According to Frederick Wildman’s vintage notes published in the 1937 edition of his catalog, 1934 was a “great” to “very great” year in all of Europe’s vineyards. That also happens to be the year Wildman purchased his own importing company, which now, like any fine wine of the vintage, thrives as long-lived, complex, delightful, and great.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, Frederick S. Wildman, a Connecticut-born wine connoisseur, bought the century-old Bellows and Co., a wine importer and fine-food emporium. That same year, Wildman traveled to Europe’s finest vineyards in pursuit of the wine to add to his company’s cellars. Within a short time, Wildman signed on some of Burgundy’s best, including Armand Rousseau and J. Moreau et Fils, which are still important products in the Wildman portfolio today.

With Wildman in charge, the company grew and prospered. Wildman himself wrote the newsletters and wine notes, always reflecting his personal commitment to the highest quality products for his discriminating clientele. He summed up his philosophy as follows:

“Business, and particularly the wine business, should be conducted as to bring pleasure, pride and friendship to those engaged in it. We pledge ourselves to preserving the tradition of fine wine merchants and the heritage that fine wine itself deserves.”

Business was going well for Bellows and Co., but World War II severely curtailed the imports of wine. Before joining the service, Wildman sold Bellows to National Distillers. When he returned with the rank of colonel, he took a position with National as the head of the Bellows’ fine wine division.

The Colonel, as he was called, continued to make trips to Europe to develop contacts and establish partnerships. When National Distillers decided to leave the premium wine business in 1952, the Colonel was comfortably situated to create his own company, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd. Brands like Domaine Leflaive, Champagne Pol Roger and Château Fuissé were added before Colonel Wildman retired in 1971, and his company became a subsidiary of Hiram Walker. Frederick Wildman and Sons continued to grow, and the Rhône wines of Paul Jaboulet and several Medoc properties were soon added to their line.

The year 1989 was a boom year for the company. They took on the very popular wines of the Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV)--Melini, Santi and Folonari. This single act added a huge volume of sales, making Wildman the fourth largest importer of table wines in the U. S. At that time, Richard Cacciato had just become president of Wildman, and he undertook the restructuring of the company to handle the new volume. The national sales force doubled in size and, in turn, volume increased for all brands.

A major change in the structure of Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd. came in 1993. An investment group comprised of Cacciato and six of the company’s top suppliers purchased Wildman from Hiram Walker. This was a strong vote of confidence on the part of the suppliers in Cacciato’s leadership as well as Wildman’s stability and promise for the years to come.

The reorganization of Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd. in 1993 from a subsidiary of an international spirits company to a co-op of investors represented a unique undertaking. The participants in the acquisition believed that as an independent company, Wildman could best preserve the traditions of excellence and quality associated with its name, while expanding its portfolio and increasing its visibility.

In addition to Richard Cacciato, president and CEO of Frederick Wildman, the new ownership is comprised of Gruppo Italiano Vini, Hugel et Fils, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Olivier Leflaive, Champagne Pol Roger, J. J. Vincent, and Pascal Jolivet. The suppliers’ interest in maintaining continuity in the American market--one they consider extremely important--is probably the primary reason for the investments.

When Wildman had its 65th anniversary in 1999, it celebrated as the third largest importer in the U. S. But with all of its growth, the familiar Wildman logo--created by the Colonel himself and found on each bottle Wildman sells--is still recognized around the country as a symbol of quality. The company has become what Cacciato calls, “the biggest little wine company in America.”

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