Richard’s journey into wine began at the age of 15. He was fortunate enough to have a father that had a passion for food and wine. He wanted his son to understand and experience wine for its nuances and multidimensional flavors. His father’s wine group would meet regularly to taste and compare wines and Richard would have the opportunity to smell these wines and experience the aromatic complexities. The group would challenge and educate Richard on identifying the wines blind. When it became time to start tasting his world forever changed. From the very first sip he fell in love and became obsessed with educating himself by voraciously reading and tasting.

He spent his summers traveling with his father to wine regions in Europe to experience first-hand life in the vineyards by walking the rows of vines, meeting with winemakers and barrel tasting in the cellars of esteemed properties.

In 2003 he moved from his hometown of Kansas City to Texas where he would earn a degree in economics and finance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. However, while still earning these degrees he entered into the wine business as soon as he was of legal age. Additionally, he created a prestigious wine group that met regularly to compare and discuss Grand Cru Burgundy, First Growth Bordeaux, The cult wines of Napa and rare Champagnes.

 

After graduation, he began working for a multi-unit wine retail chain at their high-end shop in Highland Park Village, where he became the top wine consultant. Richard was recognized within the company for his tasting skills and he was promoted to assist the corporate office with the purchasing of their high-end wine program. While Richard loved working in retail and interacting with customers his passion for wine lead him to a different side of the business by working for a negociant in Bordeaux and after for an international importer and distributor. This experience is where he was able to get additional knowledge by tasting through thousands of wines at all price points.

In 2012, Richard began his own distribution company that he built and sold in 2019 so he could pursue his ultimate passion to work with the finest and rarest wines. This is what led him to The Ethereal Collector

Richard’s life-long journey and vast tasting experience is what makes him an incredible consultant to help you build an Ethereal collection.

 

 

 

When you have an ethereal wine it is life changing – Everyday we look to source and to put something ethereal into your collection so that you can experience the best on the planet.

We provide the most sought after producers and vintages in the world to the most passionate and knowledgeable trade, consumers and collectors. Our sourcing and sales team has a combined 34 years of experience in fine wine and has spent their lives tasting and cultivating relationships with suppliers and collectors that share the same respect for quality and provenance.

Our team led by Richard O’Neill shares a lifelong passion for wine and they have spent their entire adult lives tasting wines from all over the world from almost every vintage. We specialize in burgundy, bordeaux, northern rhone, champagne and napa valley, but if there is an ethereal wine in any region we can source it.