• 2 bottles 1984: the second Don Max, released a year after Eduardo Chadwick took the helm of Errazuriz from his father
• 2 bottles 1990: with Errazuriz at 120 years of age, this year starts the decade when Errazuriz emerged as a global fine wine leader
• 2 bottles 2006: a wine with extraordinary world-wide acclaim, and perhaps the vintage that saw the global press firmly place Errazuriz as one of the top premium wine producers in the world

These wines showcase Errazuriz’ history and quality, but alas there are only 76 cases being offered globally. More details if you click on the image below.

Serena takes a walk through Tommasi’s prized Conca d’Oro vineyard in Valpolicella with Pier Angelo, Export and Marketing Director for the estate, and tastes Amarone in the cellar next to the estate’s giant oak casks. The two also discuss recipes for “Risotto di Amarone.”

To read the full blog post, click here.

Click on the image below to view the video of her visit:

This little walk we took explains his whole “operation” – in quotes because in the video you see his wife Rotem (pouring) and it is just the two of them.  One to two barrels of wine from who he thinks are the most interesting growers in his favorite vineyards.  Then….nothing…for a long time…his fermentations are typically the longest in Burgundy as is his maturation.  He does little lees stirring, and only sulfurs once, a few months before bottling (his wines typically have ¼ the average sulfur levels in Burgundy, but they are protected because he prefers traditional, coarser pressings which leave more lees in the wine).

Most especially take a look at this film of the property that truly captures some of Noval’s spirit – remote, ancient, such a raw natural setting.   Academy award for Christian Seely!

Click on the image below to download more information.

VINTUS Named New U.S. Importer of Tommasi

Top Amarone Brand Joins VINTUS’ Portfolio of Benchmark Wines

VINTUS Acquires Rolar Imports as Part of Tommasi Partnership

(Pleasantville, NY; January 20, 2012) — VINTUS, a leading national fine wine importer and marketing company, and Tommasi, the renowned producer of Amarone and Valpolicella Classico in Italy’s Veneto region, are delighted to announce that they have entered into a long-term distribution agreement, granting VINTUS the responsibility for the exclusive sales and marketing of Tommasi wines in the United States. In a related transaction, VINTUS has purchased Rolar Imports, U.S. importer of Tommasi wines for the past thirty-nine years.

Founded in 1902 in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico, Tommasi is one of the standard bearers of the Amarone appellation, and one of the most important quality producers in the Veneto generally.  The Tommasi family is the single largest landowner in the Valpolicella Classico area; over the past 110 years, they have steadily expanded their holdings in other areas of the Veneto, and now own a total of 370 acres in the region.  As has been the case since the winery’s establishment, the family works only with grapes they grow, an important quality decision and a reflection of their deep connection to the Valpolicella soil.

“We are extremely pleased to develop this new relationship with VINTUS, and to work with them to increase the presence of our family’s wines in top restaurants and wine shops in the United States,” said Dario Tommasi, co-owner along with his brothers Sergio, Ezio, and Franco.

“It is an especially exciting time for our family: we are celebrating our 110-year anniversary and are seeing the benefits from a number of recent investments and innovations in our vineyards and winery. We believe that Michael Quinttus and his dynamic team at VINTUS are uniquely qualified to enhance the visibility of our wines to the next generation of American consumers. The Tommasi family thanks our dear friends Paul Lardi and Marvin Rosenberg of Rolar Imports for 39 years of successful collaboration.”

VINTUS, founded in 2004, is a national importer and marketing company for leading fine wine estates around the world.  VINTUS President and founder Michael Quinttus commented: “The Tommasi family has a tremendous commitment to preserving and sharing the traditions of Valpolicella, and leading the Veneto region into the future.  Amarone is a special and rare contribution to the world of wine, unique to the Veneto, and it is a privilege to enter into this partnership with one of Italy’s great producers.”

Tommasi is now run by the fourth generation of the family, a group of six siblings and cousins who share responsibilities at the family properties and other holdings.  In addition to the Veneto estate vineyards and winery, the Tommasi family also has two properties in the Maremma totaling 225 acres: Poggio al Tufo purchased in 1997 and located in Pitigliano an hour north of Rome, and Doganella, a more recent purchase neighboring Poggio al Tufo and dedicated entirely to the organic cultivation of grapes.

For a complete list of Tommasi wines available in the U.S., click here. Below are a few of the most celebrated examples:

• Amarone Classico DOC
• “Ripasso” Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC
• “Arele Appassimento” Veronese IGT
• “Rafael” Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC
• “Le Rosse” Pinot Grigio IGT
• “Le Volpare” Soave Classico DOC

VINTUS represents a diverse, international range of benchmark wineries including E. Guigal, Chateau Montelena, Quinta do Noval, Errazuriz, Ch. Pétrus, Ch. Margaux, Ch. La Fleur-Pétrus, Domaine des Baumard, Champagne Bruno Paillard, Lucien Le Moine, Sandrone, Petrolo, Enrico Santini, Schiopetto, Il Palagio, Finca Decero, Telmo Rodriguez, Ferrer Bobet, Disznoko, Dog Point, Mitolo and Heartland.  For information on these and other estates, visit www.vintuswines.com.