Peter Deutsch wants to talk
Initially my involvement with the Spanish wine world was through the Guía Peñín. For four years, from 2007 through 2010, I worked in their export department, helping to introduce the English version of the Guía and launch an annual tasting event/export consulting business in the United States. Four years of tasting wines from every region of Spain and learning the unique characteristics of each varietal, were an invaluable introduction to the profession; one for which I am forever grateful.
The last couple of years with José Peñín, I was based in New York, working to help American Importers locate and negotiate with Spanish producers. After successfully putting together a number of portfolios for several of these importers, I set-up, with a colleague, my own import company representing wineries like Matarromera, Chivite, and Sumarroca (amongst others) in the USA. Working with established Spanish brands, and introducing those brands to the US market was very challenging. Until 2014, I worked between New York and Madrid, making sure that the language and culture of these two very different markets did not become a hinderance to the export of Spanish wines.
My next chapter was to work with a group of Spanish cooperatives, to develop a single brand that encompassed multiple DO’s. In the end we had wines from Rioja, Cariñena, Jumilla, Montilla-Moriles, Monsant, Priorat, Terra Alta, Ribera Del Guadiana and Cava, all under the same umbrella: Finca Hispana. In three years we established a network of twelve distributors across various states. We were shipping two to three containers of wine every quarter.
In 2016, I moved back to live in Spain full-time. I was approached by the MG Wines Group to help them establish their brands in the US market. For the next two years we worked together to position Tilenus (Bodegas Estefania, DO Bierzo), MO (Bodegas Sierra Salinas, DO Alicante), and Lavia (DO Bullas) in NY, CA, CO, GA, and other states. During this time, I also represented Martin Berdugo (Ribera del Duero), Artisan (Penedes, Cava, Rioja), Fariña (Toro), and Pago los Balancines (Ribera del Guadiana).
At MG Wines, I met and had the pleasure of working with their Export Manager, Silvia Garrido. Since leaving MG Wines, we have worked together to give birth to this wonderful new venture: The Wine Bird.
Really, this is the perfect match for me: a wonderful friendship, great wines, and the chance to work again with many of my friends and colleagues around the USA. We look forward to many successful years travelling the various markets together and selling a lot of Spanish wine!
