Empire Merchants
Proudly Welcomes
Wines from the Best Places on Earth
France • Italy • Slovenia • Austria • Germany • Spain • Portugal • United Kingdom •
United States • South Africa • Argentina • Chile • Australia • New Zealand
"In a world increasingly dominated by vast sums of capital and multinational firms, it is difficult for a small wine importer to survive unless that company has considerable expertise and an unwavering commitment to quality rather than quantity. . . 'Imported by Vineyard Brands' is as close to a guarantee of quality as the consumer can expect."
- The Wine Advocate
La Vieille Ferme
Jean-Pierre and François Perrin established La Vieille Ferme over 45 years ago, as an affordable straightforward Rhône wine to sell by direct mail to French wine lovers. In 1980, Vineyard Brands introduced La Vieille Ferme into the United States, and the response was an immediate, overwhelming acceptance and an outpouring of critical acclaim. Today the next generation of Perrin family winemakers – Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Cécile, Charles, Matthieu and César – have joined Jean-Pierre and François continuing La Vieille Ferme’s dedication to quality, value, and innovation.
Over the years, the La Vieille Ferme portfolio has expanded to include a variety of formats including magnums, Bag-in-Box, and cans, as well as new wines. In 2018, two sparkling wines were introduced and in 2026, a low-alcohol range of wines called “La Plume.”
Caparzo
The origins of the place named Caparzo are still unknown. According to some, the name is derived, as shown by ancient maps, from Ca’ Pazzo; according to others, the term should derive from the Latin Caput Arsum, indicating "a place touched by sun”. The history of Caparzo dates back to the end of the 1960s at the dawning of Brunello di Montalcino, when a group of friends, fond of Tuscany and of wine, purchased an old ruin with vineyards at Montalcino. The farm estate was renovated, modernized, and new vineyards were planted. In a short time, Caparzo made itself known in the Brunello market. In 1998, 30 years after the first rows of vines were planted, the farm estate came to a turning point when Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini purchased Caparzo. With the help of her son, Igino, and daughter, Alessandra, she immediately carried out her objective: combining tradition with innovation to create a high-quality wine that is the expression of an excellent territory.
Marqués de Cáceres
In 1970, Enrique Forner founded Marqués de Cáceres Unión Vitivinícola S.A., a historic alliance of growers in the village of Cenicero in the Rioja Alta subregion of Rioja. The enterprising Forner family has been devoted to the wine trade for five generations. Their search for the best vine growers and vineyards in Rioja and the introduction of a Bordeaux concept revolutionized the production and business model of the region. They work with one single objective: producing the highest quality wines. Today this obsession continues to be the leitmotif of Cristina Forner, the fifth generation of this distinguished wine family.
Umani Ronchi
The Umani Ronchi story is one of ancient vines, land, and people. It began more than half a century ago at Cupramontana, in the heart of Verdicchio Classico country, and has spread further. Today, Umani Ronchi is owned by the Bianchi-Bernetti family, who since 1959 have been making superb quality craft wines, coaxing the best out of the Verdicchio and Montepulciano grapes that find their finest expression in the Marche and Abruzzo regions. For over ten years, Umani Ronchi has been a member of the Istituto del Vino di Qualità - Grandi Marchi, which unites over nineteen of Italy’s greatest wine brands. Umani Ronchi continues to be family-run with Michele Bernetti at the helm, and his father, Massimo, acting as chair.
Famille Perrin
With roots in the wine industry tracing back to 1909 with the purchase of the famed Château de Beaucastel, Famille Perrin is the leading organic wine grower of the Southern Rhône Valley, where they occupy the region’s best terroirs.
Famille Perrin’s range of wines offers the richness and diversity of the Southern Rhône Valley. The family has vineyards across the Southern Rhône Valley including the towns of Orange, Cairanne, Jonquières, Tulette, Visan; and the appellations of Saint-Gervais and Vinsobres as well as the estate Domaine de la Biscarelle. Organic viticulture has been practiced by the family since 1950 and biodynamic practices were introduced in 1974. Masters in the art of blending, the Famille Perrin cares for each of the unique brands it produces with the same expertise and same passion, bringing out the true character of each terroir and offering the best wines for different occasion and at different price points.
At Vineyard Brands, our mission is to select and offer wines of the best quality and value from the best places on Earth so that there is absolute confidence in any wine with "Imported by Vineyard Brands" on the label.
With a very few exceptions, all of the wineries with which we work employ sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic practices in their vineyards. Vineyard Brands received its USDA Organic Certification in December 2024.
