Eric Solomon Biography
Born in 1955 (a reasonable vintage), Eric Solomon is the son of
two clinical psychologists. In 1976, he left for England to pursue
a musical career, and was accepted as an understudy for the London
Symphony Orchestra's principal percussionist.
Cash was a commodity in short supply, and Eric secured a job
in one of the London's hot wine bars. He found a new vocation
and avocation when he fell in love with the subject of tasting,
selecting and buying wines, working closely with owners.
In 1976, Eric became the only (at that time) and the youngest
American to study for the Master of Wine. Using London as a base,
he traveled extensively to the major and minor viticultural regions
of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Returning to New York in early 1980 he was hired by Heublein,
where he remained for nine years as the Director of French Wines
and Ports for his multinational corporation. He continued to travel
extensively, working on Portfolio development, and building a
national network of wholesalers and key restaurant and retail
buyers.
By 1989, Eric was tired of the corporate wine world mentality.
Wanting more control over the quality of the product he represented,
he established European Cellars. In ten years, the company has
grown from two to eighty producers. He works with small intensively
serious winemakers in both classic and emerging wine regions throughout
Europe. Most of the red wines are bottled without filtration.
He insists on temperature controlled shipments and storage, and
is pleased to "have the great privilege of representing only
the wines we personally Love!"
Eric Solomon was recently named as one of the Wine Personalities
of the year by the Wine Advocate. Robert M. Parker, Jr. went to
say, "This small specialist importer is one of the bright
shinning start of winedom. His exquisite selections exude personality,
quality, and character."
