CEO Tara Empson tells SND that the move marked an important step in the company\u2019s evolution and is expanding its portfolio into new accounts, especially on-premise.<\/p>\nEmpson\u2019s new French partners include Ch\u00e2teau Kirwan (Margaux), Ch\u00e2teau Malescasse (Haut-M\u00e9doc), Ch\u00e2teau Franc Mayne (Saint-\u00c9milion), Maison de la Chapelle (Burgundy), and Champagne G\u00e9rin & Fils. They join a portfolio anchored by Italian producers like Fuligni, Costanti, Jankara, Pietradolce, and Ferghettina, as well as wines from Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and the U.S.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking for family-owned wineries that can make our portfolio stronger,\u201d Empson says, adding that the move into French wines is \u201copening doors that were closed before. It also allows us to better serve our clients. In the past several years we\u2019ve lost a lot of small independent restaurants that have closed down. Now we\u2019re rebuilding relationships with sommeliers and coming in with an interesting mix.\u201d<\/p>\n
The influx of new wines to the range has also energized the Empson team, she adds. \u201cAfter years of having to go out and fight the same battles over and over, it\u2019s brought a lot of new life into the company.\u201d While the focus has been on Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne in the early going, Empson will be entering the Loire soon as well.<\/p>\n
Tom den Otter, Empson\u2019s French portfolio manager and brand ambassador, notes that many French producers are looking for new U.S. routes to market. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a big shift, especially in Bordeaux, where a lot of producers are tired of the negociant system,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s been an opportunity for us to see if they\u2019re interested in partnering with Empson, another family company, and going with a sole importer for the whole U.S. We\u2019re getting more and more wineries reaching out.\u201d At the same time, Empson\u2019s team is bringing back feedback from on-premise clients about where to focus the next additions to the portfolio.<\/p>\n
The move into France also fulfills a long-held wish of Tara\u2019s father Neil Empson, who founded the company with his wife Maria in 1972 and passed away two years ago. Neil had long wanted to venture into the France category, particularly Pinot Noir.<\/p>\n
On the consumer side, Empson explains that increased American tourism to Europe has made marketing easier for importers. \u201cPeople bring back that European experience, that lifestyle, and a connection to these wines,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s bridging a gap and slowly opening things up to a wider audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Empson USA Bolsters Its Offering With French Expansion September 25, 2026 Virginia-based importer Empson USA, known for Italian wines, has been branching out lately, with the company entering the France category this summer with several new producers. CEO Tara Empson tells SND that the move marked an important step in the company\u2019s evolution and is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12029],"tags":[3171,907,1305,1820,10113,16238,9182],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7067881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alcohol","tag-beer","tag-business","tag-exclusive","tag-news","tag-research","tag-spirits","tag-wine"],"yoast_head":"\n
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