Representing:
Andeluna Cellars
Vista da Regua
Experience
De Bortoli
Mills Reef
Jason Stephens
Terra Valentine
Ventana
Wild Earth Wines
McCay Cellars
From SFWE's inception, our goal has been to offer national marketing and sales support for small wineries. Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm markets wines via its sales force of 6 regional employees and 20 brokers to a national network of over 100 wholesale distributors.
SFWE remains the only independently-owned wine marketing organization that has survived past twenty years in an industry where buy-outs, acquisitions, and the sheer growth in the number of wineries have eliminated dozens of competitors. Our longevity is due to ongoing relationships and friendships with both the winery clients and the loyal national network of wholesalers, many of whom have been with the firm since its inception.
Many small California wineries wish to exist as unique winery "Estates." History has shown that the land, the climate, and the vineyards themselves are the most important factors in making great wines. It is the vision and expertise of the winery owner which translates the raw material, grapes, into outstanding wines. To be successful as a small producer, a winery needs to limit its scope by producing only those wines in which it can excel in quality.
SFWE elects to work exclusively with small, family-owned producers who demonstrated that they shared this philosophy. In fairness to each of the wineries, the company's portfolio limits itself to one producer within a specific appellation unless another's product line offers different varietals which do not conflict within that region.
Wholesalers sought out or were sought out by SFWE who could offer quality distribution in each market. This required a serious commitment to on-premise distribution in addition to off-premise expertise by the wholesaler.
SFWE obtains sales licenses as well as handling each of the wineries' pricing and label registration with each of the fifty states. This ensures an efficient administration of thousands of orders each year from one central office.
The company selected regional sales professionals as employees or as existing regional wine brokers who demonstrated a shared philosophy and who were willing to restrict their representation of California wines exclusively to the SFWE portfolio in most markets.
As the California wine industry grew over the last twenty years, new clients have joined the portfolio, moving on to become successful wine brands. As the industry continues to grow with more wine-producing regions emerging while existing wineries are simultaneously learning what grapes grow best in their specific appellations and sub-regions, SFWE continues to selectively add new clients who share its vision and love of wine.
In 1998, SFWE obtained its U.S. import license. Currently representing two clients from the burgeoning wine regions in New Zealand and Argentina, SFWE may slowly expand into representation of other wine-producing countries.
Sales and marketing of wines is a difficult enterprise in the best of times. The financial rewards are limited, but the opportunity to be part of a winery's dream of turning raw land into a truly successful wine estate is a reward beyond value. In the process of accomplishing that, SFWE is not the story. It remains the means by which certain wineries can realize their dream, but the wineries, the customers, and the relationships are paramount.
