The persistence and grit of a once small, three-person team, has grown into a globally recognized company that has shaped the American wine palate.
In 1988 the world of wine in the United States was a sleeping giant. Consumers were primarily imbibing in domestic wine, beers and cocktails. The time was right for a focused importer to hit the scene and help catapult Italian Pinot Grigio into the spotlight. Mezzacorona, the 1,600-farmer strong cooperative from Trentino-Alto Adige established Prestige Wine Imports to broaden its market and change the taste of America. What started as a small upstart has transformed over 35 years into one of the most important and iconic importers of Italian wine and has helped shape the wine palate of countless consumers.
The House built by Pinot Grigio began as a three-person operation that hustled its way into the shelves of retailers and wine lists across the United States. CEO Rusty Pape, who joined Prestige Imports in 1991 recalled that “there were only the three of us and we were only in a few states, but the wines seemed to be what the public was looking for and sales grew and grew.” The excitement from the consumers was not overnight but the spark was lit, and Prestige imports stoked that fire and today the wines are distributed across the entire United States. Prestige Wine Imports has grown steadily and has helped introduce and reintroduce several Italian regions into the US market, from Trento DOC, in northern Italy, with the brand that started it all, Mezzacorona, to the famed sparkling estate Rotari, the historic Chianti Classico estate Castello di Querceto, and the Stemmari estate in Sicily. Their persistence, grit and vision continue to help shape the American palate and with the foundation they have laid, there will be much more coming from Prestige Wine Imports in the future.
In recognition of its persistence, grit and vision that continues to help shape the American palate Wine Enthusiast is happy to name Prestige Wine Imports the Importer of the Year in the 2023 Wine Star Awards
Published: November 7, 2023
