Today we’d like to introduce you to Aldo Bove.
Hi Aldo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Above Wines was founded by Italian winemaker Aldo Bove with a simple mission: to preserve and share the authentic wines, traditions, and culture of Italy with American consumers.
Born in Angri, near Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Aldo grew up surrounded by vineyards, family traditions, and a deep respect for the land. After earning his degree in Enology and Viticulture and working extensively in the wine industry, he moved to the United States in 2017. While building his career in hospitality and wine management, he noticed that many small, family-owned Italian wineries producing exceptional wines had little to no representation in the American market.
Determined to change that, Aldo partnered with Alfonso and launched Above Wines. The company was built around a commitment to protecting Italy’s indigenous grape varieties, supporting family-run wineries, and introducing consumers to wines that truly represent their region of origin.
Our logo, inspired by the historic Bove family crest from Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, reflects this mission. The crowned bull symbolizes strength, heritage, and resilience, while the grape cluster represents our dedication to preserving Italy’s ancient vineyards and winemaking traditions.
What makes Above Wines unique is our rigorous and objective wine selection process. As the founder and winemaker, Aldo personally follows many of the winemaking operations at the wineries we represent. He maintains direct relationships with producers and carefully reviews the official enological analyses submitted to the Italian government, including key quality indicators such as acidity, pH, residual sugar, and sulfite levels. This scientific approach allows us to evaluate wines objectively before they are ever considered for our portfolio.
Once a wine passes the analytical review, it undergoes a comprehensive sensory evaluation to assess quality, balance, typicity, and its ability to express the terroir from which it originates. Only wines that meet our strict standards are approved for the Texas and U.S. market.
Today, Above Wines represents family-owned wineries across Italy and has grown into more than a wine-importing company. Through educational tastings, cultural events, wine tours, and direct relationships with producers, we strive to connect people with the authentic stories, traditions, and craftsmanship behind every bottle.
For us, wine is not simply a product—it is a bridge between cultures, generations, and communities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape who we are today.
One of the biggest hurdles was introducing small, family-owned Italian wineries to a highly competitive U.S. market dominated by large brands with substantial marketing budgets. Many of the wineries we represent produce exceptional wines, but they often lack the resources and visibility needed to compete internationally. Convincing consumers and retailers to take a chance on unfamiliar regions and indigenous grape varieties required a tremendous amount of education, persistence, and relationship-building.
There were also significant logistical and regulatory challenges. Importing wine involves navigating federal approvals, state regulations, shipping restrictions, compliance requirements, tariffs, and supply chain disruptions. As a young company, we had to learn how to manage every aspect of the business while maintaining our commitment to quality and authenticity.
On a personal level, moving from Italy to the United States meant adapting to a completely different culture and business environment. Building a network from the ground up while balancing work, family, and entrepreneurship was not easy. There were many long days, setbacks, and moments when growth seemed slower than expected.
Another challenge has been staying true to our mission. We could have taken an easier path by focusing on mass-market wines, but we chose to champion small producers, ancient grape varieties, and regions that many consumers have never heard of. That approach requires more effort, more education, and more storytelling, but it is what makes Above Wines unique.
The good news is that those challenges have also been our greatest rewards. Seeing customers discover a grape they’ve never tasted before, watching family wineries gain recognition in the U.S., and creating meaningful connections between people and Italian culture makes every obstacle worthwhile. Today, we continue to grow, but we still approach the business with the same passion and dedication that inspired us from the beginning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Above Wines, we specialize in sourcing, importing, and distributing authentic wines from small, family-owned wineries throughout Italy. Our focus is on indigenous grape varieties, historic wine regions, and producers who remain deeply connected to their land and traditions. Beyond importing wine, we serve as cultural ambassadors, helping consumers understand the stories, people, and places behind every bottle.
As a trained winemaker with a degree in Enology and Viticulture, founder Aldo Bove brings a unique perspective to the selection process. Unlike many importers who rely solely on tastings and commercial trends, Aldo personally reviews the technical and enological analyses of the wines, follows many of the winemaking operations directly with the producers, and evaluates each wine both scientifically and sensorially before it is approved for the U.S. market. This combination of technical expertise and practical winemaking experience allows us to maintain exceptionally high standards while remaining objective in our selections.
We are known for discovering hidden gems from regions that are often overlooked by the mainstream market. Rather than focusing on wines that are already widely available, we seek out family wineries producing authentic expressions of Italy’s native grapes and terroirs. Whether it’s a volcanic Falanghina from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, a historic Gaglioppo from Calabria, or a rare wine from the Amalfi Coast, our goal is to introduce consumers to the incredible diversity of Italian winemaking.
What sets us apart is our direct connection to the producers. We spend time in the vineyards, walk the land with the growers, discuss harvest decisions, review laboratory analyses, and build long-term relationships with the families behind the wines. We are not simply buying and selling products—we are helping preserve traditions that have often been passed down through multiple generations.
The accomplishment we are most proud of is creating a bridge between small Italian wineries and American consumers. Many of the producers we represent had little or no presence in the United States before partnering with Above Wines. Today, their wines are reaching new audiences, their stories are being shared, and consumers are gaining access to authentic wines that might otherwise never leave their local region in Italy.
Ultimately, our greatest pride comes from staying true to our mission: protecting Italy’s indigenous grape varieties, supporting family-owned wineries, and helping people experience Italy through wine, culture, education, and meaningful human connections.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, is creating something that has a lasting positive impact on people and communities.
Of course, every business needs to be profitable and sustainable, but financial results are only one measure of success. At Above Wines, we define success by the relationships we build, the family wineries we help support, and the experiences we create for our customers.
When a small producer from a remote village in Italy sees their wines appreciated by consumers thousands of miles away, that’s success. When someone attends one of our tastings and discovers a grape variety, a region, or a cultural tradition they never knew existed, that’s success. When we can help preserve indigenous grape varieties and support family businesses that have been farming the same land for generations, that’s success.
On a personal level, success means staying true to your values while continuing to grow. As a winemaker, I believe authenticity matters. I never wanted to build a company focused solely on selling wine; I wanted to build a bridge between Italy and the United States through culture, education, and genuine human connections.
I also believe success is measured by legacy. If, years from now, Above Wines is recognized not only for the quality of its wines but for helping preserve traditions, supporting family-owned wineries, and inspiring people to explore the richness of Italian culture, then I would consider that a true success.
At the end of the day, success is not about how many bottles we sell—it’s about how many meaningful connections we create along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abovewines.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abovewines_grappolowineshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grappolo.wineshop
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abovewines
- Other: https://grappolowineshop.com/
