It would be difficult to find a pair with more compelling résumés to deliver the finest wines from France, Italy, Austria, and Germany to thirsty Santa Barbarans than Mike Trupiano and Kyle Erickson.
After four years upping the Bacara’s cellar game from 2008 to 2012, Trupiano moved to San Ysidro Ranch, where he gained much renown in sommelier circles by winning its Stonehouse restaurant the coveted Grand Award from Wine Spectator in 2014. Santa Barbara native Erickson, meanwhile, started VanceErickson Wine Brokers with friend Ted Vance in 2008, and built a national reputation selling both exclusive imports from Burgundy and some of the Central Coast’s more cultish labels such as Tyler Winery.
Together, in February of this year, they launched Industry Wine Merchants (IWM), believing that there is a strong desire in Santa Barbara circles for Old World wines and not enough folks selling them. According to Erickson, IWM will fill the niche once occupied by the Wine Cask, which dropped its bottle shop more than five years ago. “If that existed today, you’d have legions of fans flocking to that store,” said Erickson. “I don’t think they went anywhere. They’re just buying things online.”