Wine insight: importers, and who to trust

Since it's more than likely if you're reading this not only do you have a slightly higher level of interest in food than most other Americans, say, I don't know, 96% of them, you also have a more than passing interest in wine as well, since they are, at least on my dinner table, inextricably intertwined. If so then this article from slate.com's wine contributor Mike Steinberger might be something to peruse. In his article titled somewhat optimistically "Never Buy a Bad Bottle of Wine Again", he lists not only who he considers the finest, most competent wine importers, but also gives some insight into the wine importing game. Now being in the wine biz myself I wouldn't go so far as to say that if you see these importers names on your bottle of choice you're guaranteed satisfaction, but it certainly tilts the odds in your favor and takes some of the guesswork out of staring at the wine shelf at the store. Among those he lists who I would also say you should get with:
1- Louis/Dressner Selections...France/Italy
2-Jorge Ordoñez...Spain
3-Rosenthal Wine Merchant....France
4-Marc de Grazia Selections....Italy
5-Eric Solomon/European Cellars....Spain/France
6-Alain Junguenet/Wines of France....France
7-Dan Kravitz/Hand Picked Selections....France

There are innumerable others who are also doing a good job (see Steinberg's article), but the ones listed above have wide spread distribution and your chances of finding them are pretty good. If you can't, let me know and I'll hook you up!