RALEIGH, N.C., March 30, 2015 – Mims Distributing Company, a North Carolina wholesale beverage distributor has announced the addition of 10 wineries to its ever-expanding wine portfolio. Since re-engaging its wine division in October 2014, Mims has experienced steady growth, fueled by the addition of a six-person team to manage the division. The ten wineries Mims has announced bring the best of California and Oregon’s vineyards to an increasing number of wine enthusiasts statewide. The new wineries include: Bien Nacido Vineyards, Black Kite Cellars, Burgess Cellars, J. Wilkes Wines, Keever Vineyards, Left Coast Cellars, Palazzo Wine, Poseidon Vineyard & Obsidian Ridge, Volker Eisele Family Vineyards, and Witness Tree Vineyards.

Bien Nacido Vineyards, California

Bien Nacido Estate is winery of the acclaimed Bien Nacido Vineyards and Solomon Hills Vineyards in California’s Santa Maria Valley. After 40 years of growing and selling premium grapes to some of the finest producers in California, the Miller Family now offers its own expression of their estate vineyards. Winemaker Trey Fletcher produces terroir-driven Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Syrah that communicate the unique characters of these two remarkable vineyards. The wines are elegant, age-worthy, and deeply pleasurable.

Black Kite Cellars, California

Black Kite Cellars is a family-run, artisanal producer of terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded in 2004, the family began with single-vineyard and block-designate Pinot Noir bottlings showcasing the diversity of the family’s estate vineyard, Kite’s Rest, located in Anderson Valley, California. Beginning with the 2010 vintage, the winery has added vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Sonoma Coast appellations. A second estate vineyard is being developed in Freestone on the Sonoma Coast. Wine Spectator named Black Kite Cellars one of the “Hot New Dozen Pinot Producers” in 2007. The winery is named for the Black Shouldered Kite, a bird indigenous to Mendocino and Sonoma Counties (now called the White Tailed Kite).

Burgess Cellars, California

Burgess Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery, opening in 1972. When Tom Burgess purchased this 1870’s era winery he established himself as a pioneer of mountainside wineries. At the time, there were only approximately two dozen wineries in operation in the whole of Napa Valley. Burgess Cellars produces wines out of three distinct vineyard sites: the Burgess Vineyard and the Haymaker vineyard located in Howell Mountain as well as the Triere vineyard in the Oak Knoll district. Currently, they grow eight varieties at their three vineyards with the best site-specific methods, which allows Burgess to produce consistently beautiful wines.

J. Wilkes Wines, California

The J. Wilkes brand was established in 2001 by Jeff Wilkes, a widely respected wine industry veteran who loved the community of Santa Maria and sailing the Pacific Coast. Since Jeff’s tragic passing in 2010, winemaker Vidal Perez continues to carry forth Jeff’s simple mission: to deliver wines of varietal character, at affordable prices that highlight the virtues of the Santa Maria Valley appellation.

Keever Vineyards, California

Keever Vineyards is nestled in the western slopes of Yountville in the Napa Valley. Bill and Olga Keever own and operate this marvelous winery with renowned winemaker Celia Welch producing an exquisite 100% estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the family’s six acres of rocky, hillside vineyards. Welch also creates Keever’s lovely Sauvignon Blanc and Red Blend called Inspirado which are also available to the North Carolina market.

Left Coast Cellars, Oregon

Founded in 2003, Left Coast Cellars carefully crafts exclusively estate-grown Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Viognier and Syrah. Their specialty is single vineyard wines. Left Coast Cellars estate – situated on the 45th parallel – consists of 356 acres, 130 of which are devoted to the cultivation of grapes. It is this precise combination of excellent geography and geology that gives Left Coast’s wines a distinct sense of place.

Palazzo Wine, California

The goal of Palazzo Wine is to make wines of outstanding quality, depth, balance and structure. These wines exhibit both power and elegance on the palate, and they pair well with a broad range of foods. That will always be the standard! It is owner Scott Palazzo’s hope that his wine will bring laughter and enjoyment to people's lives, and zest and harmony to everyone's dining tables.

Poseidon Vineyard & Obsidian Ridge (from Tricycle Wine Partners), California

Tricycle Wine Partners consists of farmers, coopers and winemakers intimately involved in the creation of single-vineyard wines from Napa Carneros and the high Mayacamas Mountains. The people behind Tricycle Wine Partners own and farm their own vineyards: Poseidon Vineyard at sea level and Obsidian Ridge at elevation 2,640'. They cooper their own barrels from oak selected from the forests of Tokaj, Hungary. They also craft their wines in small lots, which is critical to their winemaking philosophy. Mims Distributing proudly represents Poseidon Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon and Half Mile.

Volker Eisele Family Estate, California

Volker Eisele Family Estate creates enticing wines from the Chiles Valley appellation of the Napa Valley. Cloaked in frequent Pacific fog, Chiles Valley is one of the cooler areas of the Napa Valley resulting in a long growing season. The valley’s perfect Cabernet climate enhances the development of wines with subtle flavors, full body and overall complexity. The family’s 60 acres have been organically farmed for over 40 years and produce wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon with uncommon balance and finesse.

Witness Tree Vineyard, Oregon

Witness Tree Vineyard is a small producer of premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc which are 100% estate bottled. The vineyard’s namesake is a 250-year-old white oak that was used as a surveyor’s landmark in 1854, “bearing witness” to the northeast corner of the 100-acre property.

QUOTES:

“We are excited to expand our portfolio with a variety of wines that will delight any palate,” said Chip Mims, CEO of Mims Distributing Company. “Our expanding wine division reflects our commitment to bringing the best wines the country has to offer to the state of North Carolina.”

“We are proud to have these exceptional wineries among our growing portfolio,” said Michael Gunnells, vice president of sales for Mims’ wine division. “The trust that these wineries place in Mims to bring their wines to a growing market like North Carolina is a reflection of Mims’ dedication to growing an outstanding wine portfolio and creating long term meaningful partnerships.”

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ABOUT MIMS DISTRIBUTING:

Mims Distributing Company, established in 1964 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a family-owned beer and wine distributor servicing the entire state of North Carolina. The company offers the MillerCoors brands that domestic beer fans enjoy, and maintains extensive knowledge of what’s brewing in the craft beer industry. These expert brew sellers also share their passion for excellent beers on Tales from the Cask, a popular award-winning craft beer podcast covering everything from locally grown hops to seasonal ales and beyond. A proponent of the Triangle’s craft beer explosion, Mims Distributing offers favorites from AleSmith Brewing Company, Anchor Brewing, Carolina Brewing Company and Sierra Nevada Brewing, to name a few. Mims Distributing also recently reentered the wine distribution business. In addition to believing in the delicious beers and wines they sell, Mims Distributing is committed to supporting the local community, donating more than $60,000 in financial and in-kind donations to area nonprofits each year. A family-friendly company, Mims Distributing was the recipient of the 2013 and 2014 Carolina Parent Family-Friendly 50 award. Mims Distributing is also dedicated to sustainability as a way of life, and in 2013 was recognized with a Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (TCREW) Champion Award in the Green and Sustainability category, as well as named a top three “green” Triangle business by Raleigh Downtowner Magazine. As always, Mims Distributing advocates for drinking in moderation. For more information, visit http://mimsdistributing.com.

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