Wine Tasting: Ideal Wine & Spirits

The roots of Ideal Wine & Spirits go back to 1905, when Samuel Bender and two partners founded a retail wine and provisions store in Boston. In the late 1970s grandson Larry Bender struck out on his own, separating the importing business from the retail operation. Starting with a French-dominant portfolio, the company soon expanded to include Italian and American wineries as well as wines from other countries.

From the website: “The focus of the company remains much the same, though the portfolio evolves every year – our first criterion is the quality of the wine. While we are not dogmatic about viticulture or wine-making, we have found that the best wine comes from producers with a light touch, and a passion for terroir. We strive to present wines of pleasure and purity, balance and value.”