The Family-Owned Importing Company Prepares for a US Media Relations Campaign to Promote Business and Supporting Suppliers.
New York, NY, September 20, 2022 – Votto Vines Importing LLC (“Votto Vines”) announced today Colangelo & Partners as its agency of record to oversee and collaborate on strategic media relations and key industry opportunities. The campaign aims to educate trade and media on the history of the company and its participating suppliers, as well as how Votto Vines continues to influence the alcoholic beverage industry.
In 2009 during the nation’s greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, a family of entrepreneurs decided to launch a company that would eventually become the first wine importing and distribution company ever to earn a spot on the INC 500 list as one of ‘America’s fastest-growing companies.’
After vacationing in Tuscany, Italy, CEO Michael Votto fell in love with a small winery that lacked distribution in the US. Realizing many wineries across the world had similar setbacks, he was inspired to propose the idea to his family of creating a company that could solve this problem. What started as a family passion project with six key principals–including Executive SVP Nicholas Votto (Mike’s brother), Executive VP Peter Votto, CFO Stephen Votto and VP of Logistics Leah Votto (Mike’s cousins), and brother-in-law Jeremy Jerome (COO)–has grown into a company with 30+ employees in five states and nation-wide distribution capabilities.
“Our focus since day one has been to seek out winemakers who produce amazing wines that demonstrate excellent price-quality and are either unrepresented or underrepresented in the US market,” says Michael Votto. “We then offer those wines to on and off-premise customers that appreciate these unique, high-quality wines. We’re trying to find the best selections in the wine world, especially the ones that are off the beaten path and add more value for our partners.”
Although initially inspired to work with Italian wineries on the management and importing side, today, Votto Vines is proud to partner with highly acclaimed wineries around the world from Italy, France and Spain to Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. The new campaign with Colangelo & Partners aims to shed light on the key Italian suppliers they import and distribute, including:
- Castelli del Grevepesa, one of the largest Chianti Classico cooperatives producing quality wines since 1965 that are recognized and valued throughout the world. – Nestore Bosco, a historic winery (founded in 1897) based in Nocciano in the province of Pescara with deeply rooted traditions that highlight the region’s culture.
- Poggio Stella, a range of wines that tells the story of the evolution of Cooperativa Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, and offers a balance between tradition and innovation.
- Tenuta di Collalbrigo, owned by one of the world’s oldest dynasties of shipowners, produces premium sparkling and still wines in the Prosecco DOCG area of Conegliano, Italy.
- Torrevento manages a vineyard area of over 500 hectares in Apulia, combining innovation and modernization to pursue a more sustainable future for the winery.
Additionally, the campaign will feature the newly acquired Willow Bridge Estate, another family-owned supplier based two hours south of Perth in Australia in the up-and-coming area of Western Australia.
”From day one, we have prided our business on finding the “hidden gems” of the wine world,” notes Jeremy Jerome. “Willow Bridge Estate fits that mantra; the wines are outstanding and demonstrate the exceptional value that we believe will resonate with both our partners and wine-loving consumers alike.”
The executives’ entrepreneurial spirit and diverse professional backgrounds have allowed Votto Vines to apply their forward-thinking ideas and vision to the international wine trade. They have experienced rapid growth since its inception, scaling from revenue of $100,000 on sales of ~1,000 cases in 2009 to approximately $50M on sales of ~435K cases in 2021. Votto Vines closed a joint venture partnership with Italian wine investment company Prosit Spa in 2021 that has fueled additional growth and established Prosit’s foothold in the US market.
“We are impressed by the work ethic and business approach the Votto family brings to the wine business,” says Colangelo & Partners COO Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon. “They have assembled a wonderful portfolio and we look forward to a close collaboration that aims to take their company and their brands to the next level through effective communications efforts.”
Named by Forbes as one of ‘America’s Most Promising Companies,’ and nominated by leading publication Wine Enthusiast as ‘Wine and Spirits Importer of the Year,” Votto Vines looks to the future of the alcohol beverage industry and will continue to travel to wineries and major world wine expos across the globe in search of the best and most versatile selections that’ll make their portfolio ideal for any palate.
About Votto Vines Importing
Founded in 2009, Votto Vines is a dynamic, family-operated business headquartered in Connecticut. Votto Vines focuses on the importation, marketing and distribution of fine wines produced by leading vineyards around the world, as well as the development of innovative private label and proprietary brands.
Votto Vines represents leading family-operated wine estates around the globe and its portfolio features some of the top-rated wines currently being produced in Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina, as well as craft spirits. Votto Vines has a national reach through a network of leading distributors such as Republic National Distributing Company, Breakthru Beverage and Young’s Market, and a regional wholesale operation covering CT, NY, NJ and MA. In addition to being featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine and Wine Enthusiast, Votto Vines has twice been named one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur Magazine.
For more information about Votto Vines, please visit www.vottovines.com.
