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John Given Wines, Inc |
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
John and
Anne-Catherine Given started their professional careers in worlds far removed
from the wine industry. As a journalist in the early 1970s, John covered Japan
and Korea for the national radio news network, Westinghouse Broadcasting, and
the late Chicago Daily News. At this same time, Anne-Catherine was dedicating
her time to Swedish and Danish media in Japan. The couple then moved to Italy,
where a passion for Italian wine was born. Several more journalistic years were
spent in Honolulu, Buffalo, and finally New York City during which time John
and Anne-Catherines’ interest in wine grew extensively from the seeds planted
during their time in Italy. Their growing interest for wine prompted them to
leave journalism and develop skills in winemaking. Journalistic habits died
hard for John though; and he also kept active writing a weekly wine column for
the Poughkeepsie Journal in New York.In 1993 and 1994, John was the winemaker for Benmarl (the first farm winery in the state of New York), where, John also produced his own line of “John Given” wines – Riesling, Chardonnay and Merlot – which sold in top stores in Manhattan and the Hudson Valley. At this same time, Anne-Catherine was helping John while also working at a regional New York winery. Combining their experience of the hard work and pleasure of producing a bottle of wine with the exhilaration of the search for new varietals just naturally lead them to establish a new enterprise to bring the tastes they were discovering to others. So, in 1997, John Given Wines, Inc. was born.
Why only Italian? Anne-Catherine remembers that decision was the happy result of the deep affection she and John developed for that country and its cuisine during the time they lived in Italy. Anne-Catherine continues to visit Italy at least once a year to search for new additions to the portfolio, which consists of 22 producers from all over that country. John Given Wines, Inc. has established itself as a closely watched importer of Italian wines and remains dedicated to the enviable task of discovering the “next taste” to introduce to America.
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