New Owner (Esporão), New U.S. Importer, New Wine
Livingston, NJ, August 19, 2020: Quinta do Ameal, a revered name in Portuguese white wines, is now about to become a presence in the U.S. The historic 1710 estate in Ponte de Lima in Portugal’s Vinho Verde DOC is widely credited with putting collectable, cellar-worthy Loureiro-based Vinho Verde on the map. In October 2019, the property was acquired by Portuguese powerhouse Esporão. Marketing and distribution will be managed by Livingston, NJ-based NOW Wine Imports, Esporão’s U.S. import arm, established in June 2017. The Esporão portfolio is currently available in 21 states, set to expand to 25 by January 1, 2021 with the additions of Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin
“Thanks to Esporão’s desire to produce in Portugal’s finest wine regions, U.S. wine lovers are now able to access Ameal’s distinctive and delicious wines. These are quite different from the Vinho Verde most of us are familiar with.” — Frank Paredes, President, NOW Wine Imports
Quinta do Ameal’s U.S. arrival coincides with the stateside debut of a new wine under the Esporão umbrella label. Bico Amarelo (“Yellow Beak”) is a blend of 40% Loureiro grapes from Quinta do Ameal, rounded out by 30% each of Alvarinho and Avesso sourced from nearby growers. Starting with the 2019 vintage, Bico Amarelo will debut with an SRP of $12 / Bottle shot attached.
Bico Amarelo joins three 100% estate fruit, 100% Loureiro offerings from Quinta do Ameal: Ameal Loureiro (no oak, SRP $18), Ameal Solo Único (stainless steel, no temperature control, SRP $28) and Ameal Escolha (French oak, SRP $40). All three were groundbreakers, exemplifying the impressive potential for quality wines made from the once lowly Loureiro grape variety, when farmed and vinified correctly.
- The wines of Quinta do Ameal, imported by Now Wine Imports, Livingston, NJ
- Available in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, MA, ME, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, RI, TX, VA and WA
- Quinta do Ameal Loureiro / SRP $18
- Quinta do Ameal Solo Único / SRP $28
- Quinta do Ameal Escolha / SRP $40
- Bico Amarelo / SRP $12
Quinta do Ameal:
Ponte de Lima in the Lima River Valley is home to 74-acre Quinto do Ameal and ground zero for the best Loureiro. Ameal is the area’s quality pioneer and standard-bearer, with Loureiro its calling-card. Hallmarks of a Quinta do Ameal Loureiro are a tight acidity and minerality, due in part to granitic soils, along with wines that can age more than a dozen years, evolving gracefully over their lifespan. http:///www.quintadoameal.com/
Esporão:
Founded by José Roquette and Joaquim Bandeira in 1973, Esporão is one of Portugal’s premier wine companies, with wines now sold in 50 countries. Esporão is also an eco-wine tourism pioneer, starting with its namesake Herdade do Esporão property in Alentejo. In 2008, Esporão acquired Quinta dos Murças in the Douro, followed by Quinta do Ameal in Vinho Verde in 2019. Tourism opportunities exist at all three properties, complemented by the highly regarded Esporão No Porto restaurant in Porto. Esporão’s portfolio also includes estate-produced olive oils and Sovina Craft Beer. https://www.esporao.com/en/
NOW Wine Imports:
NOW Wine Imports in Livingston, NJ, is the U.S. import arm established by Portuguese powerhouse Esporão in June 2017. Led by industry veteran Frank Paredes, NOW Wine oversees U.S. distribution and marketing for the entire Esporão portfolio, comprising Herdade do Esporão in Portugal’s Alentejo region, Quinta dos Murças in the Douro, and Quinta do Ameal in Northern Portugal’s Vinho Verde DOC.
