In his mundane life, Brian Garrett was a lobbyist for the alcohol industry.  He worked with local, county, state, and federal representatives to allow the sale by the glass in restaurants, open up "dry counties" to the sale of alcohol, and change attitudes or fronts that people displayed about alcohol. (The people who drink it in private but would publicly denigrate anyone seen with it. Some of them even maintaining a private stock from the family still.)

He was in a position to point out that maybe they should also take a closer look and make an informed decision about freedom of religion also.  Wicca and the Craft might not be for them; however, keeping an open mind and allowing others to make their own decisions about their personal lives and beliefs is of benefit to all.

Lord Colin also acted as an emissary between groups and aided in keeping in touch with other groups throughout the country who greatly feared any public attention that might have been drawn to them during the court battles that Lady Sintana fought to establish Ravenwood.  He was able to pull off the very singular challenge of being a member in good standing of Ravenwood and other groups at the same time.  This feat flew in the face of the Old Law of not dividing your energy between groups, not to mention the Lady's adamant dislike of a former student that started a rival group that to this day is the antipathy of what Ravenwood stands for.

So when you hear the wine, women, and song stories, know that the man himself had much greater substance and standing that only a surface examination would give.

Not that our Lord Colin would object to being remembered as the rouge he enjoyed being.