Old Bridge Cellars and Joe Dobbes’ Wines have signed a long-term agreement establishing Old Bridge Cellars as the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the Willamette Valley, Oregon winery. As of February 1, 2012, Old Bridge Cellars will take on sales and marketing activities on behalf of Joe’s brands: Dobbes Family Estate, Wine by Joe and Jovino.
Established in 2002, Joe Dobbes’ Wines has become one of Oregon’s most well-established wine companies. Joe, a native Oregonian, worked stints at Wiengut Erbhof Tesch in Germany’s Nahe, and Domaine G. Roumier and Domaine Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, followed by six years at Willamette Valley Vineyards before branching out on his own.
The stand-out barrels from the winemaking program are reserved for the Dobbes Family Estate range, comprising the Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir (SRP$29) and Viognier (SRP$24). Wine by Joe offerings include a Chardonnay (SRP$14), Pinot Gris (SRP$14), Pinot Blanc (SRP$14), Rosé (SRP$13) and Pinot Noir (SRP$19). Jovino is for fine restaurants in select markets, focusing on Pinot Noir (SRP$19) and Pinot Gris (SRP$12).
“Our core has historically been imports – this is a great opportunity to focus our interests on family-owned, artisanal wineries within the domestic market,” saidRob Buono, President, Old Bridge Cellars. “We’re excited to bring Joe’s wines to our distribution network, particularly with today’s announcement that Wine by Joe has been named Wine Business Monthly’s number one ‘Small Hot Brand for 2012.’ It is a commendable and well-deserved accolade for Joe and his team.”
“Oregon’s cool-climate Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay have always appealed to us, varieties of which Joe crafts seamlessly,” addedGavin Speight, Wine and Marketing Director, Old Bridge Cellars.
In the coming months, Old Bridge Cellars will be working closely with its distribution partners to provide a national footprint for Joe Dobbes’ Wines.
“We are ecstatic to be partnering with Old Bridge Cellars given their proven sales and marketing proficiency. This relationship completes my second, and significant, strategic move since receiving funding from Bacchus Capital Management, which will assist us in growing our brand’s presence across the country,” said Joe Dobbes, Owner and Winemaker, Joe Dobbes’ Wines.
Old Bridge Cellars is a sales and marketing company based in Napa, California. The portfolio is recognized for its collection of benchmark, regional estates that include d’Arenberg, Leeuwin Estate, John Duval, Penley Estate, Giant Steps, Innocent Bystander, Kilikanoon, Jasper Hill, Cullen, Shoofly, Stickybeak, Brokenwood, Plantagenet and Yarra Yering. Publisher’s Note: Old Bridge Cellars should connect with Joe Connector Kennedy to discuss selling more of their grape juice in the Pacific Northwest. Many of us like our wine.