Local wine distributor Eric Platt saw a hole in the American wine consumer’s palate: value-oriented wines in the $15 to $30 range that offer great fruit, structure and balance, while being readily available in local wine shops. After spending several years working for a prominent importer, Platt decided to return his focus to his roots. He joined a consortium of five New Zealand winemakers who banded together to share resources in order to get the word out that New Zealand has more to offer the American market than lamb.