Masi Agricola has signed a deal with Santa Margherita USA - American subsidiary of Santa Margherita Gruppo Vinicolo – which today represents one of the most significant clusters in the Italian wine sector with the brands: Santa Margherita, Torresella, Kettmeir, Ca 'del Bosco, Cà Maiol, Lamole di Lamole, Vistarenni, Sassoregale, Terrelíade and Cantina Mesa. Starting from 1st April 2020 Santa Margherita USA will hold the exclusive licence to import and distribute wines under the Masi, Cantina Privata Boscaini and Masi Tupungato (organic Argentinian wines) brands throughout the United States.
Masi CEO, Federico Girotto, declared: “In the USA, the Masi brand is very well known and well positioned, but we do believe that we have significant as-yet unfulfilled potential and we are determined to develop it. We are delighted with this agreement with Santa Margherita USA, because it means we are entrusting our brands to the American subsidiary of an Italian company, and not to a conventional, standard importer. And it is precisely in this unconventionality that we spotted the opportunity to create this dynamic relationship in the United States.”
Sandro Boscaini, President of Masi, added: “The context that gave rise to this agreement is that of premium wine companies from Italy’s Veneto region; family-run businesses with long-established entrepreneurial lineage, characterised by traditional yet contemporary traits and managerial business models. The company portfolios are complementary and Santa Margherita USA brings distinctive expertise and organisation, not just in distribution, but also in its Italian style of communication and marketing. All this guarantees the attention and focus that Masi needs in the USA”.
In the context of an extremely fragmented national wine sector, it is significant that two major players with leading brands, should find synergies to take on the challenges of the biggest market, in monetary terms, for Italian wine exports.
“Our shared values, the production of premium wines, regional specialisation and deep-seated respect for the land make Masi the perfect synergetic choice for Santa Margherita’s portfolio in the United States", reaffirmed Vincent Chiaramonte, President and CEO, "we are delighted to welcome them to our team and to our family.”
Focusing on the professionalism of the Santa Margherita USA corporate structure, both companies are set to invest significant resources, aimed at growing the Masi brand in the United States.
Masi Agricola was assisted in the agreement by Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP law firm of New York; Santa Margherita USA was assisted in the agreement by Withers LLP law firm of London.
