Q1 Wines began with a return trip to Umbria—where I had once studied and built lasting friendships. Over dinner, someone asked, “Can you help us bring this wine to New York?” That simple question sparked the idea. What followed was months of licensing, logistics, and learning the business from the inside out. Today, Q1 represents a curated selection of producers with deep Italian roots—brought to NYC with purpose, integrity, and a genuine love for the craft.
From my early days making wine with my Sicilian grandfather to studying in Umbria, Italy, I’ve always dreamt of a career in the wine industry. In 2022, I founded Q1 Wines, an importing and distribution company, to bridge the gap between family-owned wineries and New York’s most coveted restaurants and wine bars. While I waited for my license, I served as an Integrated Marketing Manager at a sports and active nutrition brand and started Q1 Consultants, offering startups agency-level marketing strategy at a fraction of the cost. To me, Q1 is a fresh start, an uncomfortable challenge, an ever-changing "plan"...it's the strongest iteration of your brand, your product, your strategy, yourself. Wine is business and personal. It is my past and my future.
In 2016, Joe C. Quadara took his first trip to Umbria, Italy through a study abroad program where he studied wine and the italian language
In 2021, Joe took a plunge into the world of wine as Digital Marketing Manager of a start-up, DTC wine subscription managing large acquisition budgets and studying wine through WSET
In 2022, Joe received his level 3 wine certification through WSET and returned back to Umbria for a study abroad reunion. Shortly after, Q1 Wines LLC was formed
In May of 2024, Q1 Wines received it's license to import and distribute wine in the state of New York
In 2025, Q1 Wines imported it's first shipment of 9 SKUs from 4 Italian producers
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