Search Results

Our team's journey with wine. About Us Partners Hiram Simon began his career relatively late in the last century at The Wine Society, a unique English institution owned entirely by its customers – one of the few remaining Co-operative Societies in Britain, which is today still the pre-eminent mail-order and internet retailer. The man whose job he coveted just retired recently. Not, however, before obtaining a brilliant training in the basics i.e. Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, with the occasional leavening of Sherry, Rhône and German Riesling, or, on exotic days, Chianti and Rioja. Despite the proto-socialist character of the place (famed leftist Edmund Penning-Rowsell was its long-serving Chairman), daily drinking consisted mostly of aged classed-growth Bordeaux and fine burgundy. After debunking to London for an especially unhappy year at an advertising agency, he came to California, specifically Berkeley (his home to this day), on Labor Day, 1982. The next six years or so were spent toiling in the hard but not-unfruitful soils of direct sales of mostly German wines to private consumers in office or home settings. Some of the relationships formed in those days remain intact now. In 1989, he started his own company, WineWise, with the help of Paul Marcus, who remained a partner until 2017. Initially created to serve the needs of his private customers, it morphed in the mid-1990’s into a wholesale import company. The twin pedestals of WineWise’s activities have always been France, particularly the profusion of what we used to call French Country Wines (in other words, normal wines for normal people) and Germany. A major turning point came in 1993 when Hiram met famed importer and raconteur Terry Theise for the first time. This relatively chance encounter had a transformative effect. Very soon, WineWise was appointed the California distributor for Terry’s nascent Austrian portfolio (The Vienna Wine Company was the name chosen for that “division”). Soon thereafter, the German wines joined the book and, when Terry took the plunge into the untested waters of Grower Champagne, it was natural that WineWise would be the distributor of those miraculous wines, too. The relationship with Terry, forged on numerous tasting trips in Europe and visits to California, has developed way beyond commerce into the area of profound personal friendship which has survived the ending of our direct commercial relationship. In subsequent years, the company has judiciously added new countries of interest to the range: first Spain, where the undreamt-of opportunity to import the supernal wines of López de Heredia arose in 2004, and then Greece, whose breathtakingly original wines have been a passionate interest for many years. The most recent acquisition has been Portugal, the originality, quality and value of whose best wines cannot be bettered anywhere. Hiram Simon Founder, Principal Martin Reyes, MW Partner Since the start, WineWise has been a part of Martin's prolific wine career in some way or another. Before building a career as a buyer, educator, speaker, judge, and winemaker, he was a young wine shop clerk cobbling up funds for a French trip in the early 2000s. Thanks to Hiram’s boundless generosity and grace, Martin was able to visit and taste one of WineWise’s top producers in the Loire Valley. Thus, our portfolio established permanent residency quite early on in his heart. Martin continued to source from WineWise while managing a Napa-based wine merchant, where he got to know both Hiram and Brian (now retired) quite well. Unsurprisingly to those who notice the WineWise way, a growing friendship kept their orbits close. As the principal buyer for prominent wine club programs (The New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine, and Williams-Sonoma-Wine) it’s rumored that Martin was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s “Top Forty under Forty” as a direct result of the sheer volume of WineWise collections he sourced during his tenure. At least, that’s what he’d like to think. Gradually, Martin developed a multifarious career that transcended national boundaries. Highlights include: being the first Master of Wine of Mexican descent in 2018, winning Best Paper at Vienna’s AAWE Conference in 2019 for his research in consumer purchasing behavior, producing one of Wine & Spirits Magazine’s “US Best Cabernets” under the Peter Paul Wines aegis… twice, and being named one of Wine Business Monthly’s 2020's Industry Leaders for co-founding Wine Unify, empowering diversity, equity, and inclusion in wine through education funding and mentorship. Through his Reyes Wine Group consultancy, Martin developed a deep passion for fostering sustainability, which culminated in co-founding Napa Thrives - a groundbreaking, community-driven symposium accelerating meaningful sustainability & climate action leadership in Napa County. During his spare time, Martin occasionally writes (his work has been featured in JancisRobinson.com and Napa Valley Viticultural Society’s Journal), co-hosts the James Beard-awarded FourTop podcast on the culture and future of our industry, judges for several international competitions (Texsom, Decanter, IWC), and unfortunately for dinner guests, is an incorrigible purveyor of dad humor. Nevertheless, WineWise had the last laugh when Martin joined Hiram as Principal, finally passing through the noble gates of the virtuoso portfolio he’d only caught glimpses of while stocking empty wineshop shelves long ago. After completing degrees in Mathematics and Economics at Simmons University in Boston, Elaine began her career in the restaurant scene working at fine-dining bistros and beloved gems like Sandrine's and Oleana. Looking to focus more on the wine part of the industry she moved to Oakland in 2013 joined the WineWise team. During her tenure she has worked to organize all of the company's information and maintains its website as well as managing day to day operations. When she's not digging into spreadsheets she's probably out trail running in the Redwoods or sailing on the bay, biding her time until she can get somewhere warm to obsessively scuba dive. Elaine Cadman Partner Sales & Operations

WineWise imports European fine wine and distributes throughout California. FIND SEARCH: Please enter search criterea above and hit "FIND" View More Producer Gallery 1/0 Our Mission: Since 1989, WineWise has been importing some of the finest estate-grown wines from France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Our specialty is small family firms that offer over-performing wines and exceptional value. Grower Champagnes and other sparkling wines are a particular area of emphasis for WineWise. Navigate Up Up Up Up View Producers Browse Wines About Us Trade Login What we're drinking right now... Just Arrived From the Field Arriving Soon Singer Estate Page Wine Wise introduces Singer Baker Lane Estate Syrah and Viognier For the first time in its 30 year history, WineWise has added a California estate to its portfolio. Stephen Singer will be known to many of you as a ground-breaking figure on the California wine scene. In the 1980's, he opened a wine shop in San Francisco called Singer & Foy, whose Saturday afternoon tastings were the stuff of legend. I (Hiram) personally attended probably too many of them, and was able to encounter wines from the likes of Jayer, Chave and Raveneau for the first time. Equally importantly, Stephen and I became friends. Stephen was also the long-time wine director at Berkeley's Chez Panisse, whose list was something of a Holy Grail. He opened a series of restaurants to great acclaim, among them César and Table 29, as well as pioneering the importation of top-flight artisinal olive oil from Tuscany. In 2002, Stephen decided to complete the circle of his vinous odyssey by doing the one thing he had not done - grow grapes and produce wine. His innate inclination to seek elegance over power drew him to the cooler confines of Sebastopol, where he found a promising, west-facing hillside site totalling all of six acres on Baker Lane, whose name gave rise to the estate's initial identity. The Syrah and Viognier grapes that he and his long-time viticulturist and wine-maker Greg Adams grew quickly developed a reputation for top quality and were eagerly snapped up by some of the best-known names among Sonoma wineries, such as Arnot-Roberts and Scribe. In 2019, however, Stephen decided that the way forward lay with making less, not more wine. So he prepared to wind down the Baker Lane brand, which encompassed an array of excellent wines including several bought varieties, and he re-launched in 2022 as Singer Baker Lane Estate. Today, Stephen makes tiny quantities of just two wines - a Syrah (270 6-packs) and a Viognier (90 6-packs) - from the choicest parcels of his undulating estate, while continuing to supply his long-time customers with grapes that are surplus to his needs. Being an artist by avocation, Stephen also designed the striking labels of his new wines himself. Oh, and let us not forget to mention that he also cultivates a large number of olive trees from which he squeezes exceptionally fine oil. It is therefore with great pleasure and pride that WineWise announces its representation in California of Singer Baker Lane Estate. It will be apparent that there is not very much to go around. But if you are an aficionado of great Rhône wines from Syrah and Viognier, these wines will speak to you. Please do not hesitate to ask your sales representative about them. We thank you for your attention to this long announcement and look forward to hearing from you. Female Wine Producers We 're proud to support female winemakers. These wineries are female-led. Get in Touch Mailing address: 5655 College Ave Oakland, CA 94618 Order Desk: 510-473-5482 orders@winewise.biz First Name Last Name Email Message Send

WineWise imports European fine wine and distributes throughout California. Producer Gallery 1/0 Our Mission: Since 1989, WineWise has been importing some of the finest estate-grown wines from France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Our specialty is small family firms that offer over-performing wines and exceptional value. Grower Champagnes and other sparkling wines are a particular area of emphasis for WineWise. Navigate Up View Producers Up Browse Wines Up About Us Up Trade Login Domínio do Açor “The new sensation from the region Dão is Domínio do Açor…. Domínio do Açor has to be one of the most exciting new names in Portugal in recent years” -Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate View More DOWNLOAD English Presentation What we're drinking right now... Just Arrived Arriving Soon Female Wine Producers We 're proud to support female winemakers. These wineries are female-led. Get in Touch Mailing address: 5655 College Ave Oakland, CA 94618 Order Desk: 510-473-5482 orders@winewise.biz First Name Last Name Email Message Send

Time Out This page isn’t available right now. But we’re working on a fix, ASAP. Try again soon. Go Back

Time Out This page isn’t available right now. But we’re working on a fix, ASAP. Try again soon. Go Back

HKA-CSP22 View Karanika's Producer Page Karanika 2022 'Cuvee Speciale' Extra Brut (Xinomavro - Assyrtiko) Trained in Champagne, Laurens’ quest to make Greece’s finest sparkling wine was launched when he discerned the amazing aptitude for sparkling wine of Xinomavro’s high-acid grapes grown in limestone-rich soils. As their vineyards have aged and their expertise deepened, the wines have gained increasing depth and finesse, heightened by longer tirage, which enables lower and lower dosage (2 gm. here). The purity is breathtaking. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code HKA-CSP22 Country Greece Region Macedonia Color/Style Sparkling Destemming Whole Cluster Fermentation Vessel Stainless Steel Additional Fermentation Notes 100% free run juice Fermentation duration: 1 month The second fermentation takes place in the bottles, because we use the traditional method (methode traditionelle). Aging Vessel Stainless Steel Aging Duration (months) 3-4 months Filtered? No Fining Agents None Yeast Protocol Spontaneous Malolactic Conversion No Additonal Maturation Details: Aging method: sur latte, in the bottles for at least 12 months for Cuveé Speciale Added Sulfur Yes, 20 mg/L Varieties 90% Xinomavro, 10% Assyrtiko Vintages in Blend 2022 Vintage Dosage 2 g/L Residual Sugar 2 ABV 11 Acidity 7.69 pH 3.06 Bottling Date March 2023 Disgorgement Date Handwritten in the label for every batch Annual Production 31,000 bottles Certified Vegan No Other Wine Facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Usi5ojs4tY Primary Vineyard Name Xinomavro: Pedino village and area around lake Petron (sub-regions of Amyndeon appellation) Assyrtiko from Levea The subregion name of lake Petron means ""Lake of Stones"" 60% - 40% sand - clay soil in Amyndeon plateau Soil Types Sand, Clay Elevation (meters) 650 Vine Age 40 Yields (hl/ha) 7500 kg/ha Farming Practices Certified Organic Harvest Method Hand-harvested Additional Harvest Notes Half of the vineyards are ungrafted, surviving phylloxera because of the sandy soil Other Vineyard Details We use spays of essential oils of oregano and orange and also teas, nettle, valerian. During heatwaves we protect the leaves with kaolin to protect the leaves from sunburn. Notes from the Producer: undefined All Karanika Wines Karanika 2022 Cuvee Rose' Brut Sparkling Certified Organic, practicing regenerative View Wine Karanika 2021 'Cuvee Rose' Brut Sparkling Certified Organic View Wine Karanika 2022 'Cuvee Speciale' Extra Brut (Xinomavro - Assyrtiko) Sparkling Certified Organic View Wine Karanika 2017 Extra Cuvee de Reserve' Zero Dosage Sparkling View Wine Karanika 2015 Assyrtiko (Amyndeon) White View Wine

FPB-RERNV View Pascal Bellier's Producer Page Pascal Bellier N.V. 'Reverie' Rosé Methode Traditionelle Sparkling Pascal makes a miniscule quantity of this highly perfumed and flavorful sparkler. It has been embraced by the market for its varietal exactness and excellent value. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code FPB-RERNV Country France Region Loire Color/Style Sparkling Destemming Complete Fermentation Vessel Stainless Steel Additional Fermentation Notes First Fermentation duration: 15 days on average Second Fermentation in bottle: 9 months minimum Aging Vessel Stainless Steel 100% Aging Duration (months) 3 months Filtered? Yes Fining Agents Bentonite Yeast Protocol Native Malolactic Conversion No Additonal Maturation Details: Lees contact in stainless steel tank: 3 months Pied de cuve for bottle fermentation Added Sulfur Yes, 120ppm Varieties Pinot Noir 100% Vintages in Blend 2023 Residual Sugar 8 ABV 12 Acidity 3.5 Closure DIAM Annual Production 300 cases Certified Vegan No Other Wine Facts Committed winegrowers, we practice sustainable agriculture, and have been certified Terra Vitis since 2011 and HVE (High Environmental Value) since 2016. Soil Types Alluvial, Calcareous Elevation (meters) 100 Vine Age 20 Yields (hl/ha) 40 Farming Practices Sustainable Harvest Method Machine Additional Harvest Notes Taille Guyot Other Vineyard Details Winegrowers for several generations, the BELLIER family has built a vineyard of around 60 hectares in the heart of the Loir Valey, producing wines from Cheverny (white, red and rosé) and Cour-Cheverny. All the vines are planted on a thick layer of limestone, covered with sand. The estate extends over a northwest-facing hillside above the Loire and on a south-facing plateau. Notes from the Producer: Very small and dense bubbles.Fine and expressive wine. Ready to drink, as an aperitif or with dessert. All Pascal Bellier Wines Pascal Bellier 2022 Cheverny Rouge Red taille guyot View Wine Pascal Bellier 2023 Cheverny Blanc White Sustainable View Wine Pascal Bellier N.V. 'Reverie' Rosé Methode Traditionelle Sparkling Sparkling Sustainable View Wine Pascal Bellier 2021 Cour Cheverny White View Wine

KDV-TRANV6 View Diebolt-Vallois's Producer Page Diebolt-Vallois N.V."Tradition" Brut Textbook champagne blend of all three grapes and two different years (2020 and 2019). Dosed at 3 gm., it has impeccable balance, unexpected vinosity and entirely delicious flavor. The value is exceptional. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code KDV-TRANV6 Country France Region Champagne Color/Style Sparkling Destemming Whole Cluster Fermentation Vessel Stainless Steel Aging Vessel Stainless Steel Aging Duration (months) 36 months Filtered? Yes Yeast Protocol Cultured Malolactic Conversion Yes Additonal Maturation Details: 3 years of aging on the lees Added Sulfur Yes, 54 mg/L Varieties 40% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, 50% Chardonnay Vintages in Blend 2020 58%, 2019 42% Dosage 3 g/L ABV 12.5 Acidity 6.11 pH 3.07 Bottling Date 04/2021 Annual Production 800 Primary Vineyard Name Cuis, Epernay, Vallée de l'Ardre, Côte des Bar Soil Types Calcareous Vine Age 35 Yields (hl/ha) 75 Farming Practices Sustainable Harvest Method Hand-harvested Notes from the Producer: undefined All Diebolt-Vallois Wines Diebolt-Vallois N.V. "Prestige" Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru MAGNUMS Sparkling Sustainable View Wine Diebolt-Vallois N.V. "Prestige" Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Sparkling Sustainable View Wine Diebolt-Vallois N.V. Blanc de Blancs [12/375] Sparkling View Wine Diebolt-Vallois N.V. Champagne Rose Sparkling View Wine Diebolt-Vallois N.V. Blanc de Blancs Sparkling View Wine Diebolt-Vallois N.V."Tradition" Brut Sparkling Sustainable View Wine

FAG-CHA23 View Alain Geoffroy's Producer Page Alain Geoffroy 2023 Chablis We have come to depend on the authentic Chablis expression of this wine and it certainly does not disappoint in this excellent vintage. More vinosity than the Petit Chablis, but plenty of welcome tension, too. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code FAG-CHA23 Country France Region Burgundy Color/Style White Fermentation Vessel Stainless steel Aging Vessel 100% Stainless Steel Aging Duration (months) 5 months Filtered? Yes Fining Agents Bentonite Yeast Protocol Native Malolactic Conversion Yes Added Sulfur Yes, 80mg/l Varieties Chardonnay ABV 12.5 Acidity 3.39 Closure Natural Cork Annual Production 15000 cases Certified Vegan No Soil Types Calcareous Elevation (meters) 280 Vine Age 40 Yields (hl/ha) 50 Harvest Method Machine harvest Notes from the Producer: A very classic Chablis, fresh and mineral. Will match perfectly with seefood, grilled fishs, lobster or simply as an aperitif. All Alain Geoffroy Wines Alain Geoffroy 2023 Chablis White View Wine Alain Geoffroy 2022 Chablis White View Wine Alain Geoffroy 2023 Bourgogne Pinot Noir Red Certified Sustainable View Wine Alain Geoffroy 2021 Chablis Vieilles Vignes White View Wine Alain Geoffroy 2022 Bourgogne Chardonnay White Certified Sustainable View Wine Alain Geoffroy 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy Vieilles Vignes White View Wine

SCD-SOLNV View Castell d'Age's Producer Page Castell d'Age Solstici N.V. Cava Brut A fresher, fruitier rendition of the house-style, given shorter lees-aging to heighten its early-drinking appeal. Exceptional value in bio-dynamic Cava. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code SCD-SOLNV Country Spain Region Catalonia Color/Style Sparkling Destemming Complete Fermentation Vessel Stainless steel Additional Fermentation Notes Second fermentation in bottle for 18 months. We use organic yeast for the second fermenation. Aging Duration (months) 20 months Filtered? Yes Fining Agents Bentonite Yeast Protocol Spontaneous Malolactic Conversion No Added Sulfur Yes Varieties 40% Xarel·lo, 40% Macabeu, 20% Parellada Residual Sugar 5 g/L ABV 12 Acidity 5.2 Tartaric Annual Production 5000 cases Certified Vegan Yes Primary Vineyard Name Can Almirall Soil Types Calcareous Elevation (meters) 280 Vine Age 35 Yields (hl/ha) 5000 kg/ha Farming Practices Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic Harvest Method Machine Notes from the Producer: undefined All Castell d'Age Wines Castell d'Age Solstici N.V. Cava Brut Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2022 Miracle Sauvignon Blanc SO2 Free White Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2019 Cava Aurèlia Brut Nature Gran Reserva Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age N.V. Cava Cuvee Anne Marie Brut Nature Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2022 Garnatxa SO2 Free Red Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2018 Garnatxa SO2 Free (Pénédès) Red Certified Bio-dynamic View Wine

SCD-CAMNV View Castell d'Age's Producer Page Castell d'Age N.V. Cava Cuvee Anne Marie Brut Nature A splendid introduction to the house’s style, showing elegance and length deriving from extended lees-aging and fastidious treatment in both vineyard and cellar. On the dry side, with zero dosage, this is a Cava that punches way above its weight. Like all Castell d’Age sparkling wines, it is hand-riddled. Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code SCD-CAMNV Country Spain Region Catalonia Color/Style Sparkling Destemming Complete Fermentation Vessel Stainless Steel Additional Fermentation Notes First fermentation - 10 days For the second fermentation we use organic champagne yeasts Aging Vessel Stainless Steel Aging Duration (months) 24 months Filtered? Yes Fining Agents Bentonite Yeast Protocol Spontaneous, Cultured Malolactic Conversion Yes Additonal Maturation Details: 22 months Added Sulfur Yes, 15 mg/L Varieties 40% Xarel·lo, 40% Macabeu, 10% Parellada, 10% Chardonnay Residual Sugar 0.8 g/L ABV 12 Acidity 4.4 Tartaric Annual Production 3000 cases Certified Vegan Yes Primary Vineyard Name Can Almirall, Can Pujades Soil Types Calcareous Elevation (meters) 280 Vine Age 35 Yields (hl/ha) 5000 kg/ha Farming Practices Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic Harvest Method Machine Notes from the Producer: undefined All Castell d'Age Wines Castell d'Age Solstici N.V. Cava Brut Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2022 Miracle Sauvignon Blanc SO2 Free White Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2019 Cava Aurèlia Brut Nature Gran Reserva Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age N.V. Cava Cuvee Anne Marie Brut Nature Sparkling Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2022 Garnatxa SO2 Free Red Practicing organic, practicing biodynamic View Wine Castell d'Age 2018 Garnatxa SO2 Free (Pénédès) Red Certified Bio-dynamic View Wine

LH-TR12 View López de Heredia's Producer Page López de Heredia 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva M Download Tech Sheet Supplementary Information Arriving Soon Wine Specifics WineWise Code LH-TR12 Country Spain Region Rioja Color/Style Red Notes from the Producer: undefined All López de Heredia Wines López de Heredia 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva M Red View Wine López de Heredia 2011 Viña Tondonia Reserva Red View Wine López de Heredia 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva Red View Wine López de Heredia 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Red View Wine López de Heredia 2016 Viña Gravonia Crianza White View Wine López de Heredia 2016 Viña Cubillo Crianza Red View Wine López de Heredia 2011 Viña Tondonia Reserva Red View Wine