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5218 Lawton Avenue
Oakland, CA 94114

510-654-9159

Oliver McCrum Wines has been importing small production Italian wine and distributing to fine retail and restaurant establishes throughout California since 1994. Over time, our portfolio of producers has steadily grown to over 45 producers from 15 different regions of Italy. We look for typical Italian wines with clarity and freshness, usually made from indigenous Italian grape varieties using clean, transparent winemaking techniques and no obvious use of oak. 

Blog

The Legacy of Emidio Pepe

Michele Boscia

Emidio Pepe remains one of the very top estates in the region, and while grounded in tradition, the family also displays a willingness to be forward-thinking and progressive.

-Eric Guido, Vinous

Every now and again, Oliver remarks on how incredible it is that we represent the Emidio Pepe wines here in the U.S. “When I started importing Italian wine in 1994, I never imagined that we would one day represent [this] iconic Italian producer,” he reminisced in a blog post from October of last year.

While Emidio Pepe has become one of the most beloved producers in today’s boutique wine scene, there wasn’t always a demand for the traditional, environmentally conscious, so-called ‘old school’ styles that prioritize complexity and balance over flash and panache. As Seven Fifty Daily explained in an article from last year, “Pepe’s big break didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of going against popular—and profitable—trends, as well as an almost bullish bet on quality over quantity.”

And this is quite right - Abruzzo as a wine region is rarely mentioned in the same sentence as Tuscany, Piedmont, or even Sicily, namely because it’s typically associated with value rather than profound examples of some of the best wines in the world. Which makes it all the more unlikely and remarkable that Emidio saw its potential almost 60 years ago. Chiara De Iulis Pepe, granddaughter of Emidio and head winemaker today, has inherited his gift for foresight and innovation and refuses to rest on the laurels the estate has rightly earned. Instead, Eric Guido at Vinous reports, “Her open-minded views and willingness to learn, experiment and travel to understand the tried and true techniques of others are seldom practiced by most Italian winemakers. Ultimately, her goals are not set by what happens tomorrow or a year from now but by what will happen in five to twenty years.”

The Pepe estate is a true icon - the wines have been and continue to be as exciting, layered and haunting as the greatest Pinot Noir, Cabernet or Nebbiolo-based wines and command the attention of somms, restaurateurs and consumers around the world.

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