Natural Merchants Introduces New Italian Organic Wines to the U.S. Market

29/11/07 Natural Merchants, LLC, with headquarters in Rogue River, Ore. and Cartagena, Spain, introduces for the first time to the U.S. market a pair of superior Italian organic wines. Giancarlo Ceci's AGRINATURA PUGLIA Rosso and 100% Chardonnay are now available through individual distributors across the country.

Giancarlo Ceci, a well respected pioneer in the Italian organic community and owner operator of Agrinatura, is introducing his award winning NOP certified organic wines into the U.S. market through an exclusive import agreement with Natural Merchants. Neil Blomquist, former President and CEO of Spectrum Organic Products, now operating a consulting company, Sustainable Solutions, will be acting as Mr. Ceci's U.S. sales agent. Mr. Blomquist discovered Agrinatura's exceptional olive oil for the Spectrum brand several years ago, and a friendship was born that now carries over to helping launch equally exceptional wines for the U.S. consumer.

In the surroundings of Andria in the Puglia region of Italy, near Bari in Apulia, at an altitude of 250 meters, lies the farm GIANCARLO CECI. The vineyard is situated just above the famous Italy boot heel on the Adriatic Sea, an area that is perfectly suited for the production of fine wines. For eight generations, over 200 years, the Ceci family has cultivated the land with the greatest respect for nature and traditions. The Mediterranean climate, the location amidst a landscape of low hills, the presence of oak woods, the non-intensive agriculture production contribute to preserving the biodiversity and the precious balance of this ecosystem.

The farm experienced a significant upturn in 1988 when Giancarlo Ceci upon his return from agricultural school, converted the acreage to organic. He developed the AGRINATURA brand, focusing his efforts on innovation, quality and operation of a full-scale fresh produce growing, packing and shipping facility, along with organic olive oil, which is grown, pressed and packed on site. Giancarlo Ceci with AGRINATURA was a pioneer in growing and marketing organic products and was one of the first certified organic producers in Italy.

In 2000, fresh grape vines were planted over an area of 70 hectors, and Giancarlo Ceci invested in the finest state-of-the-art wine production equipment. The first organic wines were produced in 2004 and the vineyard received USDA organic certification in 2006. Under the guidance of Lorenzo Landi, one of Italy's most prestigious winemakers the award-winning wines are sold throughout Europe and select varieties are now available in the United States under the PUGLIA label including the beautiful non-oaked 100% Italian Chardonnay and Rosso (Red) Montepulciano a blend of traditional grape varieties from the Puglia region of Italy.

"We are delighted to add the Agrinatura PUGLIA label to our portfolio of fine organic wines," said Edward Field of Natural Merchants. "Through our Selections program, we have made it easy for consumers across the country to enjoy superior organic wines, bringing them to major natural food outlets and quality wine shops through select distributors nationwide."

Natural Merchants, LLC is one of North America's leading Importers and Distributors of the finest natural and organic foods and wines direct from the European and Mediterranean regions.

The Natural Merchants Selections program highlights more than 150 carefully selected wines from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Portugal, grown in unique organic terroir, each vineyard producing clean, fresh superior wines that are both good for the earth and tantalizing for the palate.

Selections from their portfolio of organic wines can be found in natural retail stores including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and accessed through traditional U.S. wine distributors across the country.