About Us
Gnoble is a small, family-run company, committed to quality wines at value prices.
The History of Gnoble Wines and Spirits
Gnoble Wines and Spirits was conceived in the spring of 2002. After years of tasting and presenting wines as members of the Alberta Wine Education Society in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Michael and Alison O’Connor decided to embark into the world of wine importing.
In 2002 Mike visited Spain and toured seven different wineries in Rioja. It was on that tour that Mike fell in love with Bodegas Campillo, The Faustino Group’s top Bodega, and signed them as his first winery. It was Bodegas Campillo’s hand-crafted premium wines that paved the first few years for Gnoble Wines and Spirits. In 2005, the Faustino group recruited Gnoble to represent Bodegas Victorianas, one of Campillo’s sister wineries from La Mancha. It was with these two wineries, collectively forming a modest portfolio of six wines, that Gnoble began to make a name for itself and its outstanding wines in the Alberta Liquor Industry.
In 2007, Mike & Alison’s daughter, Kathleen, moved to Edmonton to join the family business, and was quickly promoted to the position of Alberta Sales Manager. It was under Kathleen’s navigation that Gnoble broke into the Edmonton and Calgary markets.
Also in 2007, came the introduction of Gnoble’s first Argentinean winery. Alta Vista, based in Mendoza, brought variety and value with a new-world swing to the company. Due to our success with Alta Vista, we are now proud to represent the critically acclaimed lineup of Terrior Selection Wines. The quality and accolades of these products have been catching on like wildfire, and it seems that these South American gems are finding new homes in boutiques and restaurants, every day.
Hallmarking 2008 was the introduction of the Australian winery, Virgara Wines, to Gnoble’s portfolio. Virgara, pronounced vur-gair-ah (we know what you were thinking), is a small, family owned winery based in the Adelaide Plains of South Australia. Since their induction, the O’Connor and Virgara families have been working very closely to bring a fresh Italian twist to a market that has been lacking inspiration in the past couple years.
Virgara has recently doubled their repertoire with the introduction of some new wines with slick, funky labels that are a bit easier on the pocketbook than their siblings. “The Sneaky Fox” line, featuring a Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé, scurried into Alberta in November of 2010. They have been migrating infectiously to stores across the province ever since.
2009 has been prosperous for Gnoble Wines as it has seen the addition of 8 more wineries including three Spanish wineries. Collectively covering table, fortified and sparkling wines, Cavas Hill, Bodegas Garvey and Marques de Olivara were all welcomed additions. Gnoble is expanding its reach into Portugal with Herdade Dos Grous and most recently expanding into Italy with Fiore Rosso a Toscana, LaQuerce and Podere Pogio Scalette.
Gnoble Wines and Spirits is continuously searching for new products to delight the province with, and each sample they receive undergoes rigorous scrutiny by a panel of their customers, friends and fellow connoisseurs. Each member of the panel evaluates the samples on taste, quality, value, labeling, and marketability. Gnoble will only represent products that meet our high standards in each category.
Gnoble is a company that is always growing and looking to expand. We are hoping to find some outstanding wines from Canada, California, Oregon, and New Zealand as well as unique beers, scotches, rums, tequilas, etc. to add to their portfolio. If you would like to discuss representation please contact Mike O'Connor.