Wine Article
NV Stock Sweet Vermouth
Last edited on 2/3/2008 by jimkay21
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A Toast to History Stock SpA
Today, Stock Brandy, Vermouths, Cordials, and Liqueurs are world renowned. But this was not always the case. In 1884, STOCK S.p.A began as the inspiration of its 18-year-old founder, Lionello Stock.
One day while he was walking along the Adriatic coastline, Lionello noticed ships bearing French flags being loaded with Italian grapes. France was importing these grapes because a vine disease called phylloxera had devastated the supply of French wine available to Cognac distillers, forcing the French to buy grapes from Italy.
"Why should Italy be shipping their fine grapes to France, when they could distill the wine in Italy?" Lionello asked. At that moment, this enterprising entrepreneur conceived the idea of establishing the STOCK company. He started distilling the fine wines of Italy and aging the distillate in a small suburb of Trieste. The story of the company's meteoric rise to success is history.
Within a few years, this burgeoning company outgrew its original site. In 1925, Lionello Stock moved his operations to the center of Trieste, where its modern day facilities are presently located. During the following decade, he constructed distilleries, bottling plants, and new aging facilities in Southern Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and the former countries of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
By 1938, Lionello had established his entire product line in Italy, Central and Eastern Europe, and they were sought after and widely known throughout the world. Soon STOCK '84 brandy was purveyed to all the royal houses of Europe and the Vatican. As his company grew, Lionello brought family members on board to share in his phenomenal achievements.
But simultaneous to his success, Hitler and Mussolini were gaining momentum in 1938. For that reason, Lionello Stock looked west for expansion.
In 1939, he sent one of his nephews, the late Bruno Morel to the United States to establish STOCK in the Americas.
During World War II, from 1939 to 1945, all five of Lionello's plants and aging facilities were either pilferaged or destroyed. The Austrian factory in Linz was bombed out. Poland, which before the war had been STOCK's most profitable company, was nationalized. As well, STOCK factories in the former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia were nationalized. He watched the company that he had spent his entire career building become totally devastated. But he had not lost his drive. At age 79, Lionello Stock was determined to re-establish STOCK again. Sadly, time was not on his side. In 1947, Lionello Stock died at age 81.
In the wake of his death, by 1949 Lionello's relatives rebuilt all the STOCK companies to their past size. His nephew Bruno Morel incorporated Distillerie Stock U.S.A. in 1946.
Today, Stock Brandy, Vermouths, Cordials, and Liqueurs are world renowned. But this was not always the case. In 1884, STOCK S.p.A began as the inspiration of its 18-year-old founder, Lionello Stock.
One day while he was walking along the Adriatic coastline, Lionello noticed ships bearing French flags being loaded with Italian grapes. France was importing these grapes because a vine disease called phylloxera had devastated the supply of French wine available to Cognac distillers, forcing the French to buy grapes from Italy.
"Why should Italy be shipping their fine grapes to France, when they could distill the wine in Italy?" Lionello asked. At that moment, this enterprising entrepreneur conceived the idea of establishing the STOCK company. He started distilling the fine wines of Italy and aging the distillate in a small suburb of Trieste. The story of the company's meteoric rise to success is history.
Within a few years, this burgeoning company outgrew its original site. In 1925, Lionello Stock moved his operations to the center of Trieste, where its modern day facilities are presently located. During the following decade, he constructed distilleries, bottling plants, and new aging facilities in Southern Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and the former countries of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.
By 1938, Lionello had established his entire product line in Italy, Central and Eastern Europe, and they were sought after and widely known throughout the world. Soon STOCK '84 brandy was purveyed to all the royal houses of Europe and the Vatican. As his company grew, Lionello brought family members on board to share in his phenomenal achievements.
But simultaneous to his success, Hitler and Mussolini were gaining momentum in 1938. For that reason, Lionello Stock looked west for expansion.
In 1939, he sent one of his nephews, the late Bruno Morel to the United States to establish STOCK in the Americas.
During World War II, from 1939 to 1945, all five of Lionello's plants and aging facilities were either pilferaged or destroyed. The Austrian factory in Linz was bombed out. Poland, which before the war had been STOCK's most profitable company, was nationalized. As well, STOCK factories in the former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia were nationalized. He watched the company that he had spent his entire career building become totally devastated. But he had not lost his drive. At age 79, Lionello Stock was determined to re-establish STOCK again. Sadly, time was not on his side. In 1947, Lionello Stock died at age 81.
In the wake of his death, by 1949 Lionello's relatives rebuilt all the STOCK companies to their past size. His nephew Bruno Morel incorporated Distillerie Stock U.S.A. in 1946.