E. & J. Gallo is one of the biggest names in our industry today. For decades they have been ahead of the curve with consumers, meeting and exceeding the demands and latest trends in wine and spirits. Recently, the giant winery has been expanding its portfolio, and its real estate, with high-profile acquisitions of Locations Wines and the Rancho Real and Sierra Madre wineries in California. Now, Gallo has made a huge move to augment its high-end spirits offerings by becoming the exclusive U.S. importer for the beloved spirits from Gruppo Montenegro’s incredible portfolio of iconic Italian spirits, including Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo, and Vecchia Romagna Brandy.
Spirit of Success
This partnership between Gallo and Gruppo Montenegro looks to be a significant win for both sides, at once elevating the premium offerings available from Gallo and increasing the reach these boutique spirits will enjoy among U.S. consumers, bartenders, and home mixologists.
Britt West, Vice President of Marketing for Gallo Spirits, praised the deal, saying "we are excited to become the U.S. partner for Gruppo Montenegro and look forward to adding their brands to our growing luxury spirits portfolio," adding, "Gallo remains strongly committed to competing in the luxury spirits space with brands of the highest quality and authenticity. We look forward to furthering mixologist and consumer awareness and understanding of this growing segment of spirits."
The Montenegro Magic
For those unfamiliar with the brand, Gruppo Montenegro’s story begins in the late 1800s, with founder Stanislao Cobianchi’s journey around the world, exploring the furthest reaches of the planet and collecting the finest botanicals from the unique locations he visited during his travels. These botanicals then went into the creation of his flagship concoction, the sweet, citrusy, bitter, and herbaceous Amaro Montenegro. For more than 130 years, the spirit has been produced using the same secret blend of 40 botanicals, earning it a place of honor among spirits connoisseurs around the globe, including the titles of “World's Best Bitter” at the 2017 International Wine and Spirits Competition, as well as “Best in Show Liqueur” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018.
One of Gruppo Montenegro’s other major brands, Select Aperitivo, was created more recently—in 1920—in the heart of Venice, blended from a precise selection of 30 botanicals which undergo a complex process to achieve its distinctive, well-balanced, bittersweet taste. Select Aperitivo quickly became the star of the Venetian cocktail scene in post-war Europe, and its popularity spread along with the Original Venetian Spritz.
Marco Ferrari, CEO of Gruppo Montenegro, is enthusiastic for this partnership, explaining in a recent statement that "as a privately-owned company, we are honored to partner with the Gallo family and appreciate their commitment to compete in the luxury spirits business. With this partnership, we look forward to unleashing the full potential of our portfolio in the U.S."
At Breakthru, we are also excited to see where this partnership will lead, and we are thrilled to be able to bring these classic spirits to businesses like yours. Speak with your own Breakthru Sales Consultant today about how your business can grow along with these incredible brands.