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About Me

Deborah has successfully launched a number of small to medium-sized international brands in the U.S.

developing a diverse portfolio through careful selection of well-balanced wines and ensuring value for quality at all price levels. The key to her success has been applying sound business strategies and connecting with a reliable network of wine industry professionals. This philosophy has not changed as she helps others to realize their potential and their objectives.

Deborah has conducted numerous seminars, tastings and wine dinners, judged wine competitions, served as keynote speaker at wine festivals and been interviewed on radio, television, podcasts and wine blogs.

ABOUT Deborah Gray

In 1992, beginning with her family’s wine brand from Australia

Deborah Gray was among the first to bring to the United States iconic, hand crafted wines from small, family-owned vineyards, forging strong relationships along the way built on trust and consistent performance.

Deborah founded Bluestone Wine Solutions in 2007 to include consulting services for new U.S. importers, distributors, and foreign alcohol suppliers, as an offshoot of her original import company, The Australian Wine Connection, which she sold in 2007.

how to import wine

How to Import Wine - An Insider's Guide, was awarded Best Professional Wine Book, U.S. 2012 by Gourmand International and was 1st runner up in the world competition.

How to Import Wine is in its 3rd edition, with a newly revised release on December 4, 2022, and the addition of 102 pages of new material.

Deborah was an instructor at San Diego State University as part of their Business of Wine Certificate program from 2013 to 2022.

Her course, Wine Importing and Distribution bringing real world knowledge and experience to each new class of students. Each year, she updated her curriculum to remain current with trends, practices, regulations, and state laws.

Her book, How to Import Wine - An Insider's Guide, was awarded Best Professional Wine Book, U.S. 2012 by Gourmand International and was 1st runner up in the world competition held in Paris.

Deborah was an instructor at San Diego State University as part of their Business of Wine Certificate program from 2013 to 2022. Her course, Wine Importing and Distribution bringing real world knowledge and experience to each new class of students. Each year, she updated her curriculum to remain current with trends, practices, regulations, and state laws. She is currently a guest lecturer at UC Davis.

Deborah articles

Featured Articles

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REAL PEOPLE REAL STORIES

Client Testimonials

“I have been in the fortunate position of working with Deborah Gray over the past 6 years with two separate wine brands into the USA. I have found her ability to place product, market a brand and relate the story of the vineyard to the distribution channels a huge bonus in getting traction for both of the brands I have been involved with.


Her relationships with the marketplace can only be attributed to her amazing ability to continually service those channels, ensuring a level of brand success that would not normally be possible. It is a real privilege to work closely with someone like Deborah when you are new to the US wine market and I am sure that anyone who embarks upon working with Deborah will reap great rewards.

Dan Eggleton, Winemaker Barossa Valley, Australia

“Deborah is one of the hardest working people I have ever had the pleasure to work with and a complete delight. During the time I represented her wines, she was always professional and there to help in any way necessary. She knows the wine business very thoroughly and I would not hesitate to work with her again in the future.”

Gail Wilson, Vin West International

“As General Manager of Quail Distributing in Arizona I represented Deborah’s wines for several years and I always found her professionalism, enthusiasm and sales abilities to be of the highest caliber. Her knowledge of the market and her products, her attention to detail and her follow up was exemplary and led to considerable success in a highly competitive environment. As an entrepreneur and an innovator she is a person to be respected.”

Layne Kizler

“I have known Deborah Gray for the past 12 years and I never cease to be amazed at her knowledge of the wine business. She not only knows the business but she applies herself to it. She has an uncanny ability to think things through so that the results are maximized. If I had to pick a person that has integrity, honesty, diplomacy and just plain common sense I would pick Deborah. She gets the job done…. With class! “

Jim Lewis, Owner Vin West International

“There are many great importers, from all over the world, but in the 15 years I was associated with Deborah Gray, she always stood out as the most professional, unfailingly ethical, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

She is highly respected by all my distributors, retailers and restaurateurs and any time she was in the marketplace, everyone wanted Deborah to visit. Working with Deborah Gray has been one of my greatest highlights in the 30+years I have been in business. If you need help with your business you need Deborah on your team!”

Todd Leshner, Broker/Owner Todd Group of Beverages

“I have been privileged to know and work with Deborah Gray for well over 10 years. Her professionalism and integrity is exemplary. Deborah’s communication skills and knowledge of the wine industry are assets that have made working together a positive experience.”

Charlene Groskop, General Manager Groskopf Warehouse & Logistics

“Deborah is a very professional woman who gets the job done right on the first time round. We would always look forward to her visits in our market and repeatedly saw our wine sales jump afterwards. Her friendliness and knowledge in the wine business is unmatched. I would work with her again in a heartbeat!”

Angie Houck, Sales Manager Hart Distributing

“You are my hero. I wish you can get a penny from every time I mention your name to anybody. I carry your book anywhere, around the house, in the car, on the plane, at the beach, on vacations. I call it my Bible.”

Otilia Sofroni, Ambrosi Logistics, LLC., FL

Wine Views ~ An industry perspective from inside

The material on this blog was created by Deborah M. Gray. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Deborah M. Gray and Deborahgraywine.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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