Cin Cin HTown!

LCAHouston sits with Thorleif Egeli, owner of Vintures Wine Experiences, to learn about his burgeoning wine distribution business in Texas.

LCA: What got you into the wine business?

TE: I have always had an interest for wine since I drove through the beautiful Mosel Valley when I was 18 years old. Since then, I have been drinking wines and visiting wine regions all over the world from Argentina to Italy, Spain, France and California. In Napa I met the amazing wine maker Steve Reynolds from Reynolds Family Winery and asked if he would be willing to make wine with me for my private label. I dipped my toe in the wine business by making 50 cases per year, and eventually built up my distributorship in Texas.

LCA: What makes your wines special and how do they stand out from other brands?

TE: Our wines are selected for their great value proposition for our customers at any price-point. We represent mostly family owned wineries who are quality focused and are immersed in the wine making process, hand crafting stand out wines that are critically and customer acclaimed.

We have a unique portfolio of quality wines that please wine collectors, while remaining approachable by all wine lovers.

LCA: What cuisine pairs the best with your wines?

TE: All cuisines! We have intentionally grown our portfolio with a variety of wines to not only appeal to our audiences’ individual preferences but also to cater to the serious restaurants we work with around Houston. We have a Chenin Blanc that pairs incredibly with oysters, a Pinot Noir that would merry nicely with Asian flavors, and a Red Blend that would be good with a burger or 100-day aged steak. Honestly, across our portfolio of wines we feel we could make a complimentary pairing across all cuisines from around the world. This means the incredible culinary scene in Houston is a very fitting place for our wine portfolio to enhance the dining experiences.

LCA: What are your future plans for your brand?

TE: Vintures continues to grow by finding and bringing unique top quality wines and winemakers to the Texas market across the state. We want to create memorable wine experiences for all wine consumers through our unique tastings, wine dinners and other events. We believe that by focusing and delivering on all our customers’ experiences, we will be able to build a loyal customer base and grow the company for years to come.