal materialized. As of 2025, the Pie Wine intellectual property remains unsold and inactive.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Even with their success, Pie Wine’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. The canned wine market is saturated. Sharks like Daymond John and Candace Nelson voiced concerns about competition. Nelson called the product “a little too kitschy” and opted out, despite her enjoyment of the wine.
Differentiating their brand in a crowded space is an ongoing challenge. Still, they remain confident in the uniqueness of Pie Wine and their vision for its success.
The company continues to innovate. They are working on new flavor profiles. They’re also considering expanding into complementary product lines like non-alcoholic pizza pairings. Additionally, they partnered with C.A. Fortune to expand into more states and reach a wider audience.
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Was This a Missed Opportunity for the Sharks?
Because no Shark invested, there was no equity earned and no profit made. However, it’s worth examining how the business might’ve turned out had one Shark , say Daymond or Lori , stepped in.
Given a 7.5% stake for $200,000, if Pie Wine had hit its $6.5 million sales target, the investor’s stake would’ve been worth roughly $487,500 at its peak , a potential 2.4x return in under a year. But the long-term ROI would’ve plummeted after the shutdown.
In contrast, Lori’s investments in Scrub Daddy (over $300 million in sales) and Squatty Potty (over $200 million) show what Pie Wine could’ve become with strong branding and retail support.
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Where Is Pie Wine Now?
Today, Pie Wine is available for purchase on their website. Customers can order four-packs for $20 or 12-packs for $60. They’ve also introduced branded merchandise, selling T-shirts and caps to their growing fanbase.
Thanks to the exposure, Pie Wine has grown, and as of 2024, it’s valued at around $2 million.
Pie Wine’s post-Shark Tank success shows the power of persistence and passion, even when investors pass on an idea.
Kevin and Josh have big plans for the future. They’ve proven that pizza and wine can indeed be the perfect pairing. As they continue to grow, they aim to make Pie Wine the go-to beverage for pizza nights across the country.
“This is just the beginning,” Kevin noted. He added, “We’re excited about the potential for continued growth in the years to come”.
Pie Wine’s story is a classic example of how rejection can lead to growth. Kevin Klein and Josh Green didn’t get a deal on Shark Tank, but they left with something more valuable: national exposure and the confidence to push forward.
Today, Pie Wine is on the rise, proving that with hard work, passion, and a bit of sparkle, even niche ideas can thrive.
Their journey highlights that success doesn’t always depend on landing a deal. It can come from using the platform to build a brand that resonates with consumers. Pie Wine is well on its way to becoming the official drink of pizza lovers everywhere.
TL;DR
Pie Wine peaked with a $2.7M net worth after Shark Tank but shut down in 2025 due to branding issues and market saturation.
