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About Stelle Wine Co.

Stelle Wine Co. is an importer and distributor representing winemakers full of energy, dedication, and courage, from Champagne, Burgundy, Langhe, and beyond. Driven by passion and the opportunity to excite consumers about emerging winemakers and revered wine regions, we work with a diverse and dynamic portfolio of winegrowers who reflect an innovative blend of traditional and new-age winemaking to champion their respective appellations and regions. With a strong foundation in hospitality and trusted relationships with winemakers, we aim to bring high-quality wines to the dining tables of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and beyond.

About Tom Stelle

As a dedicated hospitalitarian, Tom Stelle’s passion for and experience in food and wine spans more than a decade. Stelle Wine Co. was born from working in restaurant management, completing an MBA at Cornell University focused in food & beverage entrepreneurship, and his time spent working an eye-opening harvest in Italy. 

Tom’s career in hospitality began at the Michelin-starred Babbo in New York in 2014 where he worked his way up to Assistant General Manager. While at Babbo, he guided his team through many accomplishments, including hosting the Obama family for a tasting of the dinner menu in preparation for the final State Dinner in 2016. Beyond his operational role at Babbo, the rich wine culture—propped up by the accolade of “best Italian-centric wine list in the country” — transformed his curiosity and understanding of the world of wine.

Following his stint as company-wide consultant for B&B Hospitality Group, Tom embarked on a journey to further solidify his foundation in food and wine, as an MBA candidate at Cornell University, the heart of hospitality education in the United States. He was fortunate to learn from revered professors with over a century’s worth of food & beverage industry knowledge and experience, who helped foster his innate passion for wine. During his MBA studies, he began studying through the Court of Master Sommeliers to refine his technical knowledge, language, and skills in wine.

In the fall of 2020, he participated in harvest in Chianti Classico at Principe Corsini, a family-run domaine in Tuscany with roots dating back to 1363. This career-defining experience led him to travel through Burgundy, Champagne, and Piedmont during the harvest season to further solidify his familiarity and connection to these wine regions. The invaluable time he spent on the ground building relationships with the winemakers gave way to the launch of his own portfolio. 

With Stelle Wine Co., Tom is excited to continue to immerse himself in the rich histories of the domaines, friendships with hospitable people, and, of course, the incredible art of winemaking.