New Partners Bring Capital and Management Expertise To Drive Next Phase of Growth for Progressive Importer/Distributor
New York, August 3, 2015 – Domaine Select Wine Estates, one of the industry’s most progressive importers and distributors of fine wine and artisan spirits, today announced a new strategic partnership with Walden Capital Management, a private equity group with financial and management expertise in the fine wine and spirits sector. The partnership with DSWE founders Paolo and Allison Domeneghetti brings new capital investment along with financial and management expertise to the company, renamed Domaine Select Wine & Spirits (DSWS).
“Our new partners and the financial strength they bring will allow us to realize ambitions we have had since day one to achieve aggressive, intelligent, long-term growth in the vast middle ground between large and small distributors,” said Paolo Domeneghetti, Founder and CEO, DSWS Imports. “Our immediate growth will be in the development of existing and new brands, as well as an increased national presence. The new partnership will also benefit consumers by making a greater diversity of high quality wine and spirits choices available in the market.”
DSWE was founded in 1999 by Paolo and Allison Domeneghetti, whose combined expertise in fine wine, artisanal spirits, hospitality, sales, marketing and brand building set the company on a path of rapid growth in the U.S.
“We are excited to continue our long-term commitment to diversity, character, expression and tradition, working as partners with our wine and artisanal spirit producers to transmit the passion and personality inside every bottle,” said Allison Domeneghetti, President, DSWS Merchants.
Walden Capital Management (Walden), a Miami-based private equity investment group, is represented by Daniel M. Holtz, Gustavo A. Hernández Frieri and Jorge G. Mora.
“DSWS has more breadth of portfolio and national reach than any of its boutique competitors,” said Jorge G. Mora. “At the same time, very few importers are engaged in strategic, proactive marketing to build brands to the degree DSWS has done. This all made DSWS well positioned to grow with renewed financial strength brought about by this new partnership.”
DSWS Imports will function as an umbrella for three distinct divisions, each with its own operational structure and dedicated category specialists: Classic & Vintage (artisan spirits, including Japanese spirits and sake); A+ Pure Wine (boutique fine wines); and Domaine Select Estates (Chateau and estate-level producers). The DSWS distribution arm, DSMerchants, will manage distribution of DSWS brands in the most important U.S. markets, by directly servicing top restaurants and retailers.
The new partnership also gives the company a stronger competitive advantage in the growing artisan spirits market. Since 2009, DSWS’s artisanal spirits portfolio, which includes such quality brands as Amaro Lucano, Diplomático Rum, G’Vine Gin, Suze Liqueur, La Quintinye Vermouth Royal, Ransom Spirits and WhistlePig Rye Whiskey, has grown to nearly 40% of its business.
“The new DSWS structure allows us to strengthen our presence in artisan spirits as this category continues to trend up,” said Mr. Domeneghetti.
About Domaine Select Wine & Spirits
Founded in 1999, Domaine Select Wine & Spirits (DSWS) www.domaineselect.com is dedicated to wines and artisanal spirits of the highest quality and which demonstrate excellence and tremendous character, particular to their origin. DSWS is committed to transmitting the individuality of our producers; expressing diversity, tradition and personality is the tenet of DSWS. Domaine Select Wine & Spirits was named 2010 Importer of the Year by FOOD & WINE Magazine.
