Epicurean Wines

What Epicurean Wines does

Epicurean Wines, L.L.C. is a Seattle-headquartered, privately held specialty beverage importer founded in 2000 by Benjamin Hammerschlag. The company imports Australian wines and spirits and resells them through a nationwide network of regional wholesale distributors, who in turn supply restaurants and retailers. Its represented portfolio consists of 23 Australian producers and 75 labels spanning Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Margaret River, and Hunter Valley, and the company self-positions as North America's oldest 100% Australian wine importer. Distribution coverage extends to 46-48 US states and the District of Columbia through state-level distributor partnerships; in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board serves as the state-mandated retail and distribution monopoly channel.

The product surface comprises premium and boutique Australian wines (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, plus Italian and alternative varietals such as Fiano, Nero d'Avola, and Vermentino), gin (Applewood Distillery since 2017), Tasmanian whisky (since 2018), and Australian amaro (OKAR Island Bitter). The portfolio is curated around family-owned producers and a "New Australia" thesis emphasizing regenerative and sustainable farming (e.g., Hither & Yon's carbon-neutral certification, Unico Zelo's B Corp status, Penny’s Hill Estate's Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, Sidewood's eco-sustainable Adelaide Hills operations). The company does not operate its own technology platform; its core commercial asset is an interactive, state-by-state distributor lookup on its website complemented by news, blog, trade fact sheets, and sell-sheet downloads.

Revenue is generated through markup on imported wine and spirit SKUs sold to regional distributors on a one-time transactional basis; the company does not publish wholesale pricing and has no subscription, SaaS, or recurring component. The primary customer segment is the regional wholesale distributor (each state-level exclusivity creates a de facto B2B contract); secondary downstream segments are on-premise restaurants, wine bars, and retail wine shops reached through distributors. Leadership comprises President Cindy Oswalt (Operations Manager since inception, elevated circa 2020), National Sales Director Brian Klassen (two decades representing Australian portfolios), and Founder Benjamin Hammerschlag, who built the producer relationships over the company's first two decades.

Name

Epicurean Wines

Legal name

Epicurean Wines, L.L.C.

Website

https://epicureanwines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Epicurean Wines is a Seattle-based, 100%-Australian wine and spirits importer founded in 2000 that represents 23 Australian producers and 75 labels, selling exclusively through a nationwide network of regional US wholesale distributors across 46-48 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Import & Distribution

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale) (CRAOAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)

Keywords

• Wine import services
• Wine wholesale distribution
• Australian wine portfolio
• Spirits import
• Beverage distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wine and Spirit Importing & Distribution: Epicurean Wines imports Australian wines and spirits (including gin and whisky) into the United States, purchasing from Australian producers and reselling to a national network of regional distributors who then sell to restaurants and retailers. Revenue is generated through the markup on imported wine and spirit products sold to distributors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Epicurean Wines imports Australian wines and spirits from 23+ family-owned producers and resells them at wholesale to a national network of regional U.S. distributors. The portfolio spans 75 labels from Australia's major wine regions (Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Margaret River, Langhorne Creek, Hunter Valley, Clare Valley, Tasmania) and has expanded into gin, whisky, and amaro. Distributors in turn supply restaurants, wine bars, and retail wine shops, with end consumers directed to local stockists via a state-by-state directory on the company website.

Product overview

Epicurean Wines operates as a premium Australian wine and spirits import and distribution company, not a software platform. The company represents 23+ family-owned Australian wineries across major wine regions (South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania) and distributes through a network of 48+ U.S. state distributors. The portfolio encompasses wine brands including Spring Seed Wine Co., Langmeil, Mr. Riggs, Hither & Yon, Unico Zelo, Penny\'s Hill, Battle of Bosworth, and spirits like Applewood Gin and OKAR Island Bitter. Epicurean Wines is North America\'s oldest 100% Australian wine importer, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Seattle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Epicurean Wines Portfolio (Australian wines & spirits import) Core importing and wholesale distribution service for a portfolio of 75+ labels from 23+ Australian wine and spirits producers, sold to regional U.S. distributors for resale to restaurants and retailers.
• Applewood Distillery (Australian gin) Adelaide Hills-based Australian gin producer using native botanicals (saltbush, peppermint gumleaf, blood limes, desert limes, lemon myrtle, quandong); distributed in the U.S. through Epicurean's network.
• Langmeil (Barossa Valley winery)

Quantifiable outcome

• Represents 23 Australian producers across 75 labels, distributed through a network covering 46–48 US states and D.C.

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Applewood DistillerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApplewood Distillery is an Australian gin and spirit producer based in Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Epicurean Wines began importing Applewood Gin in 2017 as the company's first spirit import, expanding its portfolio beyond wine. Applewood Gin is composed of Australian-native botanicals (e.g., Saltbush, Peppermint Gumleaf, Blood Limes, Quandong) and has received multiple awards including 90pts Best of Year from Wine Enthusiast.
• Battle of BosworthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBattle of Bosworth makes single-vineyard, organically grown wines from family vineyards in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Established in 2001 by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith, the winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Puritan wines. Their wines reflect the flavor, texture, purity, and balance of McLaren Vale's unique terroir.
• Bremerton WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBremerton Wines is a Willson family-owned winery located on 290 acres at Langhorne Creek, South Australia. Award-winning varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Chardonnay, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. In 2019, Bremerton Wines was named Producer of the Year at the Langhorne Wine Fair and won a trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
• Clairault Streicker WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClairault Streicker Wines are a family of premium wines from privately-owned vineyards in the Margaret River Wine Appellation of Western Australia. Since 1976, the vineyard has grown to encompass approximately 200 hectares of premium Margaret River vineyards. Their portfolio includes trophy-winning cold-climate Syrah, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays.
• Flegenheimer Bros.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlegenheimer Bros. is a heritage wine brand revived by Benjamin Hammerschlag (founder of Epicurean Wines) from his great-great grandfather's family business, which operated as New York Wine Merchants from 1876 until Prohibition. The brand produces high-altitude McLaren Vale Shiraz and Petite Sirah from the Hammerschlag family vineyard.
• Hither & YoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHither & Yon is South Australia's first carbon-neutral certified winery, established in 1980 by Richard and Malcolm Leask. Located in McLaren Vale, the brothers practice regenerative agriculture ('from grass to glass') and plant alternative grape varieties to attract a new generation of wine lovers. Their portfolio includes Grenache Mataro, Petit Blanc, Touriga Tempranillo, Nero D'Avola, Carignan, and Shiraz.
• Langmeil WinerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLangmeil Winery is a six-generation family winery in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The Lindner family's wines include The Freedom 1843 Shiraz (some of the oldest vines in the world, planted 1843), Spring Fever Chardonnay, Three Gardens GSM, and numerous single-vineyard wines. The winery is known for preserving old and rare Barossa vineyards.
• Mr. Riggs Wine Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMr. Riggs Wine Co. was founded in 2001 by Ben Riggs, a renowned South Australian winemaker and former chief winemaker at Wirra Wirra. The winery produces Shiraz, Grenache, Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling from McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and Clare Valley. Mr. Riggs received a five red star winery rating from the Halliday Wine Companion 2020.
• Oliver's Taranga VineyardscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOliver's Taranga Vineyards is a McLaren Vale winery owned by the Oliver family, producing small-batch handcrafted wines from both well-known and emerging grape varieties including Mataro, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Vermentino, Fiano, Tempranillo, Mencia, and Sagrantino. Winemaker Corrina Wright was named 2019 Winemaker of the Year by the ASVO.
• Penny's Hill EstatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPenny's Hill Estate is an estate-grown McLaren Vale producer centered on the historic Ingleburne Homestead (circa 1855). Founded in 1988, the winery was acquired by Randall Wine Group and now produces premium single-vineyard wines from McLaren Vale and Blewitt Springs. Achieved Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification in 2023.
• SidewoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSidewood was founded in 2004 by Owen and Cassandra Inglis and produces award-winning wines from Adelaide Hills including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir. The winery achieved Five Red Star Accreditation from James Halliday and became the largest eco-sustainable winery in Adelaide Hills in 2016.
• Spring Seed Wine Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpring Seed Wine Co. makes wines from organically grown, single-vineyard grapes in McLaren Vale. Their wines include Forget-Me-Not Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Cockscomb Cabernet, Four O'Clock Chardonnay, Scarlet Runner Shiraz, and Aster Pinot Noir. Labels are inspired by vintage flower seed packets from the turn of the last century.
• Standish Wine CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStandish Wine Company is an Australian winery represented in the Epicurean Wines portfolio. Located in South Australia, Standish is known for producing premium wines.
• StreickercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreicker (part of the Clairault Streicker family) produces premium wines from Margaret River, Western Australia. Key wines include Bridgeland Block Syrah and Ironstone Block Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon. The Streicker portfolio includes cold-climate Syrah and other varietals from the family's approximately 200 hectares of Margaret River vineyards.
• The ChookminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Chook produces Shiraz Viognier and Sparkling Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Since inception, The Chook Shiraz Viognier has maintained an uninterrupted run of 90+ point scores from internationally recognized reviewers.
• Thomas GosscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThomas Goss is named for the Goss family who settled in South Australia in 1849, founding Ingleburne and some of McLaren Vale's leading vineyards. The brand produces affordable McLaren Vale red wines and Adelaide Hills white wines. Winemaker Alexia Roberts produces award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz.
• Wildman WinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWildman Wines is an Australian winery represented in the Epicurean Wines portfolio.
• Winner's TankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWinner's Tank is a Langhorne Creek winery owned by David and Cathy Knight, producing wines from local fruit. The winery's name references an Australian Rules Football tradition where the winning team of a local rivalry paints a tank in their team colors.
• Woop WoopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoop Woop is Australian slang for 'the middle of nowhere in the Outback.' The winery brings excellent, inexpensive South Australian wine to the US market, showcasing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz in a light-to-medium bodied style.
• Unico ZelocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnico Zelo is a winery founded in 2014 by Brendan and Laura Carter in Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills. Specializing in Italian-inspired wines made from Mediterranean varieties (Fiano, Nero d'Avola, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo), the winery focuses on textural, site-expressive wines. Epicurean Wines partnered with Unico Zelo in 2016. Unico Zelo was Australia's first Certified B Corp winery and won the Young Gun of Wine People's Choice award in 2014. Their Jade & Jasper Fiano has received Decanter 97pts and Wine Enthusiast awards.
• Ricca Terra VineyardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicca Terra vineyards is the primary grape supplier for Unico Zelo's Jade & Jasper Fiano, named Innovative Vineyard of the Year by Young Gun of Wine in 2020. Ricca Terra practices hands-on, low-water, high-quality farming and grows Fiano that can thrive without irrigation or chemical inputs, supporting Unico Zelo's sustainability mission.
• National EcoVineyards ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National EcoVineyards program is funded by Wine Australia and the Australian Government and delivered by Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd. Epicurean Wines' partner Bremerton Wines (Rebecca Wilson) participates in this program, which helps grapegrowers improve soil health, establish ground cover plants, and increase biodiversity. Epicurean Wines has published articles about this program on its blog.
• Specialty Imports (Anchorage, AK)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty Imports is Epicurean Wines' regional distributor for the state of Alaska, located at 4119 Ingra Street, Anchorage, AK.
• Grape Expectations (Richmond, CA / Seatac, WA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrape Expectations serves as Epicurean Wines' distributor in both California (1085 Essex Ave, Richmond, CA) and Oregon (via Seatac, WA), representing the company in two major US wine markets.
• Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (Harrisburg, PA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board serves as Epicurean Wines' state-mandated distribution and retail monopoly outlet in Pennsylvania.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vias Imports: Vias Imports is a US importer specializing exclusively in Italian wines, closely paralleling Epicurean Wines' country-specific import model. Both serve as national importers that curate boutique, family-owned portfolios and route to US regional distributors, making the business model and value proposition directly comparable.
• Polaner Selections: Polaner is a US specialty wine importer representing family-owned producers from France, Italy, Austria, and beyond via regional distributors. Its country/region-curated, distributor-led model is structurally identical to Epicurean's Australian focus.
• Banville Wine Merchants: Banville is a US importer focused on Italian family-owned wines, distributing nationally through regional wholesalers. Like Epicurean, it concentrates on a single country's boutique producers and relies on distributor relationships rather than direct retail.
• Skurnik Wines & Spirits: Skurnik is a family-owned US importer of premium, terroir-driven wines from family-owned estates, with a national distributor footprint. Like Epicurean, it competes on producer curation, regional storytelling, and trade relationships rather than mass-market scale.
• Kermode Lynch Wine Merchants: Kermode Lynch imports fine wines from small, family-owned European estates for distribution across the US through regional wholesalers. Its focus on grower-producer relationships and distributor-led distribution is structurally analogous to Epicurean's Australian portfolio.
• Verity Wine Partners: Verity is a New York-based importer of premium family-owned wines from multiple countries, distributed via regional wholesalers across the US. Its curated-producer, distributor-routed model directly mirrors Epicurean's go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: Southern Glazer's is the largest US wine and spirits distributor, offering overlapping distribution services for premium and Australian wines. It competes with Epicurean's distributor relationships at the wholesale-tier level rather than as a country-specialist importer.
• Republic National Distributing Company: RNDC is one of the largest US alcohol wholesalers, distributing premium and Australian wines alongside a broad spirits portfolio. As an incumbent broad-line wholesaler, it competes for the same regional distributor relationships Epicurean relies on.
• Shaw-Ross International Importers: Shaw-Ross is a major US importer and supplier of wines and spirits, including Australian brands, with national reach. As a large multi-country importer with broader portfolio breadth, it represents the incumbent competitor Epicurean positions against for producer mandates and shelf space.

Regional players

• Negociants USA: Negociants USA is the US arm of a New Zealand wine-focused importer, representing premium Kiwi producers through regional distributors. While country-focused like Epicurean, it is smaller and narrower in producer count, making it a comparable regional/specialty peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EpicureanWines
• Facebookfacebook.com/epicureanwines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epicurean-wines

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epicurean Wines