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Why would an importer focus on one wine region only, when nearly every other wine
company is seeking wines from all over the world?
Because at MVP we know that Provence is a virtual El Dorado of wine, and not just for
connoisseurs, but also for those who love to try superbly crafted, unique styles and flavors of
wine. Provençal winemakers have been perfecting the art of grape growing for an impressive
26 centuries, a history that makes Provence the oldest vineyard in France. Provence grows an
extraordinarily broad range of grape varieties, which when combined with an ideal climate,
create some of the most distinctive wines on Earth. The intense aromas of Provence, like thyme,
rosemary, lavender, flowers, berries and fruit, are often found in the bouquet of the wines.
MVP knows not only the region, but also the men and women who stamp their character
into each bottle we select. Once you’ve tried their range of wine styles, you’ll understand why
we’re hesitant to go anywhere else. Why would we? At least not until we’ve finished combing
through the 3,000 or so labels that are currently produced in Provence.
However, for most of us, i.e. those who live outside of France, we rarely get the chance to even
try Provence’s better wines. Few of these outstanding wines are ever exported, and rarely to the
U.S. After the local restaurants, hotels, and tourists have stocked up, there is little left over for
export. Every village restaurant in Provence is only too proud to show off the skills of their local
winemaker friends, and nearly every wine in Provence is produced in very limited quantities, so
you’re lucky to find it anywhere outside of the region. Until now.
Because we focus on one region only, MVP consolidates shipments of many small lots
of niche wine and economically brings them to the U.S. Our hand-picked vintages will never be
available everywhere, but they will always represent the pinnacle of their style. Whenever there
are wines available for export, and they meet our price to quality standards, we snatch them up,
regardless of the quantity. For example, we bought an entire lot of a 100% Mourvedre, simply
because it was too good to pass up. The winemaker only had 700 bottles for the entire U.S., but
it matched our profile: It was fairly priced and a top-notch example of Mourvedre [connect to
Croix Rousse photo “Pierres Precieuses”]. Yes it’s a small purchase, but it’s a gem of a wine.
And precisely because these wines are made in such small quantities, we don’t worry much about
major importers and distributors paying more, driving the price up, and taking them out of our
portfolio. The big guys don’t consider it worth their time to bring them over. Compare our 700
bottles of Mourvedre to the annual 7,000,000 bottles of one well-know import.
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All of MVP’s wine selections are totally natural, and often
completely organic. They are unquestionably Mediterranean in
character, while displaying the unmatched French vinicultural skill.
Their flavors are a product only of the soil, the sun, and the care of
their cultivators. Their smoothness will never come from additives,
oak chips, or out of a can. All of our wines reflect the character of the
men and women who make them. They range from light and fruity
to full bodied and rich. They are never industrial or artificial. While
many larger producers boast worldly recognition, MVP is proud to
seek out those wines and their makers who are as yet undiscovered
outside of their own quarter. Our wine buyer and VP lives in
Provence and has more than 20 years experience in the wine business
there. MVP is expert at recognizing those buried treasures crafted to
be drinkable now, but which will also age generously. They’ll repay
your patience by developing their innate complexity over the years.
And that promise extends even to most of our whites and rosés.
Our wines evoke their home, no matter where they are
served, and connect you to that place where just being there is
a source of pleasure. Meilleurs Vins de Provence (MVP) means
Provence’s finest wines.
Our philosophy is simple: Only import wines that we can
honestly say are “best in class.” We choose wines that are fairly
priced relative to their quality, and whose quality is among the best
in their niche anywhere in the wine world.
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