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!
Jennifer Eng
A Bay Area native, Jennifer grew up visiting vineyards in Napa with her father and was raised in a family that loved cooking, eating, and believed that “wine is a food too”. You’d think this would naturally lead to work in food or drinks – but this was initially not the case, and she instead pursued a career in fashion design for fifteen years. While working for designers such Thakoon, Veronica Beard and Tory Burch, she was always trying new restaurants, new recipes, and new wines, and her Instagram page was soon filled with more pictures of food, drinks, and travels than her design work. It wasn’t until a few years ago that she decided to “follow her nose”, and enrolled in WSET classes at IWC, where she earned her Level 3 Award in Wines. After moonlighting at a small wine and spirits shop in Brooklyn as a buyer, she decided to make the full-time leap by working with Elevation Wine Partners in 2022.
Chris Rose
With a never-ending curiosity for adventure, Chris has spent the last couple years in Colorado exploring the Rocky Mountains and, most recently, spent a part of the summer in Europe. His introduction to wine was through his father and through his job as a bartender. Working his way through the ranks, Chris eventually became the wine cellar manager for a country club in Golden, CO where his passion for wine emerged. Chris moved to New York in December 2023 and joined Elevation Wine Partners to pursue his wine career. In his personal time you can find Chris planning for his next adventure, visiting new restaurants, or relaxing with wine and book in hand.
Rachel Mutino
If you ask anyone who knows Rachel where her passions lie, most will say nothing excites her more than good food & wine. That passion for good food and good wine started when serving at a restaurant in her hometown, Milford, Pennsylvania. Rachel moved to NYC at age 20, and during her time there she worked at Gramercy Tavern where she quickly learned how vast the world of wine is, and that convinced her she wanted to dive deeper into that world. Rachel moved abroad to Gothenburg, Sweden in 2021, and spent time there constantly tasting and learning about new wines as well as completing the WSET Level 2. Upon her return to the US, she settled in the Hudson Valley and got her first job in the wine industry at a NY state focused wine shop and bar, learning all about the beautiful wines from our own backyard. In 2023, Rachel decided that she wanted to challenge herself and enter a new part of the wine industry which led her to Elevation Wine Partners! When Rachel is not trying out new restaurants or seeking out new wines to enjoy, she spends time crafting pottery, trying her hand at film photography, and adventuring through the Catskills!
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.