Oliver McCrum Wines & Spirits

Oliver McCrum Wines & Spirits Importer of fine Italian wine since 1994 Our portfolio encompasses just over 60 small producers of wine and spirits from 16 different regions in Italy.

Our focus is on clean, balanced, and expressive wines.

11/20/2025

There’s nothing like cooling temps and a rain storm (at least in California) to make one crave hearty red wines. The Brunellos from Salicutti deliver on that but also offer impeccable balance, harnessing both the power and finesse of Sangiovese - Burgundian, some might say. If you appreciate fine wine then let us introduce to you to Salicutti, just southeast of Montalcino, now owned by Sabine and Felix Eichbauer. They’ve taken an already top-level estate and made important changes like converting to biodynamic farming, introducing cement and using only large barrels in the winery.

The wines haven’t been drastically changed by any means, but fine-tuned -yes, and better than ever.

Our team had the good luck to host Felix In Los Angeles and San Francisco this week, and also to visit the estate just southeast of Montalcino in the spring. We came away amazed at the wines’ concentrated expressions —think cherries, violets and rose petals, along with earthiness, and savory herbs. Our team is both wowed and charmed and so proud to bring them to our customers, especially in time to enjoy for the holiday season!

Barbera makes the perfect weeknight red wine, which is why we included it for our new Piccolo Goccio series. It goes wit...
11/11/2025

Barbera makes the perfect weeknight red wine, which is why we included it for our new Piccolo Goccio series. It goes with all sorts of different foods, from a wide range of pasta dishes to pizza, to chicken or salmon, or tacos, or a hamburger for that matter. The Piccolo Goccio variation is made by an excellent winery in the Asti area of Piedmont, which is Barbera’s home region, and we selected this cuvée for its bright take on the variety. We find it extremely quaffable and chillable as well, showing bright fruit notes like cherry and raspberry, with fresh acidity and little tannin. Why not elevate your Tuesday night takeout?

This time with more photos!! Ciro Biondi’s legacy as both a winemaker and star in the Oliver McCrum portfolio cannot be ...
11/04/2025

This time with more photos!! Ciro Biondi’s legacy as both a winemaker and star in the Oliver McCrum portfolio cannot be overstated. Not only was he the first Sicilian producer we began working with roughly 20 years ago, Ciro’s wines have helped drive awareness of the Etna DOC across the U.S. and around the world. When we received the news that Ciro would be taking a step back from sales trips and spending more time at the winery, we knew that it might be the last time we see him in California for quite a while! Over the past two weeks, across the state as well as in New York, Ciro has been the toast of dinners, tastings, receptions, and get-togethers among friends and colleagues who gathered to celebrate his legacy. Countless well wishers turned out on both coasts to taste the once in a lifetime bottling, Centenario (translation ‘centennial’; a tribute to his grandfather) as well as new vintages of the crus San Nicolo, Cisterna Fuori and Pianta and current releases of the stunning Outis Bianco and Rosso. Per usual, Ciro didn’t disappoint (and neither did the wines!). Thanks to all our incredible partners who hosted….



Ciro Biondi’s legacy as both a winemaker and star in the Oliver McCrum portfolio cannot be overstated. Not only was he t...
11/04/2025

Ciro Biondi’s legacy as both a winemaker and star in the Oliver McCrum portfolio cannot be overstated. Not only was he the first Sicilian producer we began working with roughly 20 years ago, Ciro’s wines have helped drive awareness of the Etna DOC across the U.S. and around the world. When we received the news that Ciro would be taking a step back from sales trips and spending more time at the winery, we knew that it might be the last time we see him in California for quite a while! Over the past two weeks, across the state as well as in New York, Ciro has been the toast of dinners, tastings, receptions, and get-togethers among friends and colleagues who gathered to celebrate his legacy. Countless well wishers turned out on both coasts to taste the once in a lifetime bottling, Centenario (translation ‘centennial’; a tribute to his grandfather) as well as new vintages of the crus San Nicolo, Cisterna Fuori and Pianta and current releases of the stunning Outis Bianco and Rosso. Per usual, Ciro didn’t disappoint (and neither did the wines!).

Today we’re introducing Piccolo Goccio—a new range of wines made from indigenous grape varieties throughout Italy. These...
10/28/2025

Today we’re introducing Piccolo Goccio—a new range of wines made from indigenous grape varieties throughout Italy. These are the wines you would likely drink at lunch in a quaint trattoria, or while sitting in a café in the late afternoon. Piccolo Goccio means 'little sip’ in Italian, but—given their outstanding quality and reasonable pricing—we plan on consuming them in large quantities!

The perfect by-the-glass, no-nonsense, table wine continues to be the holy grail for many of us in the industry. (Let’s be honest, as much as we love to indulge in the rare and extravagant realm, there’s no shortage of amazing $50 - $100 bottles out there.) On the other hand, it’s the sub-$25 category that is often the most elusive for go-to, reliable selections year in and year out; the wines we pair with Tuesday night takeout, or a weekend pool party with friends.

Given how many incredible producers we work with, we decided it was time to showcase their best work via Piccolo Goccio. Check out our blog for more information!

https://omwines.com/omblog/2025/10/23/introducing-piccolo-goccio

Fall is the perfect season for Amaro and other bitter liqueurs, simply because their flavors meld so perfectly with the ...
10/13/2025

Fall is the perfect season for Amaro and other bitter liqueurs, simply because their flavors meld so perfectly with the baking spices we associate with this time of year. The alpine liqueurs we feature from and are especially appropriate with their mountain-foraged botanicals and mouth-warming spices that capture the essence of the season . Mix up a cocktail or simply sit out with a glass in the evening and take in all the beauty of Fall's flavors!

During our trip to Italy earlier this year, we had the chance to spend the day with Ergin Allko from Gotha Spiriti Nobil...
09/11/2025

During our trip to Italy earlier this year, we had the chance to spend the day with Ergin Allko from Gotha Spiriti Nobili in Bologna, as well as preview two of his latest products: the Bitter Allko and the Rosso Vermouth “DOK '61.” Our team has tasted hundreds of aperitivos, digestivos, and bitter liqueurs from all over Italy and we can honestly say that few of them are as unique and innovative as those from Gotha. Ergin's masterful blending of infusions and technical expertise is awe inspiring, and no matter how often we taste through his portfolio, we’re constantly taken aback by the quality of his spirits.

All of the Gotha spirits utilize individual infusions of plants and herbs (many of them locally grown), in addition to purified seawater from the Adriatic Sea—both a flavorful and symbolic ingredient as it’s the body of water separating Italy from Albania. In the case of Ergin's new Bitter Allko, the seawater enhances the taste perception of the other botanicals, which include: timut pepper, bitter orange and grapefruit peel, wormwood, china, gentian, black pepper and cherry pepper. The new DOK ’61 Vermouth uses a blend of 95% Zibibbo with 5% Frappato as a base wine (both sourced from Sicily), then adds in chinotto peel, cinchona, rabarbaro, wormwood, star anise (essential oil), dandelion root and cherry pepper (pimento), and of course the trademark purified seawater from the Adriatic Sea. He tops everything off with a small amount of plum distillate.

And what should we do with them? Make a negroni of course with his Menegiks gin! Or an americano with the bitter and vermouth, or toss them in as a bitter or sweet vermouth sub in any cocktail recipe - they're versatile, delicious and available now!

As you likely already know, the team at Oliver McCrum has been very excited about the wines of Campania for well over a ...
09/05/2025

As you likely already know, the team at Oliver McCrum has been very excited about the wines of Campania for well over a decade. In his most recent article for Forbes, Paul Caputo hedges that mindset even further, writing: "To call Campania the most exciting wine region in Italy is a big statement. Depending on your metrics however, it may well be true."

With producers like Capolino Perlingieri, Ciro Picariello, Contrade di Taurasi, La Sibilla, Laura de Vito, Michele Perillo, Reale, and Villa Dora to choose from, it's easy to see how someone could draw that conclusion! Caputo succinctly summarizes: "For sheer breadth and diversity of both terroir and native varieties, no Italian region feels more engaging, or more exciting, right now."

Check out our blog for the link to the full article. Link in bio!

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We're very excited to welcome into town this week for a number of very special events! Check out the schedule below and...
08/27/2025

We're very excited to welcome into town this week for a number of very special events! Check out the schedule below and join us if you're able!

Saturday 8/30 - Solano Cellars 2 - 5 PM

Sunday 8/31 - A16 Napa a16napa - BTG specials & food pairings

Monday 9/1 - A16 SF - BTG specials & food pairings

Wednesday 9/3 - La Dolce Vita - Featured flight & pairings

Thursday 9/4 - Agnes Pasadena - Featured flight & pairings

Friday 9/5 - Due Fiori Long Beach .lbc - BTG & bottle happy hour!

More info throughout the week via our stories! Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Address

2373 Woolsey St
Berkeley, CA
94705

Telephone

(510) 654-9159

Website

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