As an adult, Elman went to work for Perrier-Jouët Champagne in Epernay, France, where she learned about wine production at the Chateau level—she worked in production, packaging, storage and sales. Upon her return to the U.S., Elman began to work for her stepfather, Basil Winston, trading wines from all over the world, including many California cult
wines. When working for Sherry Lehman, Elman was
exposed to some of the lesser-known wines of the world, and found them to be more compelling and honest—or truly reflective of their sense of place—than many of the larger labels. She credits her first Seeing Eye dog, Hogan, as the reason she was able to move forward with her life. Elman never stopped working in the wine world, and soon discovered that her palate had become even more focused. Her passion for wine grew, and Elman developed a reputation as someone who not only had an intricate knowledge of fine wine, but an extraordinary sense of what might succeed. In 2002, Elman embarked on a venture to import small production, hand crafted, artisan wines to the U.S. In 2009, Alex decided to create her own label of wines, and began working with Beverage Alliance in order to form Alex Elman Wines, which released its inaugural portfolio in November 2010. Elman’s wines are honest, focusing on the sustainability of the vineyards where they are produced, as well as truly representing the wine’s terroir.
