Opici Family Distributing – K Vintners & House of Smith! 1185 6th Ave New York, NY

Join Us for a Tasting of Washington State Wines from Charles Smith
Monday, October 24th
11-4pm
Opici Offices, 1185 6th Ave, 3rd Floor

ABOUT OUR WINEMAKER, CHARLES SMITH
Owner-winemaker Charles Smith’s ongoing commitment to the highest quality wine in bold packaging has earned him the moniker “Rock Star” winemaker of Washington State. In 1999, Charles Smith arrived in the Walla Walla Valley following 11 years in Scandinavia managing rock bands. Originally from northern California, he has been involved with wine personally and professionally his entire life. Fast forward to 2022: Charles is the only winemaker to receive the “Winemaker of the Year” award from both Wine & Spirits (2009) and Wine Enthusiast (2014) magazines. Charles has received 200 scores of 95pts and above and 1,200 scores of 90pts and above from the leading wine publications. After 22 years of winemaking, Charles has proven he is dynamic, he can evolve, and he can remain relevant by maintaining the highest quality farming and winemaking standards.

ABOUT OUR WINERY
Charles Smith opened his first winery, K Vintners, in December of 2001 and it has always been family owned and operated – 100% Charles Smith. His first release, 1999 K Vintners Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, initiated the style of winemaking that Charles continues today. Charles owns 250 acres, with 1800 acres on long term leases, managing ALL farming. Vineyards are sustainably farmed; all grapes are hand-picked. Small lot, single-vineyard wines and co-fermented field blends (finished wines are never blended). Native yeast fermentation, extended days on skins. Whole berry fermentation for Bordeaux varieties, whole cluster fermentation for Rhone varieties. Reds are pressed in a basket press; Whites and Rose’ in a membrane press. Fermentation and ageing in stainless steel, concrete and French oak. Old world winemaking with new world grapes. Winemaking with integrity and an honest reflection of time and place.

The wines featured:
K VINTNERS ROYAL CITY SYRAH 2019 96pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS KING COAL CABERNET/SYRAH 2018 98pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS THE CREATOR CABERNET/SYRAH 2019 95pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS ROMA CABERNET/SYRAH 2018. 92pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS ROMA CABERNET/SYRAH 2019 93+pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS THE BOY GRENACHE 2019 99pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS CHARLOTTE RED BLEND 2018 95pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS CHARLOTTE RED BLEND 2019 97pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS THE BEAUTIFUL SYRAH 2019 97pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS CATTLE KING SYRAH 2019 96pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS THE HIDDEN SYRAH 2018 96+pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS THE HIDDEN SYRAH 2019 96+pts Jeb Dunnuck
K VINTNERS MILBRANDT SYRAH 2019 94pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS MOTOR CITY CITY SYRAH 2019 98pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS POWERLINE SYRAH 2019 93pts Wine Spectator
K VINTNERS THE DEAL SYRAH 2019 96pts James Suckling
K VINTNERS POWERLINE VIOGNIER 2019 95pts James Suckling
SIXTO FRENCHMAN HILLS CHARDONNAY 2017 93pts James Suckling
SIXTO MOXEE CHARDONNAY 2018 96pts James Suckling
SIXTO ROZA HILLS CHARDONNAY 2017 95pts James Suckling
SIXTO UNCOVERED CHARDONNAY 2019 96pts James Suckling
SUBSTANCE BX BLEND KLEIN VINEYARD COLLECTION 2016 97pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE MERLOT STONRIDGE VINEYARD COLLECTION 2018 92pts James Suckling
SUBSTANCE BX BLEND KLEIN VINEYARD COLLECTION 2017 95+pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE BX BLEND KLEIN VINEYARD COLLECTION 2018 96pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE CABERNET JACKS VINEYARD COLLECTION 2018 93pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE CABERNET POWERLINE VINEYARD COLLECTION 2016 95pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC SUNSET VINEYARD COLLECTION 2020 91pts Vinous
SUBSTANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 92pts Jeb Dunnuck
SUBSTANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON ELEMENTAL 2018 90pts Wine Spectator
SUBSTANCE CHARDONNAY 2020 93pts James Suckling
SUBTANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021
GOLDEN WEST PINOT NOIR 2019 93pts James Suckling
GOLDEN WEST PINOT NOIR 2020 92pts James Suckling
B LEIGHTON GRATITUDE MOURVEDRE/GRENACHE/SYRAH 2019 95pts Jeb Dunnuck
B LEIGHTON PETIT VERDOT 2017 92+pts Vinous                             
B LEIGHTON PETIT VERDOT 2018 95pts Jeb Dunnuck
B LEIGHTON SYRAH 2018 94pts Jeb Dunnuck                               
VINO MOSCATO 2018 90pts Jeb Dunnuck
VINO PINOT GRIGIO 2020 90pts James Suckling
VINO ROSSO CABERNET/SANGIOVESE 2018 92pts James Suckling
VINO SANGIOVESE ROSE 2021 92pts James Suckling
CASASMITH CERVO BARBERA 2020 92pts James Suckling
CASASMITH PORCOSPINO PRIMITIVO 2020 91pts James Suckling  
CASASMITH CINGHIALE SANGIOVESE 2020 91pts James Suckling

With roots in the wine business dating back to 1913, Opici Family Distributing is a fourth-generation, family-owned wine and spirits wholesaler operating in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

In 1913, Joseph and Esther Opici–both Italian immigrants–began importing wines from Italy and distributing them within New Jersey. Despite falling on hard times during the Depression and Prohibition, the Opicis remained focused on their passion for the wine industry. Once Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the Opicis persuaded a colleague from California to ship them one railroad car full of wine for $1500, and they were back in business!

In 1934, Joseph and Esther established the American Beverage Distribution Company of New Jersey. Later that year, the couple’s son Hubert graduated from high school and joined the business. As with many small family businesses, every family member had a job – Hubert was the delivery boy, Joseph was the salesman, and Esther ran the office. Several years later, the family recognized opportunities waiting on the West Coast, and Joseph moved to California to establish the family’s first winery in Cucamonga in 1939, leaving Esther and Hubert to run the East Coast operations.

Hubert put his wine career on hold in 1942 when he volunteered for the Armed Forces. But he eagerly rejoined the business a few years later, taking the reins of the New Jersey operations as his mother and sister, Mary, moved to California to assist his father.

In 1944, Hubert married Rose Marie Deregibus, who became his partner in life and in business. Together, the husband-wife team expanded into new markets – they purchased the Cazanove Wine Company of New York in 1946. The Opicis also moved their West Coast winery to a larger facility in Altaloma, California in 1948.

During the 1990s, the Opici family expanded their distribution business by purchasing wholesale operations in Connecticut and Florida. As the company moved into the twenty-first century, it continued exploring new markets by establishing operations in Washington DC in 2012, Maryland and Delaware in 2013, and Virginia in 2015.

Under Hubert Opici’s dynamic leadership, Opici Family Distributing has experienced tremendous growth over the decades. Hubert is recognized as an icon in the industry and was named “American Wine Legend” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2014. The fourth generation of the Opici family is in place to continue his vision for generations to come.