Tufts Cristina

About

Cristina Tufts, originally from the Republic of Moldova, is the founder and leader of Harbor Wines, a company dedicated to the import and distribution of superior quality Moldovan wines in the United States market. Raised in a family with a winemaking tradition, she absorbed the secrets of wine production from childhood, leveraging Moldova's fertile soil, renowned for its exceptional grapes. After arriving in the US in 2007 on a student visa, she launched the business in the Washington D.C. area, bringing wines such as White Cabernet, Codru, and Rara Neagră to shelves, promoting not only the product but also Moldovan wine culture. Her success is due to a focus on unbeatable value for money and the authentic stories of the wines, with important clients such as Gaylord National Harbor, Whole Foods, and specialty stores in Maryland and Virginia. Her collaborations include wineries from Moldova, where she conducted intensive research in 2013, and key partners from the USA, such as Dunkirk Wine and Spirits owner, Beth Joiner, and importer Dmitrii Curbet, who were essential in developing Harbor Wines, based in National Harbor, Maryland. Her company has gained ground in the competitive wine industry, expanding to suppliers like MGM National Harbor. With a Business degree obtained in Moldova, Cristina emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial discipline – "Don't drink your profits!" – and detailed knowledge of origin, serving, and pairings, contributing to Moldova's economic promotion through the ambitious goal of becoming the largest importer of Moldovan wines in the USA. In her personal life, Cristina married Brian Tufts, a US Army officer, whom she met in 2007. The couple was initially relocated to Texas and then to D.C. Brian discovered the potential of Moldovan wines during his first visit to her native country, paving the way for the business. Her family, including her mother, her husband's relatives, and her American "adopted family" Lynn and Dave, offered her unconditional support, helping her navigate challenges, from Brian's deployment to Afghanistan to launching the business. Through perseverance, she is transforming her passion for Moldovan wines into a cultural and economic bridge between Moldova and the USA.