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| A Word About Our Importers In addition to direct relationships with our grower/producers, Quality maintains relationships with some of the industry's most lauded and experienced importers such as Eric Solomon, Terry Theise, Dan Philips, and Neal Rosenthal, to name just a few. These importers, whose reputations are oft-quoted by the likes of leading industry experts Robert Parker, Stephen Tanzer, Paul Pacult and others, allow us to provide our customers with amazing value products and true gems from little-known and up-and-coming regions and producers from around the world. Take a minute to read about some of our importers from this partial list, and more from their respective web sites. We think you will be as impressed as we are. |
| Broadbent Selections Importer and winemaker Bartholomew Broadbent is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira. Broadbent Selections is the exclusive US national importer for some of the world's most sought after family-owned wineries, pioneering undiscovered regions including the Douro, Marlborough, Porto, Madeira and the Bekaa Valley and, most recently, China. Some of Broadbent's greatest discoveries, whether from South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Austria, Germany France, New Zealand or Lebanon, represent the very best as well as great value wines from their respective appellations. Dalla Terra™ Winery Direct® Dalla Terra™ Winery Direct® is a direct importer of a limited selection of Italy 's finest wines. “Winery Direct” is economical and consumer-friendly, putting quality wines on American wine lovers' tables at affordable prices. This efficient method of shipping, distributing and marketing wine, which bypasses the national importer in the traditional three-tier system, allows distributors to buy directly from the producer. Winery Direct eliminates the high mark-ups and costs of a traditional national importer, so that Dalla Terra's wines usually cost less than those of comparable quality. Dalla Terra's founder is importer Brian Larky. Eric Solomon Selections The wines represented by European Cellars are generally regarded as being among the strongest in terms of quality, breadth, and depth from Western Europe. Many are custom cuvees created between Eric Solomon and his talented winemakers and are consistently reviewed as being the best values in their particular categories, vintage after vintage. Place Over Process: European Cellars now imports 105 producers from four countries; Spain makes up 65% of the market, followed by France (30%), Portugal (5%) and Switzerland (“minute”). The sudden popularity of Spanish wines has fueled the company's rise with Eric's old friend Robert Parker leading the charge, and Parker's support was undoubtedly instrumental in Eric being named Food & Wine Magazine's 2007 Top Importer in the US. Eric has been featured in Wine Spectator and the top trade publications, but coverage in a large consumer magazine has the potential of lifting him to household-name status. "The quality of his selections is remarkable. Moreover, this is also a fine source of outstanding wine values." -Robert Parker The Grateful Palate Imports The Grateful Palate has assembled the world's finest portfolio of Australian wine focusing on South Australian Shiraz, primarily from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway, but also great Shiraz from regions like Heathcote, and wines like old vine Grenache, Cabernet, and Riesling. The Grateful Palate creates and discovers distinct, full flavored delicious wines that are always a great value and unbeatably consistent. “No one has done more to bring the great treasures of South Australia to the American public than importer Dan Philips of the Grateful Palate.” –Robert Parker Indigenous Selections INDIGENOUS is an import company created by partners Giorgio Rivetti and Liz O'Brien in April 2008. The Fort Lauderdale-based firm represents only Italian wineries producing the finest, most authentic examples of wines from their respective regions. The idea to create INDIGENOUS was one born of necessity. The need for a highly focused, customer service-oriented importer became apparent to Rivetti as he built the La Spinetta brand within the US for over 15 years. Interaction with wholesalers underscored the need for an importer specializing in highly authentic wines, with competitive pricing and unmatched customer support. Jon David Headrick Selections Jon David Headrick Selections specializes in small-production Loire Valley wines, plus bottlings from the Luberon and some grower Champagnes. "The core of the portfolio is Franc's Loire Valley, but we will go anywhere to seek out the purity, minerality and elegance that characterize the wines we import." “Best New Specialist Importers” –Wine & Spirits Magazine Kysela Pere et Fils, Ltd. Robert Parker on Fran Kysela: “Kysela's offerings all tend to be extremely pure, ripe, fruity wines…in short, faithful reflections of their appellations. … Kysela has emerged as one of the finest palates and selectors of top wine, whether it be an inexpensive Muscadet or a top of the line Burgundy.” “My philosophy on wine is one based on quality. Nothing else matters but the quality of the juice in the bottle. I look for wines that are true to type and classic in their flavors. I prefer wines that are fresh and bright and show good fruit/acid balance. I am not a new oak person, feeling that too much wood obscures true regional character. The wines I select are focused and on target. There is nothing more exciting than tasting a wine that hits the mark.” –Fran Kysela Langdon Shiverick National Fine Wine Imports "David Shiverick maintains a remarkably low profile in view of the high caliber of his portfolio. The estates are not always household names and that's the reason why wine insiders are his biggest fans" –Robert Parker Marc de Grazia Selections The wines of importer Marc de Grazia are highly-rated, small vineyard properties located throughout Italy. Represented are over eighty small estates from fourteen Italian wine regions with an emphasis on significant "terroir" and a preference for autochthonous varietals. The Rare Wine Co. While no one does a better job of coming up with whatever is hot and hard-to-find in today's market, The Rare Wine Co.'s real strength lies in finding the next superstar before others do, as well as in locating the great vintages of legendary producers. The Rare Wine Co. was founded in 1989 by Mannie Berk. In 2002, a panel of wine journalists and wine trade leaders voted us the Best Wine Importer in America, as part of Food & Wine Magazine's American Wine Awards. And in both 2002 and '04, Mannie was named a Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Rosenthal Wine Merchant Each wine bearing the Rosenthal Wine Merchant mark has been produced in limited quantities by a dedicated artisan. Importer Neal Rosenthal works as directly as possible with growers dedicated to producing limited quantities of the finest quality wines with a passion for "terroir", that ephemeral "sense of place". His portfolio has grown to include suppliers 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. Rosenthal's wines are selected for concentration, purity of flavor, and clarity of expression and are produced in as natural a manner as possible. These selections have a striking balance between finesse and power which result in exceedingly age-worthy wines. Terry Theise Estate Selections Wine importer Terry Theise is the wunderkind of fine German and Austrian wines and of small, quality grower Champagnes. As the leading importer of Austrian wine to the U.S., he has introduced scores of American palates to the charms of Grüner Veltliner-an accomplishment that, in itself, might be enough to guarantee vinous sainthood. In addition to the high standards of the wines in his Terry Theise Selections portfolio, Theise is also one of the best wine writers in the U.S. http://www.skurnikwines.com/msw/terry_theise.html Michael Skurnik Wines searches the globe to assemble the finest portfolio of estate-bottled wines available at all price points that represent the highest quality meeting exacting standards with regards to character and winemaking. Vias Imports, Ltd. Established 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 placing it among the most renowned wine importers in the US market, and boasts one of the most outstanding Italian portfolios in the industry. "Thank you all for working so hard on the Vias (BTR) Big Red Tour event. I understand and appreciate the time and effort that goes into this type of tasting. I would think that the customers who didn’t know Vias before the tasting sure know us now! This was a great group effort by a truly professional organization, which we at Vias are proud to be a part of..." –Doug Donovan, Southeast Regional Manager, Vias Vin Divino, Ltd. Importers of wines from Italy, Austria, Chile, Argentina and France. Vin Divino's Italian and Austrian portfolios alone have gradually grown to encompass over twenty wineries and family run estates representing the best of their regions. Vine Connections Vine Connections is the leading U.S. importer for fine Argentinean wines retailing above $10, and imports some of the world's finest boutique wines from up-and-coming Argentine stars. "The Vine Connections portfolio currently features some of the most critically acclaimed wines made in Argentina, including BenMarco, mapema, Tikal and Luca as well as bottles from Susana Balbo, Argentina's leading female winemaker." –Food & Wine Magazine Vine Connections also represents some of Japan 's finest ginjo saké producers and carries more than 20 premium saké brands in their portfolio. These small, ancient (the youngest is 86-years), and traditional family brewers, produce some of the world's most delicious premium chilled saké. “I recently tasted through the sake portfolio of Vine Connections, better known for their prime selection of wines from Argentina, and was knocked out by the quality of the sakes they import from small, family-run brewers in Japan.“ –Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellars Vinnovative Imports The dynamic blend of innovative individuals and the art of winemaking, infused with the terroir of South Africa, all combined to create the ultimate expression of this vinous art form, expresses the philosophy of Vinnovative Imports. Only unique Cape wineries that offer exceptional quality and value for the consumer are considered for our selective import portfolio. William-Harrison Imports Harrison Jones, President of William-Harrison Imports, has been working in the wine industry for over 25 years; from Restaurateur to Wine Retailer to Distributor and Importer of fine French and Argentinean wines. All wine in the William-Harrison Imports Catalog and Classified Growth Collection has been hand selected by Harrison Jones and his knowledgeable staff. Their catalog specializes in boutique wineries throughout all of France and Argentina. Winesellers, Ltd. Winesellers, Ltd. is a globally recognized, importer and marketer of fine wines to the US market. Our portfolio represents the finest quality of wines in their respective price category and has widespread distribution throughout all 50 states. Our sales professionals, who are intimately familiar with their respective regions of the country, make it possible to sell our products to both remote areas and central markets through a network of distributors renowned for excellent account service and market penetration. |
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Quality represents one of the finest collections of artisan spirits anywhere. After some serious globe trotting in pursuit of bringing artisan spirits to our customers from the finest distillers and craftsmen, we now represent all categories, including the world’s finest brandies, gins, liqueurs, rums, tequilas, vodkas and whiskies. Our spirits and their creators have earned critical acclaim, including the prestigious “White Spirit of the Year” and “Best Liqueur”. You'll also find some pretty prestigious reviews from the likes of the Spirit Journal's Paul Pacult; Wine & Spirits; Food & Wine; Malt Advocate, and more. |
| Caribbean Spirits Internationally respected rum expert and author, Edward Hamilton, is known to rum aficionados as the man who founded the Ministry Of Rum. Hamilton spent more than 20 years sailing the Caribbean and sampling the finest rums the islands have to offer. Since 1995, he has been educating consumers and the trade on the nuances of his favorite libation. After extensive research, Hamilton founded Caribbean Spirits to bring his favorite rums to the U.S. – the family owned Neisson and La Favorite Rhum Agricoles from Martinique. Both have received 96-100 point reviews from Wine Enthusiast among other accolades from industry experts across the US. Learn the secrets of these award-winning Caribbean spirits from the expert who brings them to Quality: Read More at Caribbean Spirits Compass Box Whisky Founder and specialist Scotch whiskymaker, John Glaser, is 4-time Whisky Magazine "Innovator of the Year". Much like a winemaker chooses grapes from different vineyards to make a balanced and flavorful wine, Compass Box selects individual casks of whiskies from different distilleries and blends them in small batches, creating critically acclaimed, proprietary whiskies. Heavenly Spirits Heavenly Spirits imports directly from France and distributes an amazing range of hand-selected, highly regarded French spirits to all fifty states. The “Heavenly” portfolio includes products that have already received high praise from the likes of The New York Times, the Beverage TestIng Institute, Wine Enthusiast Magazine and spirit guru, Paul Pacult of the Spirit Journal. Hauz Alpenz Minnesota based importer Eric Seed and his company, Haus Alpenz, are artisanal liquor preservationists, saving from extinction many endangered tinctures, and are continually sniffing out obscure liquors from the likes of Indonesia, Austria and Jamaica. Advocates of ambitious spirits and adventurous flavors, Haus Alpenz’s credo says it all: “To preserve and enhance the appreciation of distinctive and authentic tastes.” Seed's products have garnerned accolades from The Wall Street Journal and Wine Enthusiast, to name a few. Craft Distillers Maison Surrenne & Los Danzantes are imports we carry through Craft Distillers. Craft Distillers has a very interesting story and a great portfolio. Other spirits include: Hangar One, Germain Robin, Aqua Perfecta and St. George Spirits. Maison Surrenne Cognac: Superb regional and mostly single-vintage cognacs from the remarkable cellars of the largest remaining family-owned cognac house. “The most fascinating portfolio of cognac.” Bon Appetit Los Danzantes Mezcal: The finest distillers in Oaxaca, Mexico’s epicenter of mezcal distillation. Earthy and authentic, with more flavor and character than you’ll ever find in tequila.
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