U.S. Wine Imports

10/28/2021

Joel Lichty
August 25, 1951. - October 25, 2021

It’s with much sadness and fond memories that I mourn the passing of my friend and former colleague, Joel Lichty, this past Monday. He was 70 years old.

I first encountered Joel early in my wine life, when I was a young, university student and budding wine enthusiast, at his East Lansing wine shop, Veritas.

Almost 20 years later, life brought us back together when he joined the US Wine Imports team as our mid-Michigan ace. He worked with us for 10 years, and we fondly called him The Professor for his scholarly appearance and erudite manner. He was a pleasure to work with, and friend to us all. I’m so glad that Joel was a part of my life.

Personally, and on behalf of all of his former colleagues at USWI, I give our condolences to his wife Diana during this time of great difficulty.

Rest in peace, Professor.

Chaad

05/03/2020

New beginnings! The continues! Please join the story at

04/20/2020

With a legacy dating back to the early ‘80s, Terricci is one of the original SuperTuscans, and as a blend of sangiovese and the cabs, it always feels natural, never clumsy or ad hoc, irrespective of vintage. I guess that’s what we call pedigree.

04/17/2020

Droppin’ off wine samples like I got the antidote.

04/14/2020

We were so humbled to hear that someone called into to ask for wines specifically from us, and we want to give a big, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone for the continuing support through this time of hardship. Together we can make it through! Our best wishes to all for health, happiness, and courage!

04/04/2020

Thank goodness for springbreak, firepits, and Phoenix Ranch syrah; much needed change of pace.

03/20/2020

I’ve no answers, but supporting real people to the extent I can during this time feels good and right. I went to and got local Calder Dairy butter and coffee cream, and I went to and got shiraz. I also bought an entire mixed berry pie. I also didn’t realize I was having mortadella withdrawal syndrome. I’m feeling better now. My thanks to Janine P. for her insightful words today.

03/14/2020

We’re all in SD mode, but let’s keep business rolling, businesses open, and keep enjoying wine. Links in bio.

03/10/2020

Jen Pelka, founder of SF and NYC Champagne bar The Riddler, has launched a women-centric Champagne brand of her own: “After serving tens of thousands of bottles of Champagne at The Riddler, I’ve found that there’s not a *widely available* Champagne that speaks to our generation,” she wrote in an Instagram post last March. “That’s what we’re up to.”

So far, Une Femme has two wines. The first bottle to hit the market is The Juliette ($65), a Premier Cru Champagne named after winemaker Julie Gonet-Médeville, half of the duo behind Gonet-Médeville, a Champagne grower-producer out of Bisseuil, France. She and her husband, Xavier, produced a new blend specifically for Une Femme using hand-harvested, organically grown chardonnay and pinot noir grapes.

"While there is still so much change needed in the wine world to reach gender parity, we believe that voting with your wallet matters," said Pelka. At the end of each year, "a large donation" is geven to Dress For Success, a non-profit that provides women in need with professional attire and development support to thrive in the workplace.

Last year, Jen Pelka, founder of the beloved San Francisco Champagne bar The Riddler, expanded to New York City, bringing her unfussy approach to bubbles…

03/06/2020

Hot off the press, and deeper we go!

03/02/2020

In keeping with the tradition of naming unusual wine bottle formats after Biblical characters, and in the allegorical tradition of Biblical stories themselves, we call the 375ml can format the zaccheus, after the lowly, short-in-stature tax collector in the Gospel of Luke, whom Jesus called to by name, reminding us that even the reviled have redeeming virtues. So, just because cans are used to hold industrial swill like Mountain Dew and Budweiser, that does not mean the can is without such useful amenities as easy opening, fantastic portability, light weight, and the ability to go to glass-free zones like swimming pools. And sometimes, 375ml is just the right amount...

02/28/2020

Georgian wine importer Mamuka Tsereteli will be in Detroit, at , doin’ that amber thang, Wednesday 3/11. Check it out!