Buy from the Winery
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At Tollefson Wine, we focus on importing wine from small, family-owned wineries in France. Small producers don’t always have access to the full U.S. market given the complex wine distribution systems. Yet, these are often among the best, most representative wines from a region.
One of the benefits of subscribing to a vineyard is experiencing the differences from year to year based on how the weather and the choices of the winemaker influence the final product. And for those wines that require a few years in the cellar to soften the tannins or integrate the complex flavors, you can stock up at a lower price and hold them until they are optimal to enjoy. Then, you'll have a regular supply each year of wonderfully-aged wine ready to decant for whatever occasion calls for it.
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In the U.S., the way alcohol is sold makes store-bought wine more expensive. Wine travels from the winery to an agent, then to a distributor, then to a retail store, and finally to you – with added costs and markups at each stop.
By purchasing directly from the winery, you can purchase a premium bottle of wine for $35 or less, while that same bottle could sell for $55 or more in a retail store. This is because you receive the wine before the standard retail markup.
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Minnesota law permits residents to buy up to two cases of wine annually directly from a winery (24 bottles per individual per winery each year). This allows you to save significant money while stocking your wine fridge or cellar with high-quality wine. This approach is similar to a vineyard’s wine club or a farmer’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
We connect you with multiple wineries to import wine directly to your door and supply your desired number of cases each year. We specifically import European wine as it offers some of the best-value, high-quality wine due to centuries of experience and relatively low production costs. These are wines that do not have a large distribution in the United States and therefore not much attention in the major wine publications.
About Jon Tollefson
My wine journey began in France’s Loire Valley in 2005, tasting wine from that region with family and friends. I have spent the past 20 years expanding my wine knowledge and experience, including becoming certified through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), having completed Level 3.
I have traveled throughout the wine world, focusing especially on the Mediterranean. While living in Nice, France, in 2007 and 2008, I learned from a wine merchant who sold the finest of wines to famous visitors but also provided excellent wine from the region at fair prices for the rest of us. It was there that I found the complex flavors and aromas of the Mourvèdre grape cultivated in Bandol, a small wine region by the Mediterranean in southern France. I have spent time getting to know winemakers at their homes and wineries, and I am excited to share their own expressions of their particular terroir with you.
When it comes to French wine, many people consider it to be fancy and pricey. While that may be true for certain well-known vineyards, most French families expect affordable yet good-quality wine for their meals. I started this company to share that philosophy with you – that good wine doesn't have to be expensive.
-Jon