It's Classic Wines, flip that bottle now!

Buying wine is much easier when you stop looking for that one vineyard like a needle in a haystack, and instead start looking for two words on the back of the bottle: “Imported By.”

There are hundreds of thousands winemakers in the world, from places you didn’t even know existed. Only a fraction of those producers are in a wine shop at any given time, but you still probably don’t know who half of them are, even if you religiously document each bottle on Vivino. Today, let's talk about those bringing the world’s best wine to the shelves of your local wine shop, or to your favorite restaurant’s wine list. Believe it or not, imports involve a myriad of steps and people to make it happen, however their work and relevance is not so often alluded to. Let's fix that!

Generally, as consumers, we’re often advised to shop wine by varietals we like or by regions we know. This isn’t a bad way to do it, but it ignores the influence of the producer. Whatever the grapes may be and wherever they may be grown, it really comes down to what the winemaker decides to do with them. Shopping by importer helps you buy more strategically, because even if you don’t know the grape, the region or the producer, you know and trust the importer.

From a sommelier or sales person's perspective the landscape is a bit different. During my 21 year career in the industry, I have had the opportunity to meet many importers and wine professionals from around the world. The truth is, importing isn’t as easy and glamorous as most would like to believe; it is instead very hard work, but that hard work comes with a great payoff, especially if you can find an importer you trust, one who not only sees wine as income but as something far beyond, something deeply linked to a more complex business vision, professionalism, ethics and excellence! In a world highly competitive and monetized, these values make the total difference. I have learned that through Classic Wines, a prestigious logistic and wine distribution company based in Connecticut that is now partnering with The Wine Chaser.

This is how, in his own words, CEO and founder Dominic Rodriguez, feels about the beginnings:

'I lived in a mountainside in the rural and ancient part of Spain called Galicia, in the northwestern part of the country outlined by the Atlantic. This was an earthy place, a mystical place where time stood still… no electricity, no cars or roads, no modern conveniences… we lived off the earth as any village would back in the middle ages. Every Fall we used to go down the mountain to the vineyard with a black-stained cart pulled by two oxen. There, we harvested the ripe grapes, as sweet as nectar and I know this because I used to eat as much as would fill my belly. We threw grapes back into the cart, and back up the mountain we would go. The wooden spoke-wheels would sing against the wooden axles of the cart from the weight of the grapes. Back in the village, my brother Toni and I would squash all the grapes barefooted. This is the way it was done going all the way back to Roman times… so you see, wine is in my blood! From that bucolic setting, destiny brought me to New York City; the city and country that I love. After a long winding career, my life path brought me back to the world of wine; thus we created Classic Wines.'

The Wine Chaser Team and Dominic Rodriguez at Classic Wines' headquarters.

After 35 years of international business experience with an extensive knowledge and expertise in the legal implications of trades, Dominic gathered a team of talented, eager professionals and created a business model always up for selling and promoting extraordinary wines. Getting established is one thing; staying in the game and developing a reputation is another. Prestigious Spanish wineries such as Vinicola Real, Anecoop Bodegas, Avelino Vegas, Pago de Carraovejas and Palacio de Fefinanes are part of Classic Wines' amazing portfolio. Wineries from other areas of Europe, South America, South Africa and even Hungary are also represented in their vast inventory. Only through Classic Wines, we are able to connect and work with producers and wines we believe in. We couldn't be any more proud or happy of having the opportunity to share with you these amazing 'bottled' stories.

The next time that you go into a wine store and pick up a bottle of wine, be sure to look for the importer’s name on the bottle. They have accomplished many tasks, and dealt with strict regulations in order to be able to bring that wine to you and your table. If it says Classic Wines, seek out more wines from their portfolio, and broaden your wine horizon. That will be one thing you won't regret!

See you next Wednesday!

Cheers!