Joe Dressner, the rough around the edges, individualistic, free thinking wine importer, died on Saturday at the age of 60 due to brain cancer. I only met Joe Dressner a few times. My only real personal connection was when a few years ago my company partnered with him and co-hosted a wine event here in Portland – along with a dozen or so of his producers who had traveled here from France.
The wines in the Dressner portfolio were and are some of my very favorites. For a number of reasons, they had not been in our marketplace for over a year. Just recently a new distributor, PDX Wine, has brought them back into Oregon. While sampling a small selection the other day, I was again struck by how special and unique the wines in the Dressner portfolio are. Tasting them is like falling in love all over again.
I can’t say I ever really knew Joe Dressner, but I am going to miss him. All of us who have loved the wines he introduced to us owe him a debt of gratitude. You could learn more about wine from just tasting a dozen wines in his portfolio than you ever could from any book, person, course or trip.
I’m sorry to learn of his death. I’ve enjoyed the wines he brought in over the years, purchased from you and others.
tony johnson