Attempting to export wine to the U.S. has long been fraught with difficulty, especially for the smaller producers. The U.S. wine industry, complicated by confusing regulations and intense internal brand competition, is also the land of opportunity and home to an adventurous and egalitarian wine consuming population. But without an understanding of how to effectively enter this complex market, the exporter often founders and retreats in frustration.
This book provides a guide to approaching and attracting an importer, differentiating terms and regulations which must be understood to prosper, and avenues to achieving and sustaining attainable sales and distribution goals.
Deborah Gray established her first wine importing company in the U.S. in 1992 and has travelled to forty of the fifty US states throughout her wine career, working with distributors, conducting wine dinners and tastings and invited to speak at wine festivals, conferences, on radio and television. She served on the Wine Board of the Australian Trade Commission for four years.
Deborah is also an instructor at San Diego State University, where she teaches about wine importing & distribution. She lives in Southern California with her husband.