Co-Founder & President
Jack Leach
DIPWSET
After spending 8+ years building & honing a career in agriculture and logistics working on both coasts, the southwest and southeast of the US. Jack decided it was time to fortify his knowledge in wine and viticulture in a more dedicated manner by finishing his WSET diploma studies in Burgundy.
In 2019, Jack made the decision alongside his (French) wife to relocate to the medieval walled city of Avignon, France - A place special to them and the doorway to some of the most storied wine regions in France and some of the best in the world. While in Avignon, Jack gained unparalleled, hands-on experience across all facets of the wine production business. Jack's experiences include wine production in Chateauneuf-du-Pape making wine under the tutelage of a fantastic winemaker, Christophe Schurdevin, as well as spending time with storied wine consultant Philippe Cambie; vineyard management with a notable Biodynamic winemaker in Gigondas.
After what he and his wife deemed a good start to their French adventure and a great introduction to the wine industry in France, they along with their dog named Blue, decided to make the move permanent and begin building Souledra to focus on exporting the wines they fell in love with to the United States.
Jack spends much of his time in the field working on the sourcing and selection of our portfolio. Always running down leads or spending time with our producers to better understand their process and how to be champion their wines in the US market.
Jack graduated from Villanova University School of Business, with a major in Marketing.
When not working - Jack and his family can be found enjoying the region that they call home. Often cooking, enjoying the local products, gardening, traveling, hiking, and skiing.
Co-Founder & Strategic Consultant NYC
Andrew Calvaruso
Growing up in a New Jersey town a stone’s throw from New York City, Andrew developed a keen interest in food, culture & art at a young age, frequenting the likes of Metropolitan Museum of Art & Museum of Natural History, and seeing how many Zagat-rated restaurants he could convince his parents to bring him.
While we’re still not sure what it was about mummies and dinosaurs that intrigued him so much, such exposure built a foundation on which he has taken the time to see the world and experience different cultures though varied adventures, oftentimes at the intersection of food and wine.
After graduating from Villanova University with dual majors in Accounting and Finance, Andrew settled in Manhattan to pursue a career in finance.
Andrew is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York and trusted business and strategy advisor for our US operations.
In his spare time, you can find Andrew exploring the newest restaurants in New York City, enjoying a cold glass of Rosé in the French Alps after long day of skiing, or searching for the best surf breaks from the Rockaways to Montauk.
The name
The meaning and origins of the term “Souledra” is as unique to Provence as the wines in our portfolio. Rooted in the region’s native Occitan language, there is no better adjective to describe Provence than “Souledra”. Translated by 1904 Nobel Prize poet Frédéric Mistral to mean “kissed by the sun and dried by the wind", the term Souledra instantly transports you to a sun-drenched landscape full of vineyards, windswept limestone hills, and the Mediterranean Sea. No better word describes the balance between the mineral rich soils, the winds unique to Provence and the sun, that encourages and helps our winemakers craft their wines with minimal intervention.