Ethica Wines’ 10th anniversary Italian wine tasting Austin. Italy’s top estates in one room — here’s what Austin’s wine community needs to know.
Austin’s wine culture has grown up fast. The city that built its identity around live music and barbecue now supports serious wine programs at restaurants along South Congress, independent bottle shops in East Austin, and a trade community that travels to tastings and pays attention to what’s coming into the market. Ethica Wines is bringing that community something worth clearing the calendar for.
The Italian wine importer — one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. according to the Financial Times — is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a nationwide walk-around tasting series across eight U.S. markets. Austin is one of them, with a date to be announced. The series brings together partner estates from across Italy for an in-depth portfolio tasting aimed at trade, media, and key opinion leaders.
For Austin’s serious wine community — the East Austin sommelier crowd, the South Lamar bottle shop regulars, the Domain restaurant wine directors — this is the Italian wine event of the year in this market.
Who Ethica Wines Actually Is
Ethica Wines was founded in 2016 with a specific mission: build long-term partnerships with prominent Italian wineries and bring them to the U.S. market with genuine depth and commitment. Ten years in, the company represents over 200 distributors, has crossed $140 million in revenue, and has built a team of over 100 professionals with local presence across all functions.
The Financial Times recognized Ethica as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. for two consecutive years. That’s not a small importer punching above its weight. That’s a company with real infrastructure, real producer relationships, and a portfolio that spans Italy’s most important regions.
“To mark our tenth anniversary, we wanted to create a platform that brings our producers closer to the market,”
Francesco Ganz
CEO of Ethica Wines
“As we enter our second decade, our focus is on strengthening our presence and investing in long-term relationships, fostering direct dialogue with trade and media to support the continued growth of Italian wine in the U.S.”
The Producer List Worth Knowing
The Austin tasting will feature a comprehensive cross-section of Italy’s key regions and styles. The confirmed partner estates include some of the most respected names in Italian wine alongside producers worth discovering for the first time.
Borgogno and Mirafiore represent Piedmont’s serious Barolo heritage. Ricasoli — the oldest winery in Italy, operating since 1141 — anchors the Tuscany representation alongside Casanova di Neri, whose Brunello di Montalcino has earned consistent international recognition, and Fattoria Le Pupille from the Maremma coast. Mastroberardino brings Campania’s ancient Aglianico and Fiano traditions to the table.
The full estate list — Anselmi, Borgogno, Cafaggio, Ca’ dei Frati, Canella, Capichera, Casanova di Neri, Cordero di Montezemolo, Fattoria Le Pupille, Fontanabianca, Granriviera, I Greppi, La Gioiosa, Lavis, Mastroberardino, Mirafiore, Pico Maccario, Ricasoli, Sankt Pauls, Nicolis, Villa Bucci, San Marzano, and Villa Sparina — covers Italy from Alto Adige in the north to Puglia in the south. This is a rare opportunity to taste that breadth in a single room.
The Broader Series and Why Austin Made the List
Ethica’s eight-city series opens in Washington D.C. on April 27, followed by Miami on May 11, New York City on May 12, Boston on June 3, Minneapolis on June 17, Denver on June 22, and Los Angeles and Austin at dates to be announced.
The fact that Austin made an eight-city list that includes New York, Los Angeles, and Miami says something real about how the Italian wine trade views this market. Austin’s growth as a serious food and wine destination isn’t just local perception — it’s being validated by importers who make decisions based on where trade relationships and consumer demand are actually developing.
The event series is aimed at trade, media, and key opinion leaders — not a public consumer tasting. If you work in Austin’s wine and hospitality industry, this is the event to get on the list for. If you’re a serious consumer, watch for the producers you encounter here to start appearing on Austin wine lists in the months that follow.
Date to be announced. Watch ethicawines.com for Austin scheduling details.
FAQ
What is the Ethica Wines 10th Anniversary Tasting Series? Ethica Wines is celebrating its tenth anniversary with walk-around tasting events across eight U.S. markets — Washington D.C., Miami, New York City, Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, and Austin. The events bring together partner estates from across Italy for trade, media, and key opinion leaders to taste the full Ethica portfolio and meet visiting producers.
When is the Ethica Wines tasting in Austin? The Austin date has not yet been announced. Monitor ethicawines.com for scheduling details. Other confirmed dates in the series include Washington D.C. April 27, Miami May 11, New York City May 12, Boston June 3, Minneapolis June 17, and Denver June 22.
Who is Ethica Wines? Founded in 2016, Ethica Wines is one of the leading U.S. importers of premium Italian wine, representing estates across Italy’s major wine regions through a network of over 200 distributors. The company has been recognized by the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. for two consecutive years and has reached $140 million in annual revenue.
