The Santa Margherita Group has purchased a wine estate in Oregon: Roco Winery. “It will be our Trojan horse to sell our brands directly to U.S. consumers,” explains CEO Beniamino Garofalo.
The Italian company owned by the Marzotto family is already well established in the USA thanks to the Pinot Grigio it has been selling overseas for 60 years, importing it by its own American branch.
Now, due to the laws imposing a production base in the USA, it will be able to sell without intermediaries in 17 states – including Florida, California, and Washington -the wines of its companies. From Franciacorta by Ca’ del Bosco to Lugana by Ca’ Maiol, from Chianti Classico by Lamole di Lamole to Carignano del Sulcis by Cantina Mesa.
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According to the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, the deal commits about $10 million to Santa Margherita Group, which closed 2020 with sales of 172 million euros.
Roco’s founder is Texas-based winemaker Rollin Soles. He has managed to bring Pinot Noir, selling it for $35 to $135 per bottle, to excellent levels of quality.
This wine has been served in official dinners at the White House, and many vintages obtained scores higher than 90/100 by wine magazines. About 200,000 bottles are produced every year.
ITALIAN WINERIES IN THE USA
Santa Margherita’s direct landing in the USA comes after two other Italian wineries. Antinori with Stag’s Leap in California’s Napa Valley, and Zonin with Barboursville in Virginia.
“We focused on Oregon because it’s a fast-growing wine area,” Garofalo says. Gaetano Marzotto, president of the Santa Margherita Group, says, “The French figured it out first. The Drohuin family has been there for years. Characterized by volcanic soil and very green, Oregon (population 4 million) is a destination for 36 million ‘wine tourists’ every year. We will develop the activity of wine clubs and tastings. We believe in the high quality of Oregon wines, in particular in the Willamette Valley region”.