Our History – from Present to Past
Kobrand’s ownership and senior management are intently committed to the future. Their focus on a stronger, more prestigious and profitable position within the wine and spirits industry never shifts. Strategic global marketing, continuing vertical integration in prime wine regions and discriminating selection of suppliers who share a commitment to quality inform our approach to the years ahead. These will be supported by the continued development of technological tools that will enhance all Kobrand's marketing efforts.
Bezel form the Cakebread Family launches
Award-winning Japanese craft spirits producer, Nozawa Onsen Distillery joins the Kobrand portfolio with luxury Gin
Pierre Chavin has joined the Kobrand portfolio as the first premium non-alcohol VDF wine imported to the United States, marking the introduction of non-alcohol options to Kobrand's offerings
Marcelo Aguero is named President and CEO of Kobrand
From the Fladgate Partnership, Portuguese brands Quinta da Pedra and Principal join the Portfolio
French brands Paul Jaboulet Aîné and La Chapelle Hermitage from the Northern Rhône Valley join the Portfolio
Italian Brand Buglioni joins the Portfolio
AIX Rosé from Provence enters the French Portfolio
Argentinean Brand Norton enters the Portfolio
Acclaimed Chilean wine producer Montes enters the portfolio
Villa Matilde enters the Italian portfolio
Iconic Italian brand Lucano 1894 enters the spirits portfolio
One of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s oldest estates, Château La Nerthe joins the French portfolio
Kobrand purchases premium sake importer, Joto Sake LLC (Joto), becoming the exclusive US marketing representative and importer of a group of premium, multi-generational and family-owned Japanese breweries producing artisanal Sakes
Lambrusco producer, Medici Ermete enters the Italian Portfolio
Kobrand launches Maison Saleya Côtes de Provence Rosé
Résonance, Maison Louis Jadot's first venture outside of France, enters the portfolio
Tenuta di Biserno, a joint venture between Marchese Lodovico Antinori and his brother Marchese Piero Antinori, joins the Italian Portfolio
Kobrand adds Altamana’s Chilean Old Vine Malbecs to the portfolio
Kobrand adds Dennis Cakebread’s Mullan Road Cellars, an exploration of the Columbia Valley in Washington state, to the portfolio
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, certified Organic and Biodynamic since 2002, joins the French portfolio
Kobrand wins Wine Enthusiast’s “Importer of the Year” Wine Star Award
Alta Vista, reputed for its “Terroir Expression Winemakers” who were the first to produce single vineyard Malbec wines, joins the Kobrand portfolio
The Seeker brand is launched, representing the world’s finest examples of favorite wine varieties
Domaine Ferret, a property of Louis Jadot, adds refined expressions of Pouilly-Fuissé to the Kobrand list
Infamous Goose takes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to new heights of flavor in the Kobrand portfolio
An augmented relationship with Champagne Taittinger includes an increase of Kobrand’s holdings in Domaine Carneros
Caposaldo’s classic still and sparkling wines from northern Italy and Tuscany are added to the Kobrand list
Kobrand enters Spain with Poema Cava from the Penedès Valley
Two additional properties of Antonio Moretti, owner of Tenuta Sette Ponti in Tuscany, enter the portfolio: Poggio al Lupo in Maremma and Feudo Maccari in Sicily
A long-sought goal is fulfilled by the representation of Craggy Range, a super-premium producer of estate wines from New Zealand
Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca are brought together with the respected house of Croft under a new corporate entity, The Fladgate Partnership, which Kobrand represents in its entirety
The addition of Tenute Silvio Nardi’s Brunellos represents an extraordinary enhancement of Kobrand’s Italian Portfolio
The transformation of the Folonari family holdings brings in TorCalvano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tenuta La Fuga Brunello di Montalcino and the Super Tuscan Tenuta del Cabreo brand
Kobrand purchases Sequoia Grove, a premier producer of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in Rutherford, the heart of Napa Valley
Tenuta Sette Ponti, one of the most innovative, quality driven producers of world class Super Tuscans, enters the portfolio
Kobrand adds the famed Château des Jacques in Moulin-à-Vent to the portfolio through Maison Louis Jadot. Universally considered to be one of the most prestigious properties in Beaujolais, this purchase definitively establishes Jadot’s prestige in the crus of Beaujolais
Kobrand increases its share of ownership in L&L, the producer of Alizé
Delamain’s exquisite, hand crafted Cognacs are added to the portfolio
Fonseca, a second Port house and sister brand to Taylor Fladgate, is welcomed into the portfolio
Bollini tells a story of nature and passion in Trentino with the addition of its Pinot Grigio to the Kobrand list
St. Francis Vineyards becomes Kobrand’s first joint venture partnership with a Sonoma Valley producer
Tenuta San Guido, legendary creator of the Super Tuscan Sassicaia, enters the portfolio
Kobrand becomes the exclusive U.S. importer of the great Ports of Taylor Fladgate
Cakebread Cellars, one of the most respected family wineries of Napa Valley, secures a marketing agreement with Kobrand Corporation
Fernando Pighin & Figli, producer of esteemed Pinot Grigios from the regions of Friuli Grave and Collio, joins the portfolio
Kobrand joins forces with Champagne Taittinger to begin the Domaine Carneros joint venture
Kobrand introduces Alizé, a unique blend of passion fruit and other exotic fruit juices with spirit, pioneering a new category of specialty drinks in the United States that grows, over the 1990s, to dominate that category
Kobrand’s principals purchase Maison Louis Jadot, making Kobrand the first American firm to acquire a Burgundy producer. This original purchase includes Jadot’s production facilities, inventories and several key vineyards. Kobrand goes on to deepen its presence in Burgundy and strengthen Maison Louis Jadot by greatly expanding vineyard ownership and securing critical vineyard contracts
Sequoia Grove of Napa Valley enters the portfolio as Kobrand’s first American winery
Mr. Kopf’s three daughters carry forth their father’s company after his passing
Bouvet-Ladubay, a historic producer of Loire sparkling wines, joins the portfolio
Kobrand’s Italian Portfolio is strengthened with the addition of Michele Chiarlo, a family-owned Piedmont winery that was one of the early leaders in setting the bar for DOCG quality in Piedmont
Château d’Aquéria, the quintessential Tavel Rosé, is added to the portfolio
Kobrand welcomes liqueuriste L'Héritier-Guyot’s Crème de Cassis de Dijon to the portfolio
The important relationship is formed with François Taittinger of Champagne Taittinger, one of Champagne’s great grande marques
Kobrand develops a relationship with Maison Louis Jadot, one of the most respected firms in Burgundy and producer of some of the region's most noted wines
Larressingle, a fifth-generation distiller of the number one Armagnac brand in the United States, distinguishes the portfolio
Headquartered in the Empire State Building, Mr. Kopf founds Kobrand Corporation on simple principles that prove to be of paramount importance. The first is quality of product; the second, quality of people; and the third, quality of relationships
Upon repeal of prohibition, Rudolph C. Kopf founds the wine and spirits department of Macy’s department store in New York. It quickly gains a reputation as the finest wine and spirits shop in the country and Mr. Kopf becomes recognized as one of America’s most knowledgeable wine and spirits professionals.
Over time he develops relationships with many of the finest wine and spirit producers in the world.
