SANTA MARGHERITA, THE MADE IN ITALY BRAND OF PINOT GRIGIO, NUMBER ONE IN THE US, IS LEAVING ITS HISTORICAL IMPORTER TERLATO, TO CREATE ITS OWN COMPANY IN THE STATES, "SM USA INC", STARTING JANUARY 1, 2016

Santa Margherita, the Made in Italy brand of Pinot Grigio, number one in its category in the US is leaving its historic stateside importer Terlato, to create its own company in the United States: Sm Usa Inc. Starting January 1, 2016, it will be responsible for the American market of the main office. "Shanken News Daily" published the exclusive report, underlining how well the partnership between Terlato (terlatowines.com) and Marzotto family wine group has worked, making Santa Margherita (www. santamargherita.com) the undisputed leader of Italian Pinot Grigio in the super-premium category. Sales rose from 200.000 cases in 1994 to 700.000 in 2014, which is 100.000 more than any competitor in the category. The average price per bottle is 27 US dollars, and turnover in the US, 225 million euros, putting the Veneto brand at number 20 on the US market, according to data from Impact Databank.
“The Terlato family immediately realized the potential market category of Pinot Grigio and our partnership has successfully positioned Santa Margherita as a pioneer and the absolute leader in this segment”, said Gaetano Marzotto, president of Santa Margherita, “and now as we are looing at the creation of Sm Usa Inc, we want to express our gratitude to Anthony Terlato and his family, to whom we wish prosperity and more great successes”.
The headquarters of the new company will be in Miami, will be entrusted to the CEO Vincent Chiaramonte, former manager of the importer Winebow and will have brands such as Torresella, Kettmeir, Lamole di Lamole, Sassoregale, Feudo Zirtari, and Fattoria Sardi in its portfolio.
Terlato, however, explained "Shanken News Daily", is going to continue with Pinot Grigio. Indeed, they are cultivating the ambition to launch a new line based on this vine, and have signed a long-term partnership with the "grape preparers" Simonit & Sirch of Friuli, to add references to their portfolio.
“Terlato expects a success by blending Pinot Grigio and Friulano, to sell between 22 and 24 dollars a bottle, aiming to exceed 250.000 cases sold in the next five years. Our family”, said Bill Terlato, CEO of Terlato Wines, “is very, very proud of our achievements in building the Santa Margherita brand. We started importing in 1980, and today it is the leading premium brand in the Pinot Grigio segment on the US market. We hope we’ll be good at developing new brands of the category”.