New partnership strengthens Albert Bichot USA’s market presence across key growth states
April 20, 2026 — Albert Bichot USA is pleased to announce that it has appointed Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) as its distributor in Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, following the recent transaction between RBG and Republic National Distributing Company.
This strategic move marks an important step in Albert Bichot USA’s continued investment in the U.S. market, reinforcing its commitment to long-term growth and strengthened distribution in high-opportunity regions.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Reyes Beverage Group,” said Jim Opalka, President of Albert Bichot USA. “Their strong operational expertise and customer-first approach provide a powerful platform for us to further elevate our portfolio and drive growth across these key markets. As we continue to expand our footprint in the U.S., aligning with a partner of RBG’s scale and capabilities ensures we are well-positioned to meet increasing demand for premium Burgundy wines.”
Representing the U.S. arm of the historic Albert Bichot family-owned wine house, Albert Bichot USA oversees the importation, marketing and sales of the producer’s Burgundy portfolio, as well as other producers including Joseph Mellot, Champagne Mandois,
Maison Lorgeril and Domaine Tariquet across the American market, with Merryvale Wines, stateside. The portfolio continues to gain traction as U.S. consumers increasingly seek terroir-driven, high-quality, premium wines.
“Albert Bichot USA is rooted in a long family history, sustained growth, innovation and brand building – all tenets we share at RBG,” said Kyle Dean, President of Wine & Spirits at Reyes Beverage Group. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with them and bring our shared values to life through elite execution for our new customers and consumers in these markets.” This partnership underscores a shared vision between Albert Bichot USA and Reyes Beverage Group: delivering best-in-class wines to the U.S. market through strong distributor alignment, operational excellence and a deep understanding of evolving consumer demand.
About Albert Bichot USA
Albert Bichot USA is a leading wine importer of esteemed French wines, including Domaines Albert Bichot as well as Maison Lorgeril, Champagne Mandois and Joseph Mellot. The company, led by President, Jim Opalka, is known for their fine wine expertise, industry relationships and extraordinary service to their brands, which extend beyond sales to marketing, brand development and a long-term commitment to client relations. The group continues to build its portfolio with exceptional brands that represent a similar core philosophy and that are focused on quality and eco-responsibility.
About Reyes Beverage Group
Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) is dedicated to being the best distributor in the industry with distributorships in California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. RBG is committed to protecting the quality of its suppliers’ brands through the utilization of superior routing and world-class warehouse and cold storage facilities, while also using its highly trained sales team to grow those brands and best serve the retail customers of Allied Beverages, Capital Reyes Distributing, Chesbay Distributing, Chicago Beverage Systems, Crest Beverage, DET Beverages, Florida Distributing Company, Gate City Beverage, Gold Coast Beverage, Golden Brands, Greenco Distributing, Harbor Distributing, High Desert Distributing, Island Distributing, Lee Distributors, Monarch Distributing, Premium Distributors of Maryland, Premium Distributors of Michigan, Premium Distributors of Virginia and Premium Distributors of Washington, D.C. Across 55 facilities, our team of over 10,000 people delivers 320 million cases annually to over 124,000 retail accounts across the nation. For more information on the company, its portfolio of world-class beer, spirits and wine brands and career opportunities, explore the company’s website at: www.reyesbeveragegroup.com.
