Pinot’s Palette, the fastest-growing franchisor of paint and sip studios in the United States, is now expanding internationally with the signing of a master license agreement for as many as eight studios in Toronto and the Niagara Region over the next six years.

Chad M. Smith and Canadian native Joanne Christena Smith are the master franchisees and they are no strangers to Pinot’s Palette, with two Pinot’s Palette studios in Connecticut and New York. The husband and wife team plans to expand the international business quickly, opening their own Canadian locations as well as awarding franchise opportunities to qualified investors.

“This is an exciting day for Pinot’s Palette,” said President Charles Willis, who, with Co-founders Beth Willis and Craig Ceccanti, launched the first Pinot’s Palette studio in 2009. “When we opened our first studio we never imagined that barely five years later we would be expanding internationally.”

Willis said additional international expansion is planned through future master license agreements. Specifically, Pinot’s Palette is targeting the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom for international growth.

“Wine and art are two things that cross cultural boundaries, and now Pinot’s Palette will cross those boundaries as well,” Willis said. “We expect the Pinot’s Palette experience to be as wildly popular internationally as it has been in the U.S.”

Photo: Pinot’s Palette founders Craig Ceccanti (far left) and Charles Willis (left center) celebrate the signing of their first international franchise agreement with franchisees Chad M. Smith (center right) and Joanne Christena Smith (far right). The agreement is for as many as eight studios in Canada and makes Pinot’s Palette the first paint and sip franchise to expand nationally.