Sean Minor Wines, headquartered in Sacramento's Sierra Oaks neighborhood, recently received some news that the company's been ranked among the nation's best. The April issue of Wine & Spirits Magazine features its 24th annual poll of the favorite wines served in restaurants, and Sean Minor Wines earned two nods.
In Wine & Spirits' list of the Restaurant Top 50, Sean Minor Wines ranked No. 30, a listing that placed the company ahead of such stalwarts as Rombauer Vineyards and Robert Mondavi Winery. Cakebread Cellars of Napa earned the top spot in this polling of brands that received the strongest restaurant sales during the final quarter of 2012.
For the listing of most popular pinot noirs, Sean Minor Wines earned a very respectable No. 17 spot.
To compile these results, Wine & Spirits polled Zagat-rated eateries from around the country and received responses from 216 restaurateurs. They were asked to list their top-selling bottles and wines by the glass, and answer other questions about diners' wine preferences.
"It's touted in the industry as the barometer for having success in the restaurant scene," Minor said. "Our focus on serving restaurants has been key for us, so that's why we're so excited. It's been our No. 1 objective since the get-go to be a nationally recognized by-the-glass player."
Sean Minor Wines, which was launched in 2002, has accounts in 42 states. The grapes are sourced primarily from Napa, Sonoma and California's central coast, and produced in a facility near the Napa County Airport. Minor's home office remains in Sacramento.
Minor releases the wines under two brands: his Sean Minor Wines and a value-minded Four Bears Wines. Part of the reason for Minor's success: All of his wines cost less than $20 at retail.
"We're focused on getting the biggest bang for the buck and exceeding expectations," Minor said. "It forces you to be conscious of who's buying by the glass. It's from the novice consumer all the way up to someone with a trained palate, and you have to entertain everyone in between."
Call The Bee's Chris Macias, (916) 321-1253. Follow him on Twitter @chris_macias.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
• Read more articles by Chris Macias
Order Reprint
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.