Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/7240
64 / the tasting panel / march 2010 Big House, Mel told me about his impression of last year's Wine Experience, a grand-scale tast- ing event in New York. "There were two events on two levels," he began. "I made it a point to walk both floors and say hello to everyone we represented somewhere in the country. It was tremendous: I was able to have 'mini-meetings' with a huge number of suppliers. Some were surprised to see me; I think we all took note that there was not a lot of distributor representation there." What many wine buyers may not realize is that Southern Wine & Spirits began as a wine company. "As we grew, people tend to figure if you're this big, you only work with the big companies," Mel pointed out. "But we actually have a tremendous number of boutique and mid-level wineries across the board in our portfolio. That portfolio may differ from state to state (Southern has dis- tributorships in 29 states), but you can't help but find great wine variety and even rare gems throughout our company." Unparalleled Team of Wine Educators With a national sales force of approxi- mately six thousand, Southern invests in education like no other company. Mel Dick, who has been recognized the world over for his contribution to growing the U.S. wine market and was awarded France's highest civilian award, the Legion of Honor, for his contributions, has led the company's recruit- ing and development of top-notch wine sales and training personnel. Ten Master Sommeliers on staff supple- ment ongoing sales efforts by offering semi- nars in Southern's training facilities as well as onsite in restaurant and hotel accounts for waitstaff and management. Through supported training programs, 250 of South- ern's salespeople have earned accredited wine degrees, including a select team of 20 Fine Wine Directors. While many wine directors and somme- liers may turn their back on the SWS sales- person, assuming that they will be bombard- ed with only the "big" labels, THE TASTING PANEL decided to let some of Southern's smaller suppliers speak for themselves. Big Heart Small wine SupplierS find tHat perSonal toucH at SoutHern wine & SpiritS t his story begins with a conversation I had with Mel Dick, Senior VP and President of the Wine Division at Southern Wine & Spirits, and the man who estab- lished the wine business for SWS over 41 years ago. by Meridith May Special REPORT