SPOTLIGHT: MELIER
Unique wine experiences delivered right to your door
Some of the very best wines are hard to find in your local store and even harder to find at the big wine chains that need to buy in bulk to make wines affordable.
Enter Melier, a next-generation marketplace and interactive community that connects wine experts, wine lovers and boutique winemakers to each other to bring the wine country lifestyle right to your door.
Through signature events and experiences, combined with a portfolio of spectacular wines you can usually only find in wine country, Melier is bringing the very best of West Coast wines to the Maximus community.
Melier is the brainchild of former Maximus resident, CEO Greg McBeth. Since the launch of the company, he has been joined by two wine experts, Brian Nies, the experiential manager, and Sarah Molenda who is in charge of partnerships.
Greg’s background in tech and sales as well as his love of wine led to the creation of Melier. As he traveled wine country, he met many boutique and independent winemakers who couldn’t access new customers easily without plugging into the large distributor networks.
“I wanted to bring a curated selection of wines to discerning wine aficionados who wanted something new and unique,” says Greg. “I wanted to expand on the idea by allowing subscribers to spend time with the winemakers so they could learn more about the wines they’ve come to love. It’s a way of connecting new customers with small, local wineries.”
The small team somehow manages to do it all. Brian heads the experiential, membership side of the business and Sara manages partnerships and winery relationships along with direct sales. Greg pretty much does everything else, wearing as many hats as a particular day requires.
The company has already built solid relationships with winemakers in the California wine regions and is looking to grow its offerings by offering the best of Oregon and Washington. Additionally, the team wants to create new wine experiences, such as special events featuring food and wine pairings from local chefs and winemakers.
“These makers have some amazing stories, not only about the products they produce, but about how they came to be involved in the wine industry and why individual varietals, and even growing years, can have such a profound effect on the finished product,” he says.
Bryan brings an additional level of appreciation to the mix. As the Experiential Manager, he gets to invite people on an exclusive journey into the joy and art of wine. “For example, my colleague and I poured some interesting wines at a Cove art gallery event. These wines, a Grenache Blanc and a Grenache were not your typical grapes from two distinct parts of Napa Valley. Sharing how they differ by where they are grown was a perfect way to introduce people to something they haven’t tried before.”
Bryan loves to share the story behind each wine, which adds to the experience in the glass. “I’m excited to be sharing the chef experiences with Chef David at Maximus,” he says. “I’m hoping that between our discussion of the food and the wine pairings I have curated, it will open up new ideas and flavors to everyone who attends. I am looking forward to the conversations we will have with our guests.”
Sara Molenda is a relative newcomer at Melier, joining the company six months ago. Since then, she has been building relationships with family-owned wineries, learning their stories so they can be shared with Melier’s customers. If she had to pick a current favorite, it would be a lovely Pinot from Emeritus. “You can feel and taste the craftsmanship.”
Sara says her main focus is on curating independently-owned or family-owned wines with case production from 300 cases to perhaps 20,000 cases a year on the top end.
For those wanting to enjoy one of Melier’s special events, the next Chef Experience is Sept. 21 and the first Wine Excursion is Sept. 24. More information can be found at https://melier.com.
Melier is also offering a special membership to Maximus residents. In addition to a selection of carefully curated wines delivered right to your door, you’ll receive advance notice of special events, tastings, and excursions.
The company is offering $100 off their membership to residents who use the code: MAXIMUS_100. The Founders option provides members with quarterly shipments of three artisanal bottles selected by founder Greg McBeth as well as access to early release wines and discounts on member experiences. The Bespoke level offers monthly shipments of three artisanal wines, specifically chosen for your palate based on your preferred selections entered on sign-up. Bespoke members also get access to a portfolio of library wines, 1:1 wine consultations with wine experts, and 2 free tastings at Melier partner wineries.
You can find more information on Melier’s website.