Wine Spectator: Neil Empson, Pioneering Importer of Italian Wine, Dies at 85

Neil Empson, founder of Empson & Co. and a pioneering importer of Italian fine wine into the United States, died Sept. 14 after a long battle with cancer. He was 85. Empson was born March 16, 1939, in the district of Waikato in New Zealand, to a family of farmers. He met his wife, Maria Gemma, in 1969. The couple founded Empson & Co. in 1972 in Milan, which became their home base.

Empson recognized the potential of Italian wines and introduced Americans to producers from around Italy as the nation’s wine quality revolution evolved during the 1970s and 1980s. He would bring in new names like Angelo Gaja who would eventually become icons in the American market. Wine Spectator has more on Empson’s life and career.

Tagged : Empson USA, Italian wine

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