Neil Empson was a good man. That is, by far, the single most important thing one can say about anyone who passes away. What really counts is not that said person was an important man, or a famous man, which of course Neil Empson was, but a good man. Because Neil was both famous and important, but I’m sure he’d much prefer to be remembered as a good man. I know I would. Neil Empson passed away at age 85 and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
I have no idea when I first met Neil. My memory is not what it used to be: in fact, right now, if you were to ask me where I put the keys to the house only a few hours ago, I’m not sure I’d be able to tell you. But I do remember Neil. And I remember him well.
First off, there’s much to admire about someone who spent his honeymoon in Portofino (in 1969): after all, Love in Portofino (1958) by Fred Buscaglione is one of my favourite Italian songs, but I guess that’s probably besides the point.
But that song, and that honeymoon, are in fact very much the point: Neil Empson loved Italy, wanted to live there and turned it into his life work. And so he did. After having begun by selling cars (but not just any cars: in a sign of what was to be, he also sold Ferraris), he created an Italian wine importing company that was to be successful like few others. With offices in the USA, Italy, Canada and Japan, and about fifty growers in the fold the wines of whom are exported to roughly thirty and more countries, not to mention numerous accolades and awards to his credit, Empson was a force to be reckoned with.
For nearly a half century Empson & Co. championed fine Italian wines in the United States and around the world. Founded by Neil and Maria Empson in 1972, at a time when Cirò, Chianti and Soave were the only Italian wines most people had heard of, Empson was the first to bring quality wines from the likes of Gaja, Sassicaia, Marcarini, Boscarelli, Pieropan and many others into the USA.
In ultimate analysis, Neil Empson and I shared many similar beliefs. Wine is about quality (we both loved the Soave wines of Pieropan, for example) but above all, it is about people and relationships. Loyalty is an oft-forgotten commodity in today’s world of wine, but that was never the case with Neil, who forged and maintained long-standing relationships with almost all his wineries and their people. I know for a fact that the people running the wineries the wines of which he imported liked Neil as much as he liked them: they more or less all told me so in fact. There was much more there than a working relationship between Neil and his wineries and their people, something that was much closer to friendship.
And you know, friendships are easy to create, with a good man.
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The EMPSON Companies announced the passing of their beloved Chairman and Co-Founder, Neil Trevanion Howard Empson, on Saturday, September 14, 2024. He was 85 years old. Neil Empson was the chairman and co-founder of Empson & Co. (1972), Empson USA (1991), and Empson Canada (2000) and was a pioneer in exporting fine Italian wines to the USA, Canada, and elsewhere. He and his wife Maria were at the forefront of the quality revolution during the early days of Italian exports and continued to uncover and champion unheralded regions which today have become benchmarks of that revolution. Knowing that quality is not constrained by any boundaries, they expanded their table and proudly showcase wines from Oregon, California, New Zealand, & Chile.
Neil was born on March 16, 1939, in the famous agricultural district of Waikato in New Zealand and passed away on September 14, 2024.
Neil Empson is survived by his beloved wife and business partner of 50+ years, Maria Gemma Empson, and his three children, Tara Empson (Owner/CEO of Empson & Co, Empson USA and Empson Canada), Tracy Rudich (Owner/CEO of Vinntra Pty Ltd / Intimo), Paul Empson (Owner/CEO of Paul Empson Photography), his beloved siblings Heather, Margaret and Graham of Australia, as well as his grandchildren.
