Harry Crowther, Author at The Buyer

By David Kermode on June 27, 2019

Daring to be different: Frapin Cognac takes on ‘afternoon tea’

With a history dating back to 1270, Frapin Cognac might not seem the most obvious candidate for a cutting edge re-invention of the cocktail but, thanks to a pioneering partnership with an importer of fine teas, that’s just what’s taking shape at the world-famous Brown’s Hotel in London’s Mayfair. ‘Aperi-TEAvo’ is a new initiative from Frapin’s importer Louis Latour Agencies with Lalani and Co, supported by an elegant tasting menu. Cognac fan and cocktail lover David Kermode, aka Mr Vinosaurus, took a tea for the team.

Posted In: cocktail, cocktail bars, cocktail trends, cocktails, cognac, cognac Frapin, Frapin, Louis Latour, Louis Latour Agencies, premium spirits, slider, spirits, spirits brands

People People: Supplier

By Richard Siddle on June 27, 2019

Didsbury Gin’s Liam Manton: finance & brand passion are key to success

Liam Manton, one of the founders of Didsbury gin, has a key bit of advice for any other brand owner or entrepreneur looking to breakthrough in their respective channel of the drinks industry. Yes, you need to have a unique product and be 100% passionate about it, but you also need to be willing and able to walk up what he calls the “financial staircase” in order to attract the right level of investment for your business at each stage of its growth. As he explains it can, at times, be quite a steep staircase to climb.

Posted In: bars, cocktails, Didsbury Gin, gin, Liam Manton, slider, spirits

Tasting: Wine

By Roger Jones on June 26, 2019

Roger Jones on the stars of the Field Morris & Verdin portfolio tasting

Buying smartly in Burgundy isn’t the easiest task these days but our contributing editor and chef at large, Roger Jones, thinks he’s found a real winner from Méo-Camuzet. And who would have thought that a winery based in Norfolk would be the latest addition to the Field Morris & Verdin portfolio – rubbing shoulders with the likes of Vega Sicilia, Au Bon Climat and R. Lopez de Heredia? – and not only that but really standing up to the task. For Jones’ FMV tips read on…

Posted In: Field Morris & Verdin, Flint Vineyards, Hambledon, Meo-Camuzet, roger jones, slider

Insight

By Richard Siddle on June 26, 2019

Buyer Debate: How California is back on radar of premium on-trade

Whisper it gently but California has become “sexy” again for UK wine buyers. What’s more it is becoming particularly relevant for importers, distributors, merchants and sommeliers looking for something a little different, a bit more premium, but also with the bang for buck they need to make those wines work in premium restaurants, bars and hotels. Earlier this month The Buyer and the Wine Institute of California came together to hold a debate with leading buyers from across the on-trade. Here are the key highlights from this discussion.

Posted In: california, california wine, Napa, restaurants, slider, sommeliers, Sonoma, the buyer, wine, wine buyers, wine distributors, wine importers, wine institute of california

Opinion

By Richard Bampfield on June 24, 2019

Richard Bampfield MW: what do we expect from British Bacchus?

If you asked a 100 UK wine experts to write down one grape variety that best demonstrates what English wine can do, then you would be guaranteed a wide range of answers. Probably the most divisive and Marmite of all varieties grown in the UK is Bacchus, with seemingly as many distractors as there are admirers. To try and get to know and understand what styles of English wine Bacchus is helping to produce, Richard Bampfield MW and Laura Clay put on what they believe was the biggest Bacchus-only tasting in London last week. Here Bampfield explains how the tasting was organised and what lessons and conclusions could be drawn from all the Bacchus wines on show.

Posted In: Bacchus, english wine, richard bampfield mw, sommeliers, wine, wine tasting

Insight

By Richard Siddle on June 24, 2019

C&C and Michael Saunders put Bibendum back on track

For all those who have been either directly, or indirectly, involved in how the C&C Group has helped transform the fortunes of Bibendum and Matthew Clark over the last year would not be surprised to hear chief executive, Stephen Glancey, describe the last 12 months as “being very intense for all involved”. But he would also be quick to point to the work done by the respective teams and, in particular, the role of the senior executives who returned to the two companies to help spearhead the turnaround. Michael Saunders at Bibendum and Steve Thompson at Matthew Clark. Here in the first of a two part analysis, Richard Siddle looks at what steps were taken to get Bibendum back on track, much to the relief of their suppliers and customers.

Posted In: bibendum, bibendum plb, C&C group, conviviality, michael saunders, wine, wine distributors

Tasting: Wine

By Peter Dean on June 23, 2019

10 Best California Zinfandel you need to have on your buying list

While the younger generation of sommeliers are understandably getting excited about the Californian New Wave, it is easy to overlook one of the stalwarts of the West Coast wine scene – Zinfandel. This is a grape with a much-debated and controversial past and a bad reputation as either an over-extracted fruit bomb or a sweet blush. But the good red Zinfandel continues to be made by ‘old timers’ such as Ravenswood and Ridge and more recent converts like Broc Cellars whose take on Zin weighs in at a ‘lightweight’ 12.5% ABV. Peter Dean picks out 10 California Zinfandel you should be considering for your list.

Posted In: california, Orin Swift, Peter Dean, Ravens wood, Ridge, Turley, zinfandel

Suppliers

By Richard Siddle on June 21, 2019

Bellavita Expo

Bellavita Expo Bellavita Expo is the biggest trade show promoting Mediterranean food and beverage in the UK. The new format of the show, with the collaboration of Vinitaly, opens its doors to all Mediterranean countries with Spain, Croatia and Slovenia already booked to join the show alongside Italy. Furthermore, there will be a strong focus […]

Posted In: bellavita expo, italian wine, italian wine fair, Italy, wine

Opinion Tasting: Wine

By Chris Wilson on June 21, 2019

Long Read

Chris Wilson presents his ‘Report Card’ on Taste Champagne

Once a staple of the tasting calendar, the Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne annual London tasting has been something of a moveable feast in recent years, as the CIVC has experimented with new locations and formats. After last year’s event at the London Wine Fair fell a bit flat, it was time to think again. Stepping into the gap, a communications guru and a new, more commercial, approach for Taste Champagne London 2019. So did it fizz? Chris Wilson went along for The Buyer to deliver his report card.

Posted In: champagne, champagne tasting, Chris Wilson, CIVC, grower Champagne, producers, taste champagne, tasting, tastings, vintage champagne

Opinion

By Richard Siddle on June 21, 2019

Clem Yates MW set out why private label just is so important for major wine buyers

Buyer Rewind: How MWs play their part in commercial wine

If you are looking forward to your summer holiday and putting your feet up for a while, then spare a thought for all the Masters of Wine students around the world who have just gone through the final series of exams for the wine industry’s equivalent of the Olympics. Only it is a lot easier to win a gold medal than it is to get the highly coveted MW letters after your name. Here we wind the clock back a year to last June when Richard Siddle analysed just what it means to be an MW in the pressurised world of the wine industry. It is one thing having the knowledge, but how good are you applying it to the hard commercial realities of doing business and buying and selling wine.

Posted In: bulk wine, commercial wines, mass volume wine, masters of wine, restaurants, supermarkets, wine, wine education

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