Yesterday, we celebrated our 20th anniversary as a company. Two decades ago to the day, on June 30, 1989, we adopted our articles of incorporation (to “purchase, import and sell fine old wine”) and started the process of obtaining a Federal import permit, which was approved that fall.

We began with a very large stock of old Madeira I’d found the year before in London, along with far smaller lots of old Burgundies, Champagne, Bordeaux, Rhones, Port, Barolo and Barbaresco, Riojas and Tokaji.

To look back at our early offers can be either entertaining or depressing (depending on your point of view):  1982 Cheval Blanc $105; 1947 Cheval Blanc (Belgian bottled) $295; Read more…