Tenuta Santomè & ICS – Partnering to Supply Wine to Minoli

Minoli have had a longstanding relationship with Italian Continental Stores (ICS) of Maidenhead for the supply of authentic Italian food and beverages, including the Christmas Hampers for our team members and the wonderful Tenuta Santomè wines that we serve at Minoli’s exclusive events.

Jonathon Minoli and Rosario Sardo, Managing Director of ICS, have known each other for many years, and the story of how Santomè wines became our favoured tipple goes back over two decades.

Gordon Ritchie, the recently retired director of wine buying and ongoing consultant for ICS, recalled how the relationship began through a charitable act, a last minute failed delivery by a supplier and a new company stepping in to save the day…

Gordon was in Quarto d’Altino, a small town just 28 km from historic Venice and some 6 km south of the vineyards of Tenuta Santomè. He was taking part in the annual charity rally ‘The Italian Job’ with over 40 teams driving Mini’s through some of Europe’s most stunning scenery in Italy.

For the 2005 event, a gala dinner was planned within the Crowne Plaza hotel, but just a few hours before, it transpired that the wine promised by a local producer would not be forthcoming. Fortunately, the hotel’s General Manager, knew very well the Spinazze brothers at Santomè and asked if they could save the day.

Needless to say, they agreed and William and Alan Spinazze soon arrived with plentiful supplies of wine and were invited to stay for dinner in gratitude for their emergency delivery. During the evening, coincidentally Gordon was pondering how Santomè wines could be added to the ICS portfolio, when the brothers asked if he knew of anyone who might be interested in becoming a UK importer.

The rest is history and after several meetings and formal introductions to Rosario, his father Carmelo and brother Mario, a general agreement was in place, with pricing, packaging and supply times to follow.

The first shipment from Santomè to ICS arrived at the start of 2006. Their wines have become a cornerstone of the ICS offering and the bond between the Sardo family, Gordon and the Spinazze brothers has never been stronger.

Minoli first featured Santomè wines at an event when celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the incorporation of Minoli at The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, in November 2010. Since then, at all Minoli’s showroom functions and at the annual Preview Launch Event at Home House private members club, wines and prosecco from Tenuta Santomè have been served to literally thousands of Minoli guests.

At this year’s Preview Event, which takes place tomorrow night, a rather special edition prosecco will be served, produced by Tenuta Santomè and imported by ICS. Presented with a unique ‘Minoli 65^th Anniversary’ label, guests will enjoy this bespoke sparkling vintage as we celebrate the launch of Minoli Marvel Epic and celebrate Christmas.

The origins of the Santomè Estate stem from 1971 when a 4 hectare plot of land was acquired on which to grow grapes. Three generations later, and the passionate Spinazze family have transitioned from growing grapes to making fine wines, with vineyards covering over 75 hectares in four zones around Treviso in the Veneto region.

The name ‘Santomè’ itself has a truly, remarkable story and was inspired by Father Gino Serafin, a Brazilian missionary born right where the winery now stands. He suggested dedicating the estate to Saint Thomas (Santomè) the apostle who wished to “see and touch with his own hands”, because the Spinazze family also believe that wine must be experienced this way: with authenticity, emotion, and truth.

Santomè produces its wines exclusively using grapes from its own vineyards in order to ensure total control over the whole production chain, thus guaranteeing a consistently high standard of quality. These include a range of Prosecco sparkling wines, Merlot, Raboso Piave and Pinot Nero red wines, Tai Bianco and Pinot Grigio white wines, and a selection of unique wines crafted by blending different grapes and using innovative techniques.

The authenticity and quality of the grapes derive from their total respect for the environment, with minimal use of sulphites in the wines, and the use of innovative equipment both in the vineyards and in the winery.

Santomè is family, it is territory, it is passion. It is wine born from the heart, that speaks to the mind and touches the soul.

The family values of having the highest quality standards and service levels are held as simply essential in a world often seen to be more and more corporate. Connections such as that of Santomè and the Spinazze family, Italian Continental and the Sardo family, and Minoli, are exemplary of this ethos.

You can read more about Tenuta Santomè, the Spinazze family and their wonderful wine making tradition on their website, here.