WINE
Wine was born from adventure, exploration and happy accidents. Liking one is a matter of taste, we all have our own favorites, but realize that there is no right and wrong, we try not to be dogmatic when selecting wines, we want to work with. When considering selection for our wine importer portfolio we ask ourselves three questions –
1. Do we like the wine?
2. Does it have a sense of time and place?
3. Who is going to buy and enjoy it?
ELEVATION
The elevation of a vineyard is among the first issues to be discussed when tasting a wine for the first time. In short, mountain and hillside vineyards offer three critical advantages: more direct and concentrated sunlight, dramatic temperature shifts, and exceptional drainage. Match these three together, and the vines struggle to survive. Those who succeed -
well, you know.
US
DAVID SPELL
After a 15 year career in investment banking and finance, David followed his passion for wine into a new career. Since 2009, David has served in multiple capacities in the wine industry – from starting as a sales rep on the streets of NYC to running the sales team, as well as leading the finance department and spearheading operational changes. Launching Elevation Wine Partners has allowed David to share his love of real wine from real people that express the vineyard and land. David lives in southern NJ, close to Philadelphia with his family. When he is not on the road finding new wineries or meeting with customers, you can find him on his front porch, enjoying a glass of wine with family and friends. He also spends time in the Colorado Rockies, hiking to new elevations.
Cheers!
GIL AVITAL
Gil was first introduced to the hospitality business, in 1986, at age 21 by his parent’s neighbors, who owned a restaurant in his hometown in his native Israel.
In 1996, he followed a life-long dream and moved to New York City. After few stints as a Barista, Server and Bartender, Gil worked for “Ian Schrager Hotels” as a Restaurant Manager and Assistant to the Food and Beverage Director. During that time, Gil attended the “Sommelier Society of America” wine course and received his Sommelier diploma. Pursuing his main interest, he started working as Service and Wine Director at “Estiatorio Milos” an upscale seafood restaurant in midtown Manhattan.
Starting in 2001 Gil started a long and fascinating journey at “Savoy” restaurant. As the General Manager and Wine Director, Gil worked closely with Chef/Owner Peter Hoffman and became passionate about market-driven cuisine and local and sustainable food and wine. After getting introduced to “Boqueria” as a customer Gil decided that this would be his next exciting stop and has Joined Chef Seamus Mullen at “Boqueria” in November of 2006. Working closely with Seamus revealed mutual beliefs, shared values and has led to a wonderful friendship. It was a natural next step and dream opportunity for Gil to join Seamus on his exciting new project as a partner at Tertulia and later at El Colmado.
When Tertulia closed down in the summer of 2018, Gil was introduced to David Spell by a mutual friend. After countless conversations over many glasses of wines, both decided to launch Elevation Wine Partners, a wine import/distribution company in NY and NJ.
Good Food, Good Wine, Good People!
Anelito Antonelli
Growing up in Italy in the Lazio region, where his family has made their own wine for generations, Anelito was immersed in grapevines agriculture and wine production from very early age.
After moving to the US he started working in hospitality in New York City and got involved in all aspects of the restaurant operations but, what always attracted him the most was the wine service and the stories behind each wine selection. He then went on for his true vocation and while still working in restaurants, he decided to dig deeper and advance his wine knowledge. He took a course at Windows of the World Wine School, and later completed the WSET Level 3 at IWC.
Anelito joined Elevation Wine Partners in 2023 and made a profession out of his passion, excited to share with clients and wine enthusiasts everything that lies behind each bottle of wine; the history of the family and the land, the hard work that goes into making it and the gratification of opening a bottle and sharing it with friends and family.
In his free time, Anelito likes to spend time in Italy and France with his family, where he reconnects with his childhood memories.
Damian Gorna
I spent close to a decade in LA, where wine found me—through my wine club, late nights with chefs and sommeliers, and weekends lost in Napa, Sonoma, and Central Coast. Hospitality’s always been my thing; it’s in the hum of a busy bar, the clink of glasses, the stories swapped over a bottle. My wine club in LA was a passion project—bringing together a community of people from all different backgrounds, united by a love for wine, where we’d host tastings and food pairings for good nights and good causes. Since 2020, I’ve been a Digital Advocate for No Kid Hungry, spreading the word and hosting a charity event through the club that raised hundreds of dollars to fight childhood hunger—a cause I’m still fired up about. Now with Elevation Wine Partners, I’m bringing that passion to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Kyle Chaney
Kyle Chaney has been Elevation's Hudson Valley area sales representative since March 2025. Originally from Colorado, after earning degrees at University of Colorado Boulder and Université de Bordeaux, he moved to Oregon to pursue a career in wine. Starting in retail, he then moved into production, first as cellarmaster at Erath Winery and then assistant winemaker at Cameron Winery. After 5 years in winemaking, he left the winery to join his wife in restaurant ownership, who had just opened Navarre Restaurant in Portland.
Shortly after their daughter was born, he and his family spent several months in La Rioja, Spain. After their return to Portland, he began his career in wine distribution, focusing mostly on Italian and other European imports, which continued for over 12 years.
After recently visiting Hudson Valley with his family, they decided to move to the area, where their many friends live as well. He is delighted to be in the region and proud to represent this portfolio.