Dalla Terra Winery Direct® to Cease Relationship with Producer Avignonesi and its Distributor, Classica, S.p.A.

Dalla Terra Winery Direct® Chairman Brian Larky, and President Dave Holt today announced that the company will cease its relationship with producer Avignonesi (Montepulciano, Tuscany) and export firm Classica, S.p.A. Dalla Terra will thereby relinquish importing wine from Avignonesi and Classica, S.p.A. to the USA, effective December 27, 2011. Dalla Terra has been the exclusive USA importer for Avignonesi since 1999, working closely with Classica, S.p.A to achieve broad exposure in the United States. Avignonesi and Classica, S.p.A. were owned by the Falvo family from 1974 to May 2009, when they were bought out bylongtime investor in both companies, Virginie Saverys, director of the Belgian shipping company Compagnie Maritime Belge NV. Dalla Terra continues its longtime relationship with the Falvos, who own Li Veli (Cellino San Marco, Puglia).

“It has been our privilege to represent Classica and Avignonesi for the last 12 years. We have enjoyed our relationship and the success it has brought us. However, Dalla Terra faced a unique situation when the Avignonesi winery and Classica changed ownership in 2009,” said Larky. “In terminating our relationship with Avignonesi and Classica,” he added, “we are faithfully adhering to our original focus of exclusively representing leading Italian wine-producing families who we have taken great care in choosing. This has always been an important part of our business model and will continue to be a mandate in all existing and future importing relationships.”