The EMPSON Companies announce the passing of their beloved
Chairman and Co-Founder, Neil Trevanion Howard Empson, on
Saturday, September 14, 2024. He was
85 years old. "My dad was my rock and mentor. He was dedicated to
my mom, our family, the company, and the wineries he represented"
said Tara Empson, CEO of Empson
USA. "My mother and I will miss
him deeply."
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 14,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/
-- Neil Empson,
chairman and co-founder of Empson & Co. (1972), Empson
USA (1991), and Empson Canada (2000) was a pioneer in exporting
fine Italian wines to the USA,
Canada, and beyond. His extraordinary vision, eye for quality, and
unique ability to understand wine led Neil to represent some of the
most iconic producers in the wine world over the course of his
lifetime, specifically giving Italian wine – and Empson – a
prominent position on the world's wine scene.
He and 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. His farmer forebears helped shape
who he was and how he worked, passing on a legacy of respect for
people and the soil and a total dedication to excellence. He was
known for his integrity, charisma, and captivating storytelling
capabilities, able to inspire confidence in any situation, with
infectious enthusiasm and a good dose of humor.
In 1969, he met and fell in love with Maria Gemma. Together, they built a life,
family, and business, starting in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in
Milan and growing it into a
foremost exporter of premium Italian wine. Neil loved many things –
rugby, fast cars, racing, travel, art, and so much more – but his
three greatest loves were always his family, the Empson team, and
the wineries whom he cared for deeply.
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.
Neil Empson will be greatly
missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire Tara, Maria, and
the entire Empson global team.
About Empson USA |
http://www.empsonusa.com
Family-owned since its foundation in 1991, Empson USA is an enterprising fine wine and spirits
importer with a dynamic portfolio of distinctive estates from
Italy, Chile, New
Zealand, and the USA.
Empson's mission is to seek out and champion carefully selected
top-tier producers worldwide, and to share the "Art of Fine Wine"
with customers and partners in the US market.
Media Contact
Cristina Coari, EMPSON
USA, (646) 624-2885,
ccoari@colangelopr.com, https://www.empsonusa.com/
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