Della Terra or www.dellaterra.com

LET DALLA TERRA GUIDE YOU. 
DallaTerra Winery Direct is changing the nature of the wine importing and distribution business. "Winery Direct" is their mantra--a more efficient, economical, and consumer-friendly way of shipping, distributing and marketing wine. "Winery Direct" bypasses the national importer level in the traditional three-tier system, allowing their  distributors to buy directly from the producer. This highly efficient distribution model--combined with a focused and effective national management team--allows Dalla Terra to eliminate the usual high mark-ups and cost-consuming steps typically taken by a national importer. Dalla Terra  can put a bottle of wine on the table for significantly less than a national importer. This means better wine everyday for the consumer--and means that our wines represent better value within any given category. Clear reasons why forward-thinking producers and distributors, and ultiamtely restaurateurs and retailers choose to partner with Dalla Terra.

Vias Imports   www.visawine.com or click here for producer list
WE IMPORT PASSION
Established in 1983 as an import company specializing in small, high-quality wineries, Vias Imports Ltd. has grown in most recent years to have broad-based distribution operations that place it among the most renown Italian wine importers in the US market, boasting one of the most outstanding portfolios in the industry. Vias mission is to educate wine lovers to the wide range of grape varietals from Italy, inviting palates to appreciate the diversity of Italian wine through the enticing experience of food and wine pairing, and guiding them in the understanding of a heritage which is particular to the Italian peninsula.

 
Empson USA Empson click here for a producer list or www.empson.com
“Importer of the Year" for 2005
Empson (USA) Inc. is a premium wine importer located in the Washington, D.C. metro area representing  classic estates such as Jermann, Poggio Antico, Conterno-Fantino, Terrabianca, Bucci, Einaudi, Santa Anastasia, Terruzzi & Puthod, A-Mano, Costaripa, Bricco Mondalino, and many others.

VinDivino
Vin Divino Ltd. imports wines from Italy, Austria, Chile, Argentina and France and distributes in more than thirty-five states.  Founded in 1991 by J. Seth Allen and Giovanni Puiatti, Vin Divino began as an importer of fine Italian wine. From the beginning our mission has been to select wineries representing the best of their region and we market them with care and integrity. The company’s Italian portfolio gradually grew over the years to its current size of over twenty wineries. While helping to establish Austria’s current reputation as one of the world’s leading sources of fine wine, Vin Divino has assembled a portfolio of more than twenty family run estates.

La Spinetta
La Spinetta, the 2001 Gambero Rosso Winery of the Year, one of only two, three-star producers by from Editore Gambero Rosso (the other being Angelo Gaja).  What do the stars mean, you ask?   Stars are awarded to the best wineries over time.  To obtain one star, over 15 yrs of publication won 10 three glass awards, for example.  Started only thirty years ago, the Rivetti brosthers Carlo, Bruno and lead winemaker, Giorgio, are planning, investing and expanding their 165 hectares (100 in Piemonte, 65 in Tuscany) between Pisa and Volterra to make three different 100% Sangiovese wines, but  Nebbiolo is still their strong suit.

“La Spinetta”, or “top of the hill” in Italian refers to the location of the Rivetis first cellar in Castagnole Lanze at the heart of the Moscato d’Asti country, home of a rather light and simple dessert wine. But the Rivettis believed that Moscato had the potential for greatness and set out to prove it by making Moscato “Bricco Quaglia” and “Biancospino” among their other offerings.

Matt Brothers www.mattbrothers.com
    Monarchia International is a U.S. corporation recently merged with New York based Matt Brothers, importers and distributors of fine wines. Monarchia International is owned by Monarchia Holding, which is also the parent company to a Budapest, Hungary based wine production and distribution entity, Monarchia Boraszati Kft. The joint company, dba/Monarchia Matt International is a producer, importer, exporter and distributor of fine wines both in the United States and the European Union. MMI’s core philosophy of brand-building can best be demonstrated through its line of proprietary labels from various leading wine producing regions of the world.

Castello Banfi
Banfi is a family-owned vineyard, winery and importer that includes the wines of Cecchi , and M Spago Maschio Prosecco.  Cecchi (pronounced ‘check-ee’) and Maschio are statewide brands, other are local territory only, for clarifications call Calmont at 1.800.649.3143.

Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany. Together with its sister estates in Piedmont, Vigne Regali and Principessa Gavi, it has become recognized the world over for its dedication to excellence and sparking a renaissance in the art of Italian winemaking.

The Mariani family proprietors credit education, dedication and discipline for the success that has accorded honors including: 11 Consecutive Years ~ Italy’s Premier Vineyard Estate at the VinItaly wine fair.  The first winery to be internationally recognized for exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility (ISO 14001 and SA 8000) as well as an international leader in customer satisfaction (ISO 9001:2000).  Winery of the Year by both Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits Magazine and Top Ten Wines (Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all’Oro) by Wine Spectator.

Perhaps most gratifying of all is the praise of neighboring vintners who acknowledge Banfi’s role in pioneering a new era in Brunello and bringing the wine world’s attention to Montalcino.  Banfi has pioneered clonal research on the Sangiovese vine to produce a more consistently excellent Brunello di Montalcino, and reduced sulfites and histamines through more organic winemaking.  Technological advances, including customized cooperage for more balanced wines, nitrogen bottling to eliminate the addition of sulfites, electro-dialysis to allow flavors to emerge, and development of fermenters that combine both stainless steel and wood, are balanced with a profound respect for tradition and deep expression of the local terroir and microclimate.  In the end, at Castello Banfi, winemaker and nature partner to allow the wine’s natural pedigree to emerge in artful expression. To find out more about how Castello Banfi has written wine history, click here.

Neal Rosenthal,
Rosenthal Wine Merchants   France & Italy  www.madrose.com
or for the non-flash producer list, click here

“Select Vineyards, New York, NY; 212-249-6650 - Former attorney Neal Rosenthal, is part of the new wave of importers buying specific barrels or lots of wines from their producers, and having the wines bottled according to the importer's specifications. For Rosenthal, that means no fining or filtration. Rosenthal is particularly strong in Burgundy, and has recently branched out with some enticing selections from northern Italy.”- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The Mad Rose Group is the corporate umbrella for a close-knit group of people who understand that wine is an agricultural product and that in its best and purest form wine must reflect a specific sense of place. We share the goal of communicating this concept to an ever-increasing public by presenting the finest examples of wine made in this classical tradition.

This endeavor started in 1978 as a humble, one-man retail operation very much outside the mainstream of the wine business. Neal Rosenthal, having stepped away from his corporate and international law practice, conceived of this project. Joined shortly thereafter by his partner, (Ms.) Kerry Madigan, the two expanded their fledgling company, known as Rosenthal Wine Merchant ("RWM"), from its retail base to become an importer and distributor of fine wine and specialty food products.

The objective from the outset was to work as directly as possible with growers who were dedicated to producing limited quantities of the finest quality wines and who shared the RWM passion for "terroir", that ephemeral "sense of place". Forays into California in 1979 and then into France and Italy in 1980 were the initial explorations. Since that time the RWM portfolio has grown to include 75 different suppliers. These producers supply wines from almost every viticultural area of France, a broad range of wines from Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria and the Oltrepo Pavese in Italy and a handful of elite appellations in California. The wines are selected for concentration, purity of flavors, and clarity of expression. All products brought to the marketplace by RWM are produced in as natural a manner as possible. Our selections have a striking balance between finesse and power which results in exceedingly age worthy wines.

With the assistance of a small and passionate team, the RWM selections are now distributed in approximately 35 states. The consistent growth, both in number of suppliers and clients, has never caused us to be less than faithful to the goal of presenting the finest quality products. We refuse to stray from this high standard despite the rigors of a marketplace that frequently casts about for the newest winemaking fad or demands more wine from the "hot sources". As we have grown we have preferred to change the commercial balance at our growers, shepherding more wine into bottle rather than into the hands of negociants. We prefer to seek out other small sources of supply rather than work with a cooperative, negociant, or large commercial producer to keep the flow of wine coming.

RWM is proud of the fact that our selection is distinctive and expresses a consistent style. We have never purchased wine to simply fill a slot or a missing appellation. Each grower is visited twice yearly to follow the evolution of the wines and to track the development of each estate. The entire sales staff also visits each grower so that the nuances of each domaine can be successfully communicated to our growing audience. We note with pride that our list of growers has remained rather constant over the years. This is a testament to the richness of our relationships with our suppliers. We conscientiously work with our producers to insure that they stay on course. A hallmark of our success is that together we have weathered the occasional difficult vintage because of the extraordinary partnerships we have formed with our suppliers and the understanding on the part of each of these suppliers of the obligation to provide RWM with wine of character and class every year.