Broadbent Selections

Short overview of the company

Broadbent Selections is a wine importer and selector based in Richmond, VA. The company carries a versatile range of bottles from family-owned producers, with particular emphasis on Portuguese Dão and Douro wines, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Lower Austria. In their approach, Broadbent prioritizes drinkability, fruit, and balance, and the portfolio ranges from easy-drinking everyday wines to more structured Reserve bottlings.

History

Behind the Broadbent label

Bartholomew Broadbent stands at the center of Broadbent Selections' relationship with Portugal. His interest in the Portuguese wines is about their drinkability, lively fruit, and balance. To realize this approach, Broadbent collaborates with historic and family-owned producers in Dão and Douro, where dry table wines are highlighted over fortified wines. In other parts of the portfolio, Broadbent group wines are produced in collaboration with individuals such as Markus Huber in Lower Austria, who produce and bottle their Grüner Veltliner for Broadbent. The collaboration ranges from vineyard and cellar vinification to bottling in the country of origin, and includes both lighter, easy-drinking lines and a Reserve edition that receives extra oak barrel aging.

Raw materials and production

Notable production characteristics include four separate vinifications of four indigenous white grape varieties, followed by blending, local vinification, and bottling in the country of origin for certain labels; exclusively stainless steel vinification for selected white and everyday red wines; collaboration with family-owned wineries; use of indigenous Portuguese grape varieties in Dão and Douro; and vineyard selections from limestone parcels for Grüner Veltliner.

Aging and barrel types

The aging strategy is evident in the differences between the versions: some wines are kept exclusively in stainless steel to preserve freshness and pronounced fruit character, while expressions such as Douro Reserve mature in French oak barrels for about a year to add structure and depth. The standard Douro Red is explicitly described as without oak aging, which intentionally keeps the grape's pure profile at the center.

Wines

Broadbent portfolio primarily contains regional, drinkable wines for everyday use and food pairing. Prominent labels are Broadbent Dão White, Broadbent Douro Red and Douro Reserve Red, as well as a Broadbent Grüner Veltliner in a one-litre bottle. The Dão white is made as a fresh, light-bodied white wine from four indigenous varieties; the Douro line ranges from fresh, unoaked reds to a Reserve bottling with French oak aging. The range is presented as affordable, but with the aim of delivering solid craftsmanship and regional character.

General flavor profile

The portfolio embraces fresh, fruity, and herbaceous profiles with both citrus and stone-fruit notes, as well as darker berry character in the more structured red wines.

Fruitiness is described as green apple, lime, peaches; black fruit in more reserved red wines. Oak is described as present in reserved Douro expressions through French oak aging.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Broadbent operates on the idea of highlighting origin's and producer's character through partnerships with family-owned wineries. Departing from fortified wine traditions, they offer dry, drinkable table wines with a focus on balance, fruit, and practicality in food pairing. There is also a focus on producing and bottling certain labels in the country of origin to preserve authenticity.

Awards and recognitions

• Best Buy (2022, Dão White)

• 90 Points (2020, Douro Red)

• 91 Points (2019, Douro Reserve Red)