News

Berkmann adds Ridge to portfolio

17 November 2020 By Rupert Millar

Berkmann Wine Cellars has added Californian producer Ridge Vineyards to its portfolio, and will take over distribution for the label in the UK early next year.

The agency will change from Fields, Morris & Verdin to Berkmann on 1 January 2021 and it is the second US label the company has taken on from FMV, with Domaine Drouhin Oregon being officially represented by Berkmann from this December.

Founded in 1962, Ridge has been at the forefront of California’s fine scene from the beginning and its ‘Monte Bello’ Cabernet is now a classic of the state’s winemaking scene.

Alex Hunt MW, purchasing director at Berkmann, commented: “With the fine wines of California being a key focus for Berkmann, my colleagues and I could not be more honoured and delighted to embark on this partnership with Ridge Vineyards – a producer that for many of us has underpinned our belief in California wine quality since the very start of our careers.

“Resolute in the face of changing fashions, paradoxically progressive in its traditionalism, both icon and iconoclast, and always a staunch supporter of export markets, it is no accident that Ridge has become one of the few truly timeless classics in wine. We applaud the work done by FMV over the last 24 years and cannot wait to bring these magnificent wines to a wider audience in the UK.”

Ridge’s president, David Amadia, added: “Berkmann, a family-owned and operated importer, with a focus on high quality, balanced, terroir-driven wines is a seamless fit for Ridge. We are impressed by the team’s excellence at Berkmann, all of whom embody knowledge, passion, and integrity.

“In Berkmann, we have found a true partner dedicated to collaboration and execution. The UK is the largest of our 40 international markets, and we are confident Berkmann will work to improve the quality and depth of our distribution and reputation. Eleven years after our founding, in 1973, we made our first international shipment, the 1971 Monte Bello, to the UK. Today, the UK remains our first and most critical international market.”