It is a sad end to a rather wonderful chapter in Niagara wineries.
The delightful, warm and dedicated couple, Bruno Moos and Elyane Moos Grenier, along with their partner, Morrie Neiss, have ended their feud over the ownership of the Alvento Winery in Vineland, with a judge ruling that the 50-50 partners must sell the winery and vineyards and go their separate ways, Elyane told me today. I have not seen the court order and do not know all the details, but I can say that it is a devastating development for the Moos.
It will end 10 great years in Niagara for the Moos and their well-made Bordeaux-style red blends, Viogniers and an exquisite Nebbiolo, one of only two made in Niagara (the other is at Ridgepoint).
Bruno and Elyane are the visible partners but put in less capital into the project. They took reduced salaries to make, market and run the retail store for less of a financial contribution in the partnership, said Elyane.
The way she explained it to me, the differences between the partners had everything to do with the portfolio: Bruno and Elyane wanted to build a quality, boutique brand, the other partner wanted some less expensive, more popular wines to round out the portfolio at the lower end. Once the differences couldn’t be resolved, it went to court and a decision was rendered. It’s as simple as that. A difference of opinions on how to run the business made more difficult when the partners are equals.
Alvento is such a treasure in Niagara. They make boutique, small-production, hand-crafted and artisinal wines that are basically hand sold to wine lovers (though Vintages had just started taking notice) who appreciate well-made wine. I can’t remember a time when Elyane or Bruno haven’t been behind the counter enthusiastically pouring their wines. Bruno accepts nothing other then the best. He just won’t sell or make sub-par wines. The Moos have been growing grapes at their five-hectare waterfront Vineland estate for nearly 10 years, crafting three different styles of Bordeaux blends (which changed to two styles in 2008) as well as a Viognier and a Nebbiolo.
They have kept their promise to produce only ultra high quality wines or they will not bottle the vintage.
“We were just starting to do so well,” Elyane said today. “Our preference would be stay here but with a different partner.”
I don’t know a lot of the details of the court case, only what Elyane has told me. And I have never met or talked to the other partner.
Alvento is in the process of selling off its 2011 grapes and some of it is still on the vine (such as some of the Merlot). A lot of it has already been sold, including the Nebbiolo to Ridgepoint, of course.
Before the sale goes forward, an appraiser will access the value of the operation and the assets, including the inventory. They have been given a date of late January to make a sale or it will simply close.
There is plenty of inventory. 43,000 bottles, 27,000 litres of juice not yet bottled of high-quality wine. Some of the 2011 harvest that wasn’t sold is now sitting in tanks. They plan on bottling the 2010 Viognier and the 2010 reds are all in barrel (irony alert! Probably the best reds ever made at Alvento are sitting in barrels in limbo). The 09 reds are still in barrel while the 2008s are in tanks ready to bottle.
It is sad. Very sad.
The Moos toiled in the vineyards of Tuscany for 17 years before chasing their dream in Niagara 10 years ago. And now?
“I think for us we are finished.”
Sad, indeed.
The Moos must be devastated. This is such a huge loss to Niagara. I visited Alvento this past summer and Bruno had me tasting barrel samples of just about everything. He was so excited and passionate about his work, and of course the wines were wonderful. I feel very badly for Bruno and Elyane. It’s terrible that the business partnership had to end this way.
How depressing. I can’t recall feeling so sad for people I barely knew, yet Bruno and Elyane were like that. They made you feel so welcome whether at the winery or one of the wine shows where they were always present. And the wines were unlike anything else…such a tragedy that this is coming to an end. As you say, it is just so ironic that this would happen with the 2010 reds sitting in barrels. :-(
It is a sad thing. Unfortunately, many partnerships end in this way. Perhaps a white knight will swoop in?
This indeed is very sad news! I have been a huge fan of Alvento wines along with charming Bruno and Elyane since the little winery opened! My heart goes out to them!
Do we have any details at all as to why they have to sell?
Robin, I think it’s simply a difference of opinion between legal partners that had to be resolved in the courts. It was a ruling from a judge that they sell.
This is truly unfortunate. We and several wine-passionate friends from Michigan truly appreciated the quality and commitment that Bruno and Elayne have brought to Al Vento wines; they were a must-stop on our visits. Niagara will be lesser for their loss.
Of course, Bruno and Elayne can also be the buyers. Since they own half, they would get half of what the purchase price is, so essentially they can buy it for half the value, and if they get another partner, they can save it. I hope this has occurred to them.
OW, That’s not my understanding of the judge’s order. They cannot sell their halves to each other. One cannot buy out the other directly. If someone wanted to buy out the Toronto partner and take on Bruno and Elayne as partners, that’s fine. In fact, a desirable outcome for the Moos. But the way it was explained to me, they cannot make a deal with each other.
I remember Bruno Moos when working as a young architect in NY, 1970, in the office of Marcel Breuer.
Can you, Bruno, remember me?
best wishes and sorry to read of your business.
Fred McElwee