Welcome back to the Italian Wine Podcast – On the Road Edition!
This time, Stevie Kim is in New York City, her hometown and the heart of the U.S. wine market, where she sits down with Lia Tolaini Banville, a winery owner and the founder of Banville Wine Merchants, a national fine wine importer and distributor.
In this lively conversation, Lia shares her remarkable journey in the wine industry, from launching a retail shop in Winnipeg to building a family-run distribution powerhouse in the U.S. She discusses the complexities of the American wine market, emphasizing its diversity, the nuances of the three-tier system, and the importance of having a long-term strategic vision.
Lia reflects on brand building, highlighting success stories and exploring the growing future of Italian whites. On a personal note, she opens up about the challenges and triumphs of balancing motherhood and business, the legacy of her father’s work ethic, and the importance of hard work, consistency, and resilience, especially for women entering the industry.
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MammaJumboShrimp is a podcast, a book and a wine school – and so much more!!
We love to eat, drink and travel, seeking out the very best that Italy has to offer!
Check out our “On the Road Special Editions” hosted by Stevie Kim, as well as our regular conversations with some of Italy’s most interesting wine personalities and producers.