How to Import Wine: An Insider's Guide Book

You're a wine lover. You've tasted your way through the great viticultural regions of the world and have the heavily stamped and wine-stained passport to prove it. You think, "With my knowledge, palate and connections I could be a wine importer." It's possible. But the road into romantic commerce is paved with the epitaphs of countless importing startups which read, "He had a great palate." What is needed are the business basics, and in the first book of its kind author and veteran importer Deborah M. Gray offers the benefit of her vast experience in this comprehensive guide to the perils and best practices of this fascinating career. Gray gives invaluable insider information and the necessary tools, resources and real world advice to create a strong business model and a portfolio to match. She details the critical considerations in branding, packaging, pricing, licensing and regulations, shipping, warehousing, marketing, and more. The book is filled with specific examples of importing triumphs and failures, with particular interest paid to arguably the most important element of business success: acquiring and maintaining effective distribution. Deborah M. Gray, an Australian native, founded her first wine importing company in 1992, importing a collection of iconic, family-owned wineries from around Australia, at a time when Americans were just beginning to discover wines from the Southern Hemisphere. Deborah has traveled to forty US states throughout her wine career, working with distributors, conducting wine dinners and tastings, and speaking at wine festivals, and on radio and television. She lives in Southern California with her husband, their two teen boys and two rescued Corgis.