Terlato Adds Cecchi Wines from Tuscany to Luxury Wine Portfolio

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Sep 03, 2014, 11:30 ET

LAKE BLUFF, Ill., Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Terlato Wines today announced a new partnership to take over the U.S. sales and marketing of Cecchi, a leading producer in Chianti Classico and other Tuscan wines, effective Jan. 1, 2015. The long-term agreement with the Cecchi family adds depth and diversity to the Terlato Italian portfolio with a highly regarded and established premium brand from Tuscany's renowned Chianti Classico region.

Terlato Adds Cecchi Wines from Tuscany to Luxury Wine Portfolio. (PRNewsFoto/Terlato Wines) (PRNewsFoto/Terlato Wines)

Cecchi has been producing premium wines from single vineyard estates in Tuscany for more than 120 years, and is in its fourth generation of family management with brothers Cesare and Andrea Cecchi – great grandsons of founder Luigi Cecchi -- leading the winery today. They have invested significantly in expanding their vineyard holdings and modernizing their wineries and winemaking operations, always with a goal of improving the quality of their wines. The Cecchi brand has been sold in the U.S. for more than 25 years. Today, Cecchi is a leading Tuscan brand, focused on its range of wines from Chianti Classico, with additional wines from Maremma and Umbria.

"We started discussions with Cesare and Andrea earlier this year, as they initiated their search for a new U.S. importer," said Terlato Wines Chief Executive William A. Terlato. "Cesare and Andrea wanted to make certain they chose the right long-term partner to build their brand in the U.S. market. A blind tasting conducted at their winery convinced us that their winemaking approach and commitment to quality would make Cecchi an ideal fit in our portfolio. Both families are aligned on the brand's untapped potential. We have an opportunity to build a leadership position in the Chianti Classico category and establish a stronger brand presence with the current portfolio and some exceptional new wines."

Terlato will import a collection of wines from Cecchi, but will focus on a targeted range of six wines that are key expressions of Cecchi's Tuscan heritage and their diversity of vineyard holdings, including: Chianti Classico DOCG; Chianti Classico Riserva di Famiglia DOCG; Coevo IGT Toscana; La Mora Vermentino DOC Maremma Toscana; La Mora Morellino di Scansano DOCG and; Sangiovese IGT Toscana.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with the Terlato family," said Cesare Cecchi. "Terlato Wines is widely known as the leading luxury importer in the U.S., and we know our partnership will build our U.S. brand presence and image. They are a great fit for us."

Terlato Wines has a global portfolio of more than 70 brands from world class wine producers in more than a dozen countries and controls a 20 percent market share of wines $20 and up in the U.S. Terlato Wines garners more 90+ ratings than any wine company in the world and is a division of the Terlato Wine Group, the parent company comprising several small businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. Owned and operated by the Terlato family for four generations, the Group also includes the family's winery investments and partnerships in some of the world's most esteemed wine regions including: Napa Valley; Sonoma County; Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County; Victoria, Australia; the Rhone Valley in France and; Montalcino, Italy.

The Terlato Wines portfolio of brands includes: Napa Valley: Chimney Rock, EPISODE, Galaxy, Jack Nicklaus Wines, Luke Donald Collection, Markham Vineyards, Rutherford Hill, Tangley Oaks, Terlato Family Vineyards; Sonoma County: Alderbrook, Giarrusso, Hanna, Rochioli, The Federalist, Terlato Family Vineyards; Santa Barbara County: Flor de Campo, Sanford; California Appellation: Glass Mountain, Greystone Cellars, Mike Ditka Wines, Seven Daughters; Oregon: Sokol Blosser; Washington State: Grace Lane; Argentina: Cuarto Dominio, Tamari; Australia: Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, the Lucky Country, Twelftree, Two Hands; Austria: Kracher; Canada: Peller Estates; Chile: Lapostolle; France: Belleruche by M. Chapoutier, Champagne Bollinger, Chateau de Sancerre, Chateau Timberlay, Chanson Pere & Fils, Domaine Ramonet, Langlois-Chateau, M. Chapoutier, MARIUS, Mischief & Mayhem; Greece: Boutari, Elios; Italy: Anselmi, Berlucchi, Ca'Marcanda (GAJA Toscana), Cecchi, Colavita, Cusumano, Fizz 56, GAJA, Goretti, Il Poggione, Mazzoni (Toscana), Nino Franco, Santa Margherita, Torresella,; Japan: Shimizu-no-mai Sake; Mediterranean: Elios; New Zealand: Loveblock, Turning Heads, Wairau River; South Africa: Anthonij Rupert, Ernie Els, Guardian Peak, Protea, Rust en Vrede; Spain: Bodegas Valdemar, Marco Abella. Artisan Spirits: Adelphi Selections Scotch, Distillatori Nonino (Grappa), Don Pancho Origenes Rum, Heartland Prohibition Gin, Langley's No. 8 Gin; Marnier Cognac, Riazul Tequila, Spring Mill Bourbon, Tigre Blanc Vodka and Tiramisu Liqueur.