About Us
Colorado Wine Express was formed in January of 2011 by industry professionals who understand the needs of unique wholesalers. CWE is NOT a wholesaler! The company was designed specifically to cater to the independent wholesaler; treating your customers like our customers. Our staff brings over 50 years of combined industry experience in all aspects including Operations, Importing, Sales and Marketing.
Tim Elenteny, founder
Tim weaves together his wine sales and hospitality experience of 20 years. Tim began in the service industry in San Francisco. As an entrepreneur, Tim saw an under-serviced niche in the wholesale, fine-wine distribution market in Colorado, so he opened Baroness Fine Wine Distributors. Upon later moving to New York, Tim was employed as the Sales Director for Polaner Selections, Fine Wine Distributors in NYC and the Tri State area.
Tim now owns TE Imports, a service and logistics specialist which acts as an alternative importer providing shipping solutions for wineries. Likewise, Colorado Wine Express is the result of a deep awareness of the wine industry and an ability to make changes and take risks.
Michael Wheeler, founder
Michael joined the wine trade in 1976 in Leominster, MA at the retail level. In 1984 he made the move to New York City, working two more retail years for the iconic William Sokolin before shifting into wholesale for what at the time was a tiny company called Winebow. Michael later moved onto fine importer and distributor, Michael Skurnik Wines. Continuing to grow within the industry, Michael became a partner at Polaner Selections, where he worked alongside Tim Elenteny and Tim Bowen. The Wheeler family is soon relocating to Portland, Oregon, where Michael will partner in a new wine distribution company serving the Oregon Wine community. He looks forward to his journey with Colorado Wine Express.
Tim Bowen, founder
Tim’s passion for wine began while at the B.R. Guest Restaurant Group in New York City. He was first the wine buyer and then Corporate General Manager for several of the company’s esteemed restaurants. After restaurant life, he managed Chambers Street Wines, the country’s leading natural wine merchant located in Tribeca. Later, Tim was recruited as a Sales Representative for Polaner Selections in New York and New Jersey. Upon relocating to the mountain air of Colorado, Tim served as key account representative for Grand Vin, a fine wine distributor in Colorado. Tim is now the owner of Natural Wine Company and brings a tenant’s perspective to the CWE team.
Tim Elenteny, founder
Tim weaves together his wine sales and hospitality experience of 20 years. Tim began in the service industry in San Francisco. As an entrepreneur, Tim saw an under-serviced niche in the wholesale, fine-wine distribution market in Colorado, so he opened Baroness Fine Wine Distributors. Upon later moving to New York, Tim was employed as the Sales Director for Polaner Selections, Fine Wine Distributors in NYC and the Tri State area.
Tim now owns TE Imports, a service and logistics specialist which acts as an alternative importer providing shipping solutions for wineries. Likewise, Colorado Wine Express is the result of a deep awareness of the wine industry and an ability to make changes and take risks.
Michael Wheeler, founder
Michael joined the wine trade in 1976 in Leominster, MA at the retail level. In 1984 he made the move to New York City, working two more retail years for the iconic William Sokolin before shifting into wholesale for what at the time was a tiny company called Winebow. Michael later moved onto fine importer and distributor, Michael Skurnik Wines. Continuing to grow within the industry, Michael became a partner at Polaner Selections, where he worked alongside Tim Elenteny and Tim Bowen. The Wheeler family is soon relocating to Portland, Oregon, where Michael will partner in a new wine distribution company serving the Oregon Wine community. He looks forward to his journey with Colorado Wine Express.
Tim Bowen, founder
Tim’s passion for wine began while at the B.R. Guest Restaurant Group in New York City. He was first the wine buyer and then Corporate General Manager for several of the company’s esteemed restaurants. After restaurant life, he managed Chambers Street Wines, the country’s leading natural wine merchant located in Tribeca. Later, Tim was recruited as a Sales Representative for Polaner Selections in New York and New Jersey. Upon relocating to the mountain air of Colorado, Tim served as key account representative for Grand Vin, a fine wine distributor in Colorado. Tim is now the owner of Natural Wine Company and brings a tenant’s perspective to the CWE team.
