Cavallo Wines was started by Frank Gigliotti, (the record executive with Columbia records) – who also had a huge love for California wines. A proud and fiercely loyal Canadian, he did not want to leave his Vancouver home but wanted to make his favourite wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Napa Valley) but in Vancouver!
Frank figured out the perfect angle to accomplish this. Wile importing finished wines from California is subject to the confiscatory level of taxation that Canada places on alcohol, importing grapes from Napa is not subject to any tax when they are brought in as raw, unprocessed fruit.
So, Frank began importing grapes from Napa and set up a winery in North Vancouver to vinify those grapes. There was a big capital outlay to secure the premises and purchase the winemaking equipment as well to purchase the grapes; especially aas Frank was purchasing from some of the top vineyards in California.
He created California Cult Classics (“CCC”) where consumers would buy an allotment of grapes and pay up front. Frank would then convert them in to wine for his customers to take delivery two years later. People liked the idea and loved Frank and his energy. They also liked the fact that he was able to source fruit from some of the top vineyards in Napa.
Cavall Winery is Frank’s new project. It is similar to CCC in that it imports grapes from Napa and vinifies them in Vancouver. But at CCC the clients choose the grapes. Frank was discovering new blocks of vines that went beyond that Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah that his clients were regularly ordering. He wanted to be able to respond quickly when a grower offered him some exceptional fruit and not have to rely on the willingness of his existing customer base to try something new. And he wanted to act on his vision for a new concept in retailing wine.
So after 15 years, Cavallo Wines now has an excess of wines and here is our opportunity!
Cavallo must discreetly lower their inventory and have offered us a terrific buy! Through an intermediary, I was asked to find an agency that would be prepared to represent Cavallo in Alberta and offer the great discounts back to us retailers.
Iberian Tastes, the Alberta agency bringing these in, has a pallet of the 3 Cavallo wines – 18 cases of the Cavallo Tier* (Syrah, Pinot Noir & Merlot) coming into Alberta. On the shelf they will retail for $33.99 with a 10% case discount when 6 purchased. The second delivery, will be the Private Collection Tier* (Peppino, Cantare & Reserva will be $49.00 with 10% cases discount when 6 purchased.
Pepino 2016 - Stagecoach Vineyards from Atlas Peak - Super Tuscan made from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Cantare 2016- Rutherford AVA - A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot. Reserva 2016 -Stagecoach Vineyards from Atlas Peak - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
If you're a California/Napa wine lover, please give these wines a try. They are very well priced for wines sourced from some of the top wineries in the area.
*While supplies last.