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The Wine Importer's Guide To New York

20/06/2018

We've highlighted some of the most important on-premise accounts that you should call on while you are in New York.

One of the most traveled to destinations by wine lovers seeking the allure of the perfect big city vacation getaway, New York is home to some of the finest wine establishments in the world. Dappled across the five Burroughs, chic bistros, wine bars, nightclubs, boutique wine shops, and popular restaurants all take pride in offering their clients unique wine lists toting spectacular selections from around the world for visitors and locals alike to choose from. Whether they are looking for the dazzle of an exclusive French label at a nice restaurant or a hidden gem from a boutique producer, New York yields a seemingly endless supply of options to every kind of connoisseur.

We will be hosting hundreds of wine representatives from wine import companies at USA Trade Tasting and we want to make sure they make the most of their visit to New York.  With so many different accounts offering such a wide variety of wines, it is often overwhelming trying to decide what retailers you should target for your portfolio of wines.  To help, we've gone ahead and highlighted some of the most important on-premise accounts that you should call on while you are in New York.

Here is a list of some of the establishments with the best wine lists in New York

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

aldoMidtown's trendy Aldo Sohm Wine Bar offers visitors looking for a full wine experience a little bit of everything.  With rotating monthly wine flights, hand-picked wine 101 'mini-courses,' and a full wine list, this wine bar is the perfect fit for wine labels looking to get in with avid wine drinkers who are looking to expand their palettes. The venues open living room concept, complete with possibly the largest U-shaped sectional sofa in New York, invites customers to mingle while they dine on tapa-style dishes and share opinions on new wines.  With over 40 wines by the glass and 200 bottles to choose from, the venue continually updates their wine list so it's a great place to target as a new account in Manhattan.

Amali

Amali A great spot to take in the delightful decor while sipping on your favourite wines from Greece, Italy or Turkey, Amali is a staple restaurant for those in the mood for some Mediterranean. Located just a few block East from the South-East corner of Central Park, this venue is a great target account for wine importers.  The wine list boasts over 400 different wines and has been awarded multiple times by various publications and reviewers. The menu offers a wide range of seafood, lamb and other traditional Mediterranean plates, so showcasing a exciting, fresh new white wines is a good way to get your foot into the door.  High volume and a good mix of clientele make the restaurant a great account for all types of suppliers.

The Nomad Hotel 

nomad Borrowing taste and decoration from the revered three star Eleven Madison Park which they claim as a bigger brother, NoMad offers guest a beautiful atrium to look out across as they dine on Chef Daniel Humm's most recent creation.  The food and wine is almost always a perfect combination and the prices are fair enough to keep tables filled with content diners every night. For wine importers who cater to premium labels, the NoMad offers a great venue to showcase some of your finer wines while their reasonable prices allow for a good amount of selection across multiple varieties and regions. With an 80 page wine list boasting some very enticing labels, this restaurant's Sommelier has a lot to choose from when selecting a reasonable pairing for their guests. Want to see what kind of wines their current list is carrying?  Check out their wine list here and be sure to take notes so that you can impress when you call on them.

 Ardesia

ardesiaAredesia is a casual food and wine bar in Hell's Kitchen that offers visitor a superb wine list to choose from as you take relax in the on the couches or chat with other wine minded patrons at the bar or on the small patio.  Its gigantic chalk board outlines the day's offerings and the wall of bottles behind the marble counter underlines the venue's dedication to all things wine. There are typically 30 or so wines by the glass and their bottle list is inspired from old world tradition and new world flare, so there is plenty for clients to choose from.  If you have a particularly inspired label and are looking to get your wines noticed, then try and get your bottles showcased in a central spot on the wall of wine.

Corkbuzz Restaurant and Wine Bar

corkbuzzWith high top tables and bar stools lining the long espresso bar style space, this wine bar in Union Square has everything from wine classes to elegant seating in the dining room.  The bar rail is often filled with half empty bottles of French and Italian vintages and the wait staff are known to converse at length with customers.  Like Ardesia, the wall decor is heavily influenced by the world of wine, but instead of bottles Corkbuzz opts for an impressive display of stemware lit up with spot lighting and backed by dazzling mirrors. A great bar to court influential barkeeps, this venue would be the perfect account for active brand reps looking to develop new relationships in central Manhattan.  Corkbuzz is all about keeping fancy simple and the clientele that visit frequently embody this sentiment.  Take the time to get to know the servers and you'll find yourself with a new account happy to share your story. 

Buvette

buvetteThe French bistro-style Buvette is an exceptional example of how wine should be drank.  With delightful small dishes and a purposeful wine list, this West Village staple for wine lovers hosts all kinds of characters as they sip and dine the afternoon away.  Their large black board delineates the origin of their offerings (seemingly only French wines) and the staff is excellent at striking meaningful conversations about their current selection. The brick wall decor gives this restaurant a most European feel and the silver platter service brings the image full citcle.  French wine representatives looking to get their product into a new account that prides themselves on quality (and sometimes truly exclusive) offerings should consider Buvette as a must visit restaurant.

Daniel

DanielWith a long list of wine to choose from and an excellent menu, Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurant is a true New York dining experience (especially if you can get your reservation in the 'Skybox.')  There are over 2000 wines in the restaurant's cellar and all are chosen by head Somm Raj Vaidura, so take note of the name when calling on this account. The selection offers something for every budget and wine suppliers looking at the restaurant should understand the nuances of Chef Daniel's menu.  All sommeliers that work at this restaurant are very much in tune with what a good pairing means to creating a perfect dining experience for each and every tables.

Pearl and Ash

pearlLocated on Bowery between Prince and Young, this long and sleek restaurant gives diners a fusion expression definitely worth exploring.  The atmosphere is easy and laid back, just like the wine list.  With plenty of selection and some really great value, this place is the perfect spot for wine reps to target with exciting new labels they think will capture the imagination of foodies. Bring your notebook and explore the menu because it is certainly diverse.  You'll want to chat with the waiters and sit at the bar to watch the bartender hard at work.  The perfect place for trendy labels, come to see the modern food edge of New York.

Looking to grow your distribution in the USA?

USA Trade Tasting (USATT) is an annual adult beverage trade specialist trade tasting and business conference that promotes sustainable growth in the independent beverage industry by helping boutique wineries, craft breweries, craft distilleries, importers, distributors, retailers and beverage companies to learn, source and grow. Exhibit your brand at USA Trade Tasting (USATT) and get the attention of USA’s leading importers, important distributors, high-profile retail merchants, and influential media executives.

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