In partnership with Serendipity, the Banville Wines book is currently only available in the California Market.
For nearly 30 years, Lia Tolaini-Banville has been a force in the global wine industry, blending entrepreneurship, passion, and a deep respect for tradition. As the founder of Banville Wine Merchants, she has built one of the most respected women-owned import companies in the U.S., curating a world-class portfolio that spans Italy, France, New Zealand, Argentina, and beyond. From launching her first wine shop in Canada, to being by her father’s side when he established Tolaini Winery in Tuscany and now owning and operating it, as well as her newly acquired winery, Pala, in Sardinia, and developing her own Donna Laura and Dalia wine labels, Lia’s journey is one of vision and determination. In this interview, she shares insights on building a successful import business, the challenges and rewards of being a woman in the industry, and the legacy she’s creating for the next generation.
Lia Tolaini-Banville, Owner of Banville Wine Merchants, Tolaini, LEGIT, Donna Laura, Dalia & Pala
Q: What are your earliest memories of wine and how did it become your passion?
A: Having a father who immigrated to Canada [from Italy], at 20 years old, wine was a big part of his life in Italy, to that point, not only was it on the table at every meal, but along with growing potatoes and grain, grapes were a crop and making wine was a given. As a young kid, for me, a bottle of wine on the table for each meal was as normal as putting salt on the table. I was allowed to drink it, which was not that attractive an option as a young kid, and with water added, it was marginally better, but not my favorite beverage. Our choices were water or wine or water with wine at the table… for us it was more of a condiment.
Q: What propelled you into the business side of things?
A: I started a wine store in 1998 with my sister in Canada. After 6 months I realized, I didn’t want to work with my sister, nor in retail. My father was starting Tolaini winery in Italy at that time and that was much more interesting to me. I had spent summers in Italy and had gone to university there, so I was ready to make this my full time project. Strangely, my father didn’t want me involved in the winery (crazy right?), and after a year or two, my father and I decided that I should be the one to provide Tolaini a route to market in the US and I started Banville Wine Merchants in 2004.
Q: How does being women-owned influence your approach to wine selection and partnerships?
A: It doesn’t. I am blessed to have one of the best jobs in the world. I have several amazing women that work at Banville with me and I meet women-owned wineries all the time. What is important to me as a woman, is that we are judged as people. Men or women, gay or transgender, we should all be judged by the same standards. I have an amazing team of like-minded people, and that’s what counts. Sharing the vision and believing that Banville will achieve the goals we set.
Pala Winery
Q: What trends are you seeing in wine right now, and how are women playing a role in shaping the future of the industry?
A: I have recently bought a winery in Sardinia*, [an area which has been] a matriarchal society for centuries. This is the first time I feel part of a society that, as a woman, there is no judgement, actually– you feel cherished and respected because you are a woman.
*Lia purchased Pala, an organically farmed winery in Sardinia, in October 2024. Under the guidance of Mario Pala and his family since 1995, they grow traditional grapes like Cannonau and Vermentino.
Q: What wines from your book are you most excited about right now and why?
A: Very good question as we have so many great wines. Right now, I’d say te Pa from New Zealand. I met the owner Haysley MacDonald 7 years ago and from that day I have been emotionally attached to this winery. He is Maori and has vineyards on land that has been in his family for 800 years. Te Pa is as authentic as they come, and I love them and everything they represent. I was born in Canada, my daughter married a Native Canadian man, and they have three amazing children. Being proud of your native heritage and championing your land (in NZ, in Canada, in the US or whatever country) is important.
The staff at Donatella Cinelli Colombini, a part of the Banville portfolio
Q: Are there other women in the wine industry that you feel particularly inspired by at the moment?
A: I have always been inspired by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, founder of Women in Wine in Italy, an association that started with 4 and now they are 800 strong. She is part of a historic Brunello family with roots for decades in the region. She and her family (Barbi) have been part of the foundation of Brunello for a long time. Donatella realized early on that women were not given the same opportunities and wanted to change that. She has an all-female staff, just because she can.
Q: What advice would you give to other women looking to break into wine importing or the wine business in general?
A: Like any business, do it because you have a business plan and are ready to put in the work. There are all sorts of obstacles, too many to list… But it is all part of life. Don’t be bitter or polemic, just move forward, be kind and do what needs to be done respectfully.
Lia Tolaini-Banville has spent decades shaping the wine industry with an entrepreneurial spirit and an unyielding commitment to quality. From launching her own import company to crafting wines that honor her Italian heritage, she has built a business that reflects both tradition and innovation. With Banville Wine Merchants now two decades strong and expanding across borders, her impact is undeniable. As she continues to grow her portfolio and welcome the next generation into the family business, Lia remains a driving force in bringing exceptional wines to markets worldwide. Dive in to her dynamic portfolio, below:
