-
Where it all began…
Ironically, our wine business all started over a few beers… More precisely, it all began in a small garden bar in the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen. It was here on a summer evening in 1998 that two wine enthusiasts, American Ian Ford and New Zealander Brendan O'Toole, resolved to follow their passions and founded a small wine importing business.
-
A bond with China
Ian & Brendan had already been living in China and working in the beverage industry for several years. Ian was with global wines and spirits giant Seagram and Brendan was with business and management thought leaders, Boston Consulting Group. While both were based out of Xiamen, their work required them to travel extensively throughout China. As a result, they developed a deep appreciation for China, its people, its rich culture, its heritage, and its food and beverage connoisseurship.
-
An opportunity arose
Although they enjoyed their beers very much that evening, Ian and Brendan couldn't help but crave a nice bottle of imported wine.
Based on their own extensive experiences working in the beverage industry all across China, Ian and Brendan were convinced of the enormous potential for the development of wine consumption in China. Casting ahead 20 years, they could easily picture themselves sitting in that same garden bar sipping drinks, only this time not beers but instead a sampling from a list of glorious wines from all around the world. -
An idea was born!
Before long, Ian and Brendan both left their jobs and launched Summergate with the aim of importing and distributing fine wines in China.
In naming the company they drew on the fact that their inspiration had come from that beautiful late-summer evening in that garden bar in Xiamen … They themselves often referred to the city as "Summer's Gate", that being a loose, poetic (if not entirely precise) translation of the name Xiamen. Summergate's Chinese name "Mei Xia", literally meaning "beautiful summer" also reflects the origins, as does the company's logo, which shows a vibrant summer sun emerging inside a stylised version of the Chinese character for "gate". -
Summergate’s doors opened across the country
The first Summergate offices were launched in Shanghai and Beijing in the fall of 1999. Further offices were subsequently opened in Shenzhen in 2003, Guangzhou in 2004, Macau in 2006, and Hong Kong at the beginning of 2009. Several new offices were opened at the beginning of 2011, including Shenyang, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Sanya and Chengdu, now followed by the newest office opened in Wuhan in February, 2014. From all these locations Summergate today routinely markets, sells, and delivers products and services to all provinces and all of the major cities across the full length and breadth of China.
-
A 15 year journey
Now fifteen years since opening, Summergate today offers customers a stunning portfolio of fine drinks. Working closely with more than 60 carefully selected partners from 12 of the world’s lead producing countries, category by category, Summergate's powerful line-up of global brands ranks among the very best for reputation, quality and value for money. Great products, backed up by great people, delivering friendly and ultra-attentive service and expertise!
-
…what will the next ten years hold for Summergate?
There is one certainty. Summergate will maintain its unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of excellence in selection and service, so that you can explore the myriad tastes of fine drinks from all over the world.
