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Our Story
It began with an Italian racing car driver.
My father migrated from Italy to Australia in 1952.
That’s him in the picture, driving a racing car in Italy
just after the Second World War.
He was attracted to racing cars and motorbikes because to him, a young man emerging from a war-torn Italy, they symbolised optimism for the future. In fact, part of the reason he came to Australia was to earn enough money to return to Italy and buy the car he really wanted.As it turns out, the skills he had as a racing car driver would serve him well in his new life in Australia.
My father was
quick to spot an opportunity and had a genius for seeing the road ahead.
Having worked in my grandfather’s grocery store in Italy, he arrived with good experience and landed a job at a store called Agostino’s, which he eventually bought from the elderly owner.
He and his brothers went on to buy and operate a number of grocery and liquor stores across Melbourne in the 1950s and then, in the 1960s, began to source and import their own products. Most of these came from Italy and were ‘exotic’ for Australia at the time: mineral water, olive oil, anchovies, pasta, tinned tuna and parmesan cheese. Dad was importing these goods with the growing number of Italian immigrants in Australia.
He and his brothers went on to buy and operate a number of grocery and liquor stores across Melbourne in the 1950s and then, in the 1960s, began to source and import their own products. Most of these came from Italy and were ‘exotic’ for Australia at the time: mineral water, olive oil, anchovies, pasta, tinned tuna and parmesan cheese. Dad was importing these goods with the growing number of Italian immigrants in Australia.
One of the foundations for my father’s success was how he treated his customers.
He might have been selling products that non-Italians were unfamiliar with and often wary of, but he was confident they would grow to like these products. He would greet every customer who came into his shop the same way, making sure they felt comfortable, welcome and looked after, sharing his passion for the products with them.
I wanted to break down the barriers of a product like wine that is often viewed as exclusive...
One of the foundations for my father’s success was how he treated his customers. He might have been selling products that non-Italians were unfamiliar with and often wary of, but he was confident they would grow to like these products. He would greet every customer who came into his shop the same way, making sure they felt comfortable, welcome and looked after, sharing his passion for the products with them. This kind of inclusivity has remained the philosophy of our family ever since and was central to my thinking about Joval – I wanted to break down the barriers of a product like wine that is often viewed as exclusive and intimidating and talk about it in an inclusive way that anyone, from a beginner to an expert could understand and enjoy.
My family decided to sell the winery, so I bought the wine distribution side of the business which was the beginning of Joval for my family. So, on our journey, we have been involved in every area of the wine business from grape growing and wine production to distribution and retail. That knowledge and experience was the spark for Joval. We love, appreciate and understand fine wine and it remains our focus in this on-going family story, that started with my father, a racing car and an optimism for the future.
We love, appreciate and understand fine wine and it remains our focus in this on-going family story, that started with my father, a racing car and an optimism for the future.
- John Valmorbida
What we do
Our main line of business is fine wine distribution. Through our two companies, red+white and Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist, we apply a thoughtful, bespoke and finely calibrated approach that has made us one of Australia’s most highly regarded wine sales and marketing specialists.
We take pride in this recognition. In 1993 Joval was a small team of six people. Now we are more than 200
taking real pride in what we do. We know our wines and what our customers are after and work hard to put these
wines into the right hands where they will be most enjoyed.
It’s particularly rewarding to work with
a product with a value that’s so intangible, where so many elements are important but no single one sets it
apart and defines it. There are hundreds of reasons and stories, big and small, that merge to make a wine great.
Even the most brilliant wine in the world can be overlooked if it’s not marketed, sold and distributed
sympathetically.
This is where we come in.
Our two companies are like siblings, sharing similar DNA and outlook,
but each separately evolved to play to their different strengths. Both red+white and Mezzanine TFWS operate
independently, each with a dedicated sales and marketing team taking care of the separate individually curated
portfolios, but they also collaborate, utilising the same extensive service platform that allows us the kind of
effective and efficient service that underpins our reputation.
Our family also makes our own wine, proudly sold alongside our agency brands and so we fully comprehend the
vital role a passionate, informed and engaged marketing and distribution team plays in a winery’s success.
This is our purpose at Joval –
to add value to every wine brand we represent,
building the value of Joval for the benefit of all.
We love wine
Fine wine is something that you share with family and friends, usually with a meal. It often marks a celebration or significant event in our lives. Every vintage, every wine, is a unique experience. Fine wine connects us to the land and places and the rolling years and the journey of our lives.
A bottle of wine is waiting patiently to be opened in the hope it makes a moment special. From the story of the winemaker, to the conversations and laughter between family and friends. Is there a more beautiful drink that says as much as a good glass of wine?
Every year, vintage rolls over and every single product we sell changes. We thrive on this challenge. When it does work it is always the result of many things working together in harmony. Everyone with an important role to play, regardless of how different their roles might be.
All with a common purpose – to add value to the various wine brands we represent. As a result of this, we build the value of Joval for the benefit of all.
In 1995 John Valmorbida went from managing a family-owned winery to creating a wine distribution company with a business model based on his first-hand knowledge of what wineries needed.
Being selective about the wineries we work with is where it starts.
Back then I knew little about how to run a wine distribution company,” he says. “But I knew a hell of a lot about wineries and what they wanted from their distributors – I knew what a wine brand needed to succeed.” The distribution business that became red+white started with a clear and simple mission: to build the value of the wine brands we represent.
Our carefully curated contemporary portfolio includes only brands we admire and believe in and which are complementary to one another.
Our portfolio is necessarily compact to ensure the direct focus needed to achieve the full potential of each winery we represent.We consider our wineries our partners. Their success is our success. The more desirable they are to our customers, the more valuable we all become.
red+white essentially becomes a key member of the sales and marketing team of each brand we represent. We are the eyes and ears of the market. This allows our winery partners the freedom to concentrate on making great wine as we all play to our own strengths, delivering the high level of service – from ordering to delivery – our fine wine-buying customers expect.
Thesymbol is integral to who we are.
Our reach has expanded as the reputation and demand for our winery partner’s products has grown. red+white is now able to cover most, if not all, areas where fine wine is sold and is regarded amongst Australia’s most highly respected wine distributors. Our passionate, experienced and talented team is a point of pride as is our reputation for service and innovation.
At its simplest, it represents our role as the link between our winery partners and customers. It also speaks to our ongoing mission, firstly to add value to every stakeholder in the business and, secondly, to our determination to add something new and fresh to the mix every day.
It reminds us of our goal: to be better, always.
We’re the younger sibling of red+white. We share DNA – great service, integrity and a passion for wine – but we’ve also forged our own path with a distinct portfolio of wines made by committed winemakers with a particular story to tell. These are wines that add something innovative and special to the crowded wine landscape.These are wines that add something innovative and special to the crowded wine landscape.
Mezzanine TFWS started as a kind of experiment with one talented person taking care of a few relatively unknown brands.
We now have offices in every state of Australia. Each state has a specific direction, driven by trusted individuals given autonomy to form long-term relationships with winery partners and treat them all, big or small, with care and respect. All have expertise in wine, but become especially expert in the wines we carry and the market they work in.
The model has proved successful and we have seen many once-obscure brands grow into some of Australia’s – and the world’s – most desirable and highly regarded wines. Subsequently, we have been approached by a wide array of brands, from iconic to eccentric, who have partnered with us because they’ve seen something special in the way we operate and the level of precision, attention and commitment we bring. It is, and always will be, about our performance.
Mezzanine TFWS started as a kind of experiment with one talented person taking care of a few relatively unknown brands.
Designed in Melbourne, Plumm is the only glass brand in the world owned and run by a wine
company.
After making and selling wine for over 50 years, we know that the shape of a glass significantly
influences the flavour and aroma of a wine. Just as listening to music gets better with the right
acoustics, the right wine glass will enhance every wine. But who really needs a different glass for
every variety of grape? Let’s face it, wine can get complicated but wine glasses shouldn’t be. That’s
why we create glasses for people who love wine like we do but want to keep it simple.
We’ve pioneered an innovation that saves brain, table and storage space and, even better, enhances every wine experience. Rather than separate glasses for every wine variety, Plumm offers just a handful of wine glasses that cover all bases. Our practical, beautiful glasses are designed for particular styles of wine, from fullbodied to light and sparkling. If you want it even simpler and prefer to use just one glass, we’ve designed elegant universal wine glasses to suit all wine styles.
Whether you can identify different Champagne
houses or your interest in wine begins and ends
with a wine being white or red, our glasses get the
best out of every wine, regardless of occasion,
from enjoying a solo glass of wine on the couch
to hosting a dinner party with friends
Make every wine moment count.
Our
Values & Beliefs
Values & Beliefs
We’ve consciously and collectively built a culture that’s central to who we are and how we like to work. It’s an approach where great results are important but how we achieve those results is of equal importance.
We’re geared to succeed and grow but also to having fun on the journey in an environment that’s both stimulating and inspiring. We love to win and often do, but never by sacrificing our values.
How do we do this? We start with authenticity, care, empathy and passion. We take these core values and apply them to all our people, in every role and at every level. We genuinely care for our customers, brands, our mission, our team-mates and ourselves.
If you’re keen to find out more about the values that bring us together and set us apart from many others, keep reading.
Trust & Integrity
Straight Talking...
Trust is not a given. We earn trust through our actions. This is why we like straight talking.
In order to build trust, we give – and expect to receive – professional, constructive and
continuous feedback from anyone across the organisation regardless of what position
they hold in the company, even if it’s uncomfortable to do so.
We want open conversation. It’s not about what people want to hear, it’s about what’s right. It’s about questioning decisions or actions that we think might detrimentally impact the business, or our integrity, regardless of who’s responsible or their position in the company.
We want open conversation. It’s not about what people want to hear, it’s about what’s right. It’s about questioning decisions or actions that we think might detrimentally impact the business, or our integrity, regardless of who’s responsible or their position in the company.
Empathy & Respect
Not me, Not you, Us...
All our people, regardless of their role in the business, are treated with respect. Everyone has an important part to play.
We respect and welcome the diversity of our colleagues’ background and their different
skill sets. We take our people’s safety and wellbeing seriously. We embrace and value
talent rather than simply gravitating to people similar to ourselves.
We nurture and mentor less experienced colleagues and assist them in advancing their careers. We stand up for our team-mates if we believe they’re being ignored, disrespected or unfairly treated, making sure their efforts are properly acknowledged.
We treat others’ concerns as our own, responding quickly, never ignoring or dismissing matters that are important to others. We always enjoy and openly celebrate thesuccesses of our team-mates.
Our aim is to foster and build long-lasting, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with our team mates, winery partners, suppliers and customers.
We nurture and mentor less experienced colleagues and assist them in advancing their careers. We stand up for our team-mates if we believe they’re being ignored, disrespected or unfairly treated, making sure their efforts are properly acknowledged.
We treat others’ concerns as our own, responding quickly, never ignoring or dismissing matters that are important to others. We always enjoy and openly celebrate thesuccesses of our team-mates.
Our aim is to foster and build long-lasting, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with our team mates, winery partners, suppliers and customers.
Empowerment
Go for it!
Our people don’t need to be babysat. We want them free to be themselves and to make their own decisions within an agreedupon framework.
We encourage our people to work smart, to make a difference and to inspire others.
We encourage our people to take on extra responsibility and have the confidence to have a go. We want them to take calculated risks and, if they get it wrong, they will not be berated but be encouraged to learn from their mistakes.
We expect good, important decision-making every day, at all levels, to allow people to grow and make a difference.
We encourage our people to take on extra responsibility and have the confidence to have a go. We want them to take calculated risks and, if they get it wrong, they will not be berated but be encouraged to learn from their mistakes.
We expect good, important decision-making every day, at all levels, to allow people to grow and make a difference.
Accountability
Talk the talk, Walk the walk...
We are always conscious of our promise to hold all of our colleagues to the highest standards of behaviour.
We communicate clearly about what is expected and are always unafraid to ask for further
clarity if we are unsure. We ensure the right people receive the acknowledgment for great
performance while, at the same time being prepared to own our own mistakes.
Collaboration
Together we fly...
We’re proud to be part of a winning team and push ourselves to be the best team players we can be.
We share information openly with all our colleagues and believe the best decisions come
from collaboration. Diverse views from different people with a variety of experience are the
parts that if brought together make the best decisions.
We believe that the best way to collaborate and make good quick decisions is when a selected individual takes ownership of each and every important decision. After consultation, the appointed person makes their call but ensures those involved all understand the reason behind the decisions, especially those who may hold a different view. Explanation in place, everyone then works smart to make it work.
We encourage our people to offer a view of areas of business beyond their own. Solutions often become clearer from a distance than when you’re immersed in it. To this end we are interested and make time to listen, nurture, and embrace different perspectives from across the company.
Every person in every position young or experienced has something important to contribute.
We believe that the best way to collaborate and make good quick decisions is when a selected individual takes ownership of each and every important decision. After consultation, the appointed person makes their call but ensures those involved all understand the reason behind the decisions, especially those who may hold a different view. Explanation in place, everyone then works smart to make it work.
We encourage our people to offer a view of areas of business beyond their own. Solutions often become clearer from a distance than when you’re immersed in it. To this end we are interested and make time to listen, nurture, and embrace different perspectives from across the company.
Every person in every position young or experienced has something important to contribute.
Innovation
Today’s plan: Tomorrow...
Change is the only constant, so we make our decisions based on the future, not just looking after today.
We are curious and continually challenge the status quo exploring new and better ways
to do things. We are not worried that we do things differently or if something hasn’t been
tried before. We look for new ways to simplify and improve by challenging everything from
processes to reports and job roles.
Company First
Mission: Joval
We seek what is best for Joval not for ourselves, our department or friends. The company then has an obligation to care for its people and its community.
When Joval succeeds everybody shares in that win.
These values connect us and are what sets us apart from many others. They’re what we’re most proud of and work hardest to protect and nurture. They’re what makes Joval so special.
Our people are important to us above all else.
Every connection with one another, our customers, our winery partners or our community all hold equal value. We are driven to make a difference. We love to win, and often do, but never by sacrificing our values.
Philanthropy and Sustainability
Joval Wines aspires to minimise our impact on the global environment. We aim to maximise the effective use of resources throughout our operations whilst providing outstanding products and services to our staff, customers and stakeholders.
The Company is committed to integrating a high standard of environmental, social and ethical principles into our business and implementing innovative sustainable solutions with passion.
It is our goal to achieve prosperity for all those associated with Joval Wines, supporting our wider team with opportunities to succeed and have a positive impact.
We recognise we have a role to play in the broader world and encourage all our employees to participate in causes they feel passionate about. In addition to our individual contributions, as a business we are proud supporters of:
Red Kite offers essential support to young people diagnosed with cancer and their families, from the moment of diagnosis throughout treatment and beyond. As a family owned business, relationships are central to everything we do making this partnership an important and natural fit with our values.
OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue charity. They collect quality surplus food, distribute it to people in need and divert food waste from landfill. As a primary producer we have concern about the environmental impact of food waste. Our selection of Oz Harvest stems not only from our connection to food through hospitality but also the opportunity to support our donations with volunteering.
Clean Up Australia Day is Australia’s largest community-based environmental event. What started as a simple Australian idea, has now expanded into 120 countries with an estimated 35 million people annually taking part. With our national footprint, our teams take part within their local communities to help support this great Australian initiative
See the Joval Wines Report here
See the Joval Wines Performance Summary here
See the Joval Wines Action Plan here
Happenings
June 2022
Joval Thank You Dinner
June 2022
Joval Thank You Dinner
May 2022
Plumm Team
May 2020
Super Sunday at Nanny Goat Vineyard
May 2020
Super Sunday at Nanny Goat Vineyard
May 2020
Super Sunday at Nanny Goat Vineyard
June 2020
State Sales Managers Conference June 2022
June 2020
State Sales Managers Conference June 2022
June 2020
State Sales Managers Conference June 2022
September 2020
Many of our winery partners like red+white's Oliver's Taranga sent our teams care (wine) packs to get them through lockdown and COVID restrictions. We're all in it together.
August 2020
Due to COVID, the teams have had to adapt quickly to the shift in winery partner visits and training. Thank you Microsoft Teams!
August 2020
The recent restaurant restrictions have seen our teams spend more and more time in retail outlets showing off their visual merchandising skills.
July 2020
During COVID restrictions we launched restaurantrevival.com.au – a website housing a suite of initiatives geared to support restaurants with resources and cash injections.
July 2020
One of our unsung heroes Adrian Williams in our National Accounts team celebrates his 15 year anniversary with the Joval Wine Group.
April 2020
Paying homage to the legendary Don Lewis. The wine industry lost a true gem when Don passed in 2017. Lucky for us, his legacy lives on in the beautiful wines of Tar & Roses, exquisitely crafted by Narelle King.
April 2020
Snow falling near the Nanny Goat Vineyard this week, but vintage 2020 in Central Otago is looking great.
April 2020
You’ve heard of remote working but the Mezzanine TFWS team are now remote dining. All in aid of supporting our hospitality friends through this tough time.
April 2020
The Catalina Sounds guys putting the ‘remote’ in remote working all the way from the vineyard in Marlborough.
March 2020
Mezzanine TFWS QLD State Manager Gae Grant, Ghanem Group Sommelier Penny Grant and Antoine Heurtier, Emporium Hotel Sommelier at the Nanny Goat Vineyard Benchmark Tasting.
March 2020
Getting our hands dirty (albeit with gloves) and helping to keep Australia beautiful. The SA, WA, NSW, VIC and QLD offices all took part in Clean Up Australia.
March 2020
It’s International Women’s Day and we are one of the few wine companies whose management team is predominately female.
February 2020
Happy Australia Day Everyone! To mark the occassion, the Vic office held an Aussie BBQ with all proceeds going to the Victorian Bushfire relief Fund (Australian Red Cross & RSPCA). $470 was raised in total!
February 2020
The VIC team enjoy a post ARRIVALS drink.
March 2020
Our Sydney team cooking up 120 delicious meals for those in need and learning more about the great work
February 2020
Melbourne! We’re here and ready to pour. So many of our great imported brands will be joining us at ARRIVALS trade tasting event
February 2020
The New South Wales team helping out at @ozharvest. OzHarvest is a food rescue charity that collects excess food from businesses and delivers it directly to more than 1300 charities.
February 2020
Milly doing her thing for Urban Wine Walk.
January 2020
Sally McGill enjoyed a comprehensive tasting of some very special Graci wines whilst visiting Alberto Graci (L) and Riccardo Negri (R) in Etna, Sicily over January.
January 2020
Meet Rising Wines new winemaker Anthony Fikkers. He’s worked with some winemaking heavies… looking forward to what he brings to v20.
January 2020
Great pic of sales team on last day for @tash_johns 😢
January 2020
Happy 20th Birthday to our mates at @whistlerwines. These Barossa stalwarts have been grape growing and making wine for four generations.
December 2019
Haylee Nicholls and Manu Fidel at ‘The Sauce’ Event.
December 2019
Will Gilbert’s visit in December 2019. Gilbert Family Wines is a new brand to red+white.
December 2019
Perth team Christmas lunch 2019.
December 2019
Finance Team winning our People’s Choice Award for Best Film at the JWG annual short film festival.
December 2019
The tech services team get together for some bare foot bowls action.
November 2019
To our friends Martin and Michael, congratulations on 30 wonderful years of Shaw and Smith.
November 2019
Cracking day for a Catalina Sounds vintage lunch with the NSW team and customers.
October 2019
Launching the Plumm Three - The Sommelier Series. Our newest range of elegant European crystal wine glasses.
October 2019
Narelle King from Tar & Roses wins the Pinot Grigio Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards.
October 2019
The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards... all poured in Plumm Wineglasses (4209 glasses to be exact!).
October 2019
The new Nanny Goat Cellar Door is open!
September 2019
Melbourne RedKite Corporate Trivia night.
September 2019
Felton Road Masterclass with Blair Walter.
September 2019
Tasting some new Luigi Einaudi wines from Barolo with their export manager Nick Bielak.
August 2019
Joval team attending and representing us at the RedKite Corporate Trivia night in Brisbane.
August 2019
The Sydney team took part in City to Surf and raised over $15,000 for the Sydney Children Hospital.
August 2019
The Queensland team aims to raise $10,000 for cancer diagnosis.
July 2019
Masterclass at our Sydney Wanderlust tasting event.
July 2019
AIX tasting at our Wanderlust event in Victoria.
July 2019
The WA team visit the Dal Zotto Restaurant in the King Valley, Victoria.
June 2019
Christian, Otto and Michael Dal Zotto, winners of the Halliday Dark Horse Winery of the Year 2020 award.
June 2019
Cullen Winemaker Andy Barrett-Lennard, Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Vanya Cullen and Viticulturist Matt Dermody accepting their Halliday Winemaker of the Year award.
June 2019
State representatives of MTFWS celebrating Halliday award wins with Peter Fraser of Yangarra, Cullen Viticulturist Matt Dermody, Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Vanya Cullen and Winemaker Andy Barrett-Lennard.
May 2019
Give it up for our 2019 Christmas in July bad sweater top 4! Congratulations to Paul, Rupert, Bel and Elloit.
May 2019
The team up at Rieslingfreak celebrating their 10-year anniversary.
May 2019
Great shot from the Shaw and Smith 30th Vintage Yum Cha.
April 2019
Champagne Louis Roederer winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon showcasing their superb Cuvées with our red+white SA team.
April 2019
Shaw + Smith 30th Vintage Yum Cha and the release of the 2019 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc.
April 2019
James Tomkins, one of our greatest Olympians and above all a great person, joins us for an inspirational talk.
March 2019
We’re pleased to be releasing this week the hotly anticipated 2017 M3 Chardonnay and 2018 Pinot Noir from @shawandsmith.
March 2019
W E L C O M E @nickolearywines to the Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist portfolio in VIC, QLD, SA & WA!
March 2019
The passing last weekend of our great friend Colin Campbell after a short illness marks the end of an outstanding era of achievement in the wine industry.
January 2019
Laurent Fédou Canard-Duchêne Chef de Caves catching up with some of our favourite customers.
January 2019
Our NSW Mezzanine TFWS Women in Wine.
January 2019
Jason from Black Cottage Wines hitting the road in Brissie.
Contact Us
SUPPORT OFFICE
Level 3,436 Johnston Street,
Abbotsford,
VIC 3067
NSW
Level 4,51 Berry Street,
North Sydney,
NSW 2026
QLD
Suite 2,47 Park Road,
Milton,
QLD 4064
SA
99 Maud Street,Unley,
SA 5061
TAS
215 Liverpool Street,Hobart,
TAS 7000
WA
21 Southport Street,West Leederville,
WA 6007
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