The idea for Sevier Wines developed from our experience as vineyard owners in France.  Our vineyards are located in the lesser known appellations – in southwestern France (Monbazillac and Ste Foy Bordeaux) and the Loire Valley (Muscadet and VDP Chardonnay).  Over time, we have come to know some exceptional wines, handcrafted at family-owned vineyards, well-priced and generally unavailable in the United States.  Like many family-owned businesses, these vineyards are at risk of disappearing.   Our personal experience occurred with an importer who brought our wine into the U.S., sold it, then never paid us. This is a common event for small vineyards.   There, as here, large corporate interests set the barriers such that smaller concerns have a difficult, if not impossible, time competing in the market. Because these are interesting and artisanal wines with limited productions and compelling pricing that the large distributors overlook, we began to explore the possibilities for bringing these wines here.

What sets these wines apart ? Throughout the world today, corporate winemaking (think of Yellow Tail, Kendall Jackson, and George DuBoeuf) follows the Coca-Cola model.  At giant facilities, grapes from everywhere in the world are assembled, manipulated to eliminate any natural characteristic of the grapes, then sugared and given flavor enhancers, perhaps even some oak chips, to arrive at just the desired flavor and color. Year to year, the flavor is the same because irrigation and flavor enhancers disguise the impact of climate and vintage.  This is not wine, it is a beverage.  Generic and uninspiring.  These beverages and corporations own the market. 

      In contrast, we sought out those who, like us, believe that there should be another option. After several years of gathering leads, we have selected the best and most intriguing for the American market. These wines have been chosen with numerous criteria in mind; primarily, that they represent noteworthy examples of the skills of family-owned vineyards that are priced for dinner. These are limited production wines exhibiting exceptional talent.  The winemakers are exemplary in their dedication to viticulture and winemaking.

How we operate: At Sevier Wines, we bring our wines as direct from the vineyards to the consumers as possible. Our main goal is to control the entire supply chain, with no middle men whatsoever, so that the wine keeps its quality, personality and, importantly, its value. Therefore, we so not use European or New York brokers; we are in direct contact with the wine producers, the transporters, customs, and local delivery.

By handling the entire wine transportation commercialization, we are able to maintain reasonable and fair prices. Our goal is to promote wines with a good price/quality balance, in order to provide both our winemakers and costumers with significant price and product advantages.

       Good wines are painstakingly produced. Foremost, they result from careful attention to nurturing the vines then the development of the grapes to optimize their unique attributes. During this phase of winemaking, all manner of climactic disasters can - and often does - occur:  frost, hail, torrential rains or no rain, and rarely, the perfect season with just enough sun, rain and chill to nurture a great vintage. Then, finally, the exacting process of vinification begins.  Ultimately, a wine complements its setting - family, friends, and food.  

  To learn more about each wine, please go to the Wine List.

For our French friends: Aux Vignerons Français.

Contents © 2008 Sevier Wines LLC