US-based wine and spirits distribution firm Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has enhanced its Fine Wine team with the addition of 80 new experts.

In addition, new Fine Wine companies are being opened in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Colorado and Florida.

This expansion will be led by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits senior vice-president and wine division president Mel Dick, and executive vice-president and corporate wine general manager Steve Slater.

"Our speciality wine houses provide a tighter focus on luxury brands that require increased attention by virtue of their premium positioning in today’s market.”

Southern Glazer’s is a family-owned company and is in collaboration with many such wineries. The objective of the Fine Wine experts is to establish long-term future of the company, its partners and consumers.

Dick said: “Wine sales volumes in the US continue to grow at the same time we see that consumers are more willing than ever to explore wines at a higher price point.

“This is why Fine Wine has become an even more important part of our overall wine strategy and why we’ll continue to invest in this important growth segment.”

Slater said: “Our Fine Wine Divisions provide Southern Glazer’s with unsurpassed resourcing, capabilities and expertise.

“In addition to our significantly expanded and highly specialised team, our speciality wine houses provide a tighter focus on luxury brands that require increased attention by virtue of their premium positioning in today’s market.”

The company also formed a new co-ordinating team to manage key supplier connections, and supervise insights and performance.

It has also built a national wine education team with 15 master sommeliers, who will work along with the Fine Wine team to ensure finest resources.

The company has the largest number of wine experts who have completed its wine, sake and spirits education programmes.