Leading Napa Valley Fine Wine Purveyor One of Only Five California Retailers on List
(St. Helena, Calif.—June 15, 2020)— St. Helena’s ACME Fine Wines today announced they have been named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 50 Best Wine Retailers in America for 2020. This is the first year that the prestigious wine magazine has developed an awards program for wine retailers, fitting timing given that retailers have been a real lifeline for people staying home during the pandemic.
“The retail space has always been vastly influential for both consumers and trade in the wine world,” says Susan Kostrzewa, Editor-in-Chief, Wine Enthusiast. “This is where most wine drinkers are educated about and guided towards brands and styles of wines, and now more than ever, they’re relying on great retail selections and guidance both virtually and in person. This list celebrates the wine retail businesses at the top of their game and on top of the trends.”
In 2003, Proprietor Karen Williams founded ACME Fine Wines in St. Helena, California and quickly established the physical and online fine wine store as the source to procure highly allocated, iconic wines from both cult and classic producers, as well as under-the-radar debut projects, with an emphasis on wines from Napa and Sonoma. Karen and her team’s longtime relationships within the wine community have made ACME the go-to source for what’s new and what’s next. ACME’s dynamic team of sommeliers carefully cultivates authentic relationships with each of their clients to offer concierge-level service and handpicked wines.
In addition to an exceptional selection of wine for collectors and casual drinkers alike, ACME’s four Wine Clubs: Kahuna, Under The Radar, Pulse and Zippo, are some of the of hottest wine clubs around, and offer consumers an easy way to, in essence, be on multiple winery mailing lists in one single wine club. ACME was also one of the first in the industry to launch virtual wine tastings, which will continue as they have proven to be extremely popular and a way to connect friends and family around the country. ACME will also be reopening June 15 for by-appointment-only, fully private in store tastings as well.
“We are truly honored to be included and featured in this list of esteemed retailers across the U.S. by such a highly respected publication,” commented Karen Williams. We owe our success to the small brands that trust us to help them launch their projects, to the coveted, in demand wineries that share their allocations with us and to our clients for letting us be their guide to the best brands we represent.”
“Like our ‘40 Under 40 list,’ ‘Best Restaurants’ and ‘Wine Star Awards,’ we took a holistic approach based on editorial judgment, rather than metrics. These shops are the ones that we feel offer the best balance of selection, customer service, personality and overall experience within their respective categories. They’re the shops that, after extensive bottle-shopping around the country, we rave about to our own friends and family,” added Kostrzewa.”
ABOUT WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
Wine Enthusiast’s approach to wine and spirits is accessible and unpretentious, and enjoyed by novices and experts alike. With 12 issues per year, the magazine’s audience is at nearly one million strong. The magazine and its Buying Guide, with more than 280,000 ratings and reviews, make up the most comprehensive database in the industry available for free online at WineMag.com.
ABOUT ACME FINE WINES
Founded in 2003 by Proprietor Karen Williams, ACME Fine Wines has long been regarded as one of the country’s premiere sources for both hard-to-find, highly allocated wines as well as debut offerings from new brands and rising star winemakers. ACME is located in St. Helena, California in the heart of the Napa Valley. For more information, please visit www.acmefinewines.com or call 707.963.0440.
