ABOUT US
Votto Vines portfolio features some of the top-rated wines currently being produced in Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Argentina as well as craft spirits, and several non-alcoholic items. The entrepreneurial spirit and diverse professional backgrounds of the executives have allowed them to apply their forward-thinking ideas and vision to the international wine trade.
The Idea and Humble Beginnings
A Trip to Italy …
… where Michael Votto (President, CEO, and Co-Founder) and his wife were traveling while visiting family and friends led them to a small winery in Tuscany. It was there that Mike asked the winemaker (Alberto) where we could find his wine in the USA and he said “they couldn’t”. That was the “aha” moment. Mike came home, told his brother, brother-in-law, and cousins and the Votto Vines vision was born.
The Votto Family had been working on the concept for more than two years and then everything finally came together. Initially, the wine importing business was merely a family passion project, with each of the founders keeping their day jobs.
By 2021, Votto Vines sold several million bottles of wine from nearly one hundred wineries, evolving from humble beginnings to becoming one of the top privately owned wine importers in the US in less than 15 years.
Humble Beginnings
In Votto Vines’ first year, we sold roughly 10,000 bottles of wine from a handful of wineries, which is a rounding error for most companies in the industry. By 2021, Votto Vines sold several million bottles of wine from nearly one hundred wineries, evolving from humble beginnings to becoming one of the top privately owned wine importers in the US in less than 15 years.
The Founders
Votto Vines was founded by Michael & Nicholas Votto (brothers), Stephen, Peter, & Leah Votto (siblings & first cousins of Mike & Nick), and Jeremy Jerome (Brother-in-law to Mike & Nick). From these original six founders, Votto Vines has now expanded to more than 30 employees operating out of HQ in Hamden, CT, as well as an NYC office in Manhattan, and offices in both Chicago & Miami.
What We Do
Building Partnerships and Strong Personal Relationships
A wine importer is only as good as its suppliers and customers, and we are lucky to have incredible partners on both sides of that equation. Votto Vines looks to find the ‘Hidden Gems’ of the wine world, wines that are off the beaten path, that also capture the authenticity of their origins, and sell those wines to discerning customers who are looking for something special and lesser known. The sourcing team conducts extensive research, combing through thousands of wineries and appellations to try and identify wines that have strong sales potential in the US market. Typically, Votto Vines is looking for wines that are not imported by anyone else in the United States, and have one or more interesting value propositions.
Additionally, we communicate with our network of brokers/partners on the ground in Europe, South America, Australia & New Zealand to find these ‘Hidden Gems’.
Throughout the 15 years of our existence, the number of wineries we’ve worked with easily numbers several hundred. We currently source from the following countries & states:
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Argentina
- Chile
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- USA – California, Washington & Oregon
“Additionally, our wines can be found in 48 of 50 states in the USA.” – Nick Aceto, VP of Marketing
Our Story.
Our Family.
Meet the Team
More Than Just Family …
| EXECUTIVES | ||
| Michael Votto | CEO & Co-Founder | CT Office |
| Nicholas Votto | EVP & Co-Founder | CT Office |
| Steve Votto | CFO & Co-Founder | CT Office |
| Peter Votto | EVP & Co-Founder | CT Office |
| Jeremy Jerome | COO & Co-Founder | CT Office |
| FINANCE / COMPLIANCE / ADMINISTRATION |
||
| Leah Votto | Senior VP of Logistics and Compliance | CT Office |
| Denise Caruso | VP of Compliance & Finance | CT Office |
| Nick Aceto | VP of Marketing | CT Office |
| James Votto | Regional Distribution Manager | CT Office |
| Danielle Hotchkiss | Financial Controller | CT Office |
| SALES AND MARKETING | ||
| Andy Tremagilo | Senior Sales Representative | CT Office |
| Mike Munk | Senior VP of Sales | CT Office |
| Adam Matthews | Sales Representative – Fairfield County | CT Office |
| Deidre Magnello | Owner of DM Selections & CT Sales Representative | CT Office |
| Fernando Buchalla | Sales Consultant | CT Office |
| Dan Hayes | CT Sales Representative | CT Office |
| Fernando Matias | CT Sales Representative | CT Office |
| Peter Cassell | VP of Sales NY/NJ | NYC Office |
| Oun Stricoff | Sales Representative – NYC | NYC office |
| Frank Battaglia | VP of Sales | Chicago Office |
| Hermes Ortiz | VP of Sales Southeast | Miami Office |
| WAREHOUSE AND LOGISTICS |
||
| Kyle Hunter | VP of Operations | CT Office |
| Wes Wallace | CT Operations Manager | CT Office |
| Albert DeSisto | Driver | CT Office |
| Paul Oliva | Warehouse Manager | CT Office |
For All Inquiries
Please email us at info@vottovines.com, or call our HQ at 203.823.9538. For orders, please email orders@vottovines.com.
Interested in working for Votto Vines? We are always on the lookout for talented individuals who are passionate about wine. Let’s chat … email us at info@vottovines.com and let us know you want to work with us.
