An international recognition that highlights the Argea Group’s growth strategy in the United States
November 14, 2025 (Milan, Italy) — WinesU, the U.S. importer acquired by the Argea Group in February 2025, has been named “Importer of the Year” at the 2025 Wine Star Awards by Wine Enthusiast, a leading U.S. publication with over 40 years of history and regarded as one of the most authoritative voices in the wine industry. The Wine Star Awards celebrate wineries, professionals, and companies that stand out for their quality, vision, and impact on the global wine market.
Founded over 45 years ago by Gino Razzi, WinesU – originally established as Viva Vino Imports – has played a fundamental role in the growth of Italian and French wines in the United States. The story of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is emblematic: Razzi was among the first to recognize the wine’s potential in the American market and, thanks to a long-standing collaboration with Cantina Zaccagnini, contributed significantly to its success and reputation in the U.S. This partnership, which began in the 1970s, has become one of the defining pillars of WinesU’s identity and continues today within the Argea Group, which acquired Cantina Zaccagnini in 2022.
The company’s growth has further propelled by the long-time collaboration between Razzi and Mark Lauber, now CEO & President of WinesU. Their combined expertise in import and distribution and an approach built around a lean yet strategic portfolio has enabled the company to forge strong relationships with U.S. distributors and maintain a positive growth trajectory even in a challenging market landscape.
Massimo Romani, CEO of Argea, commented: “This achievement is a tremendous source of pride for the entire Argea Group – and especially for Cantina Zaccagnini – at a time when the U.S. market is particularly complex. I would like to extend a special thank you to Mark Lauber, CEO of WinesU, and to founder Gino Razzi for the dedication, vision and extraordinary contribution with which they have built and grown this company. For Argea, this recognition reaffirms that even in the most challenging contexts, quality, consistency and the ability to innovate remain the foundations of our way of doing business.”
Mark Lauber, CEO & President, WinesU, added: “Being recognized by the prestigious Wine Enthusiast as the Importer of the Year is a tribute to the entire WinesU team, the fantastic wineries we represent and our incredible network of distributors. We look towards the future with our partners at Argea with a continued commitment to excellence”.
The integration of WinesU into the Argea Group – Italy’s leading private wine player, active in more than 85 markets and with an export share exceeding 30% in 2024 – represents a strategic milestone in strengthening the Group’s presence in the United States, its number one market in terms of both value and volume. The acquisition enables the Group to oversee the U.S. distribution chain directly and to enhance a portfolio that now includes 11 labels from 7 wineries, including the historic Abruzzo-based brand Zaccagnini, while ensuring continuity in WinesU’s management structure and operational approach.
About Argea
Argea is an innovative, forward-looking group created to celebrate the Italian wine sector—its cultures, people, territories and production techniques—while preserving and enhancing local identities as expressions of the country’s finest traditions. The company is the result of a strategy implemented by Italian private equity firm Clessidra, which acquired Botter S.p.A., Mondodelvino S.p.A. and Cantina Zaccagnini, creating Italy’s foremost private wine group. Argea brings a diversified range of Italian wines to international markets, exporting to over 85 countries, with a strong commercial presence in long-established markets for Italian wine such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Nordic countries, as well as in regions where interest in Italian wine is rapidly growing, including China, South Korea and Canada. www.argea.com
