Natalie Wilson, Author at The Buyer

By Richard Siddle on December 6, 2022

Enotria&Coe’s ‘moral imperative’ to share its sustainability strategy

“It’s a moral imperative for a business like ours, with our size and scale to take action on sustainability.” That was the clear message, but also challenge that Sam Thackeray, managing director of Enotria&Coe, wants the trade and its customers and suppliers to know about how seriously the business is now taking its sustainability responsibilities. Richard Siddle reports back from an open forum held by Enotria&Coe to both share its plans, but also get feedback and insights from its customers and leading trade figures on what a comprehensive sustainability strategy should look like.

Posted In: ants Nixon, Enotria&Coe, environment, sam thackeray, slider, spirits, sustainability, sustainable wine roundtable, wine

Insight

By Richard Siddle on December 6, 2022

Looking to hire? Vinokelly reveals salary study for UK wine industry

Regardless of how well a business treats its staff and does all it can to be open, transparent and fair in how it deals with its employees there is one area where it is almost impossible to keep all your staff happy – how much they get paid. Which makes this new exclusive report from Vinokelly Drinks Recruitment, in partnership with The Buyer, such a breakthrough piece of research. It also claims to be the biggest study ever undertaken into the salary and recruitment trends in the UK wine industry. Giving the wine industry a breakdown in every sector of what average salaries are, or should be. Potentially vital research for hiring managers and HR teams looking to find the best talent out there and for those in the wine industry plotting their next move. Here we share some of the key findings.

Posted In: jobs, recruitment, salary, slider, wine, wine industry

Tasting: Wine

By Mike Turner on December 6, 2022

How the relaunched Crus Bourgeois classification confirms early promise

Les Crus Bourgeois returned to London earlier this month with a tasting of recent vintages at the Institute of Directors. Now into the second year following 2020’s launch of the re-imagined classification system, Marguerite de Luze (owner of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Château Paveil de Luze) was in attendance to discuss the progress over the last 24 months, as well as the state of plans for the 2025 classification and beyond. We sent The Buyer’s Mike Turner along to find out more.

Posted In: Crus Bourgeois, Marguerite de Luze, Mike Turner, slider

Insight

By Richard Siddle on December 5, 2022

The Buyer Debate: Shining the light on Germany’s new wave wine scene

“Germany is the country that has diversified the most over the last eight years – it’s now a melting pot of styles and production methods.” That’s how Christina Rasmussen, co-founder of Little Wine, describes what is now widely seen as the new wave German wine scene that is helping to re-invent the German wine category, particularly at the premium end of the market, driven by organic, biodynamic, and low intervention, independent winemakers. To help explore what actually is happening across Germany, The Buyer hosted a debate, in partnership with Wines of Germany, with two of the producers hoping to make a difference and with buyers looking to introduce the new style of German wines to potential customers and consumers in the UK.

Posted In: Christina Rasmussen, German wine, Germany, newcomer wines, slider, wine, winemakers

Insight

By Anne Krebiehl MW on December 4, 2022

Krebiehl: Bibendum’s Bordeaux Collection is a reset for fine wine

For too long diners have been missing out on the pleasures of mature Bordeaux, a situation that Bibendum’s revolutionary Bordeaux Collection is fast rectifying. Almost three years since inception the scheme now has 110 accounts and is welcoming Lafite, Barons de Rothschild, Cantenac-Brown, Smith Haut Lafitte, Troplong-Mondot, Lynch-Bages and Figeac into the fold. Anne Krebiehl MW talks to the team behind Bordeaux Collection and argues that its approach could be seen as a total reset for the on-trade’s fine wine offering.

Posted In: Anne Krebiehl MW, bibendum, Bordeaux Collection, Troplong-Mondot

Tasting: Wine

By Justin Keay on December 4, 2022

Top 12 wines from 1st Brunello di Montalcino 2018 en primeurs

For the first time in the UK a new vintage of Brunello di Montalcino was released en primeur. Benvenuto Brunello was the name given to Hunt & Speller’s exclusive London preview of the Brunello di Montalcino 2018 vintage and the 2017 Riservas, some two months before the Consorzio’s official January 1 2023 release date. Justin Keay was there for The Buyer, giving his views on the vintages as well as picking a dozen standout wines from the 115 on show.

Posted In: Brunello di Montalcino 2018, italian wine, Justin Keay, Sangiovese, walter speller

Awards

By Richard Siddle on December 3, 2022

Top judges & early pricing for London Spirits Competition

It’s not just the products and brands that enter the 2023 London Spirits Competition that are stars of the show, but the panel of judges that have been lined up to assess them and hand out the medals. Only drinks professionals with direct bar, restaurant, retail or spirits background are invited to take part with a line-up of talent that includes some of the most influential names in the world of spirits. Here’s who is taking part.

Posted In: bars, bartenders, drinks professionals, london spirits competition, restaurants, spirits

Tasting

By Richard Siddle on December 2, 2022

Chance to discover gems from across France at new VIN tasting

If you are looking forward to getting a new tasting diary in your Christmas stocking here’s a new date and event to look forward to, which also won’t take up too much space as it is only three letters long: VIN. A new tasting event being organised by Business France on February 2 that promises to be a one stop shop opportunity to explore and discover gems from all regions of France from producers already in the UK and many who are looking to sell their wines here for the first time. Here’s what to expect.

Posted In: business france, france, french wine, VIN, wine, wine tasting

Awards

By Richard Siddle on December 2, 2022

people choice manchester diverse Roxanne Dease

People’s Choice Wine & Spirits Awards announces 2023 finalists

Over the last few weeks panels of every day wine drinkers and wine trade professionals have been analysing, checking, tasting and scoring flights of wines and spirits as part of the judging for both what is the sixth People’s’ Choice Wine Awards and the third People’s Choice Spirits Awards. Judging sessions were held in both Manchester and London to get a more diverse set of judges from different backgrounds. Here Janet Harrison, founder of both competitions, explains how the judging went, announces the shortlists and picks out some highlights for how the 2023 awards are going to be run.

Posted In: janet harrison, people choice spirits awards, people's choice wine awards, wine, wine competition, wine judging

People

By Richard Siddle on December 1, 2022

Long Read

Distill Ventures to support brands from diverse entrepreneurs

Over the last 18 month Distill Ventures has extended its investment programme to support new start-up drinks brands, by starting a Pre Accelerator programme aimed at identifying and then backing new brand launches from entrepreneurs from marginalised communities. To date it has been able to invest $5 million in a wide range of brands and is now starting its investment programme for 2023. Here we talk to Ara Carvallo, portfolio and I&D Director at Distill Ventures about how it works.

Posted In: Diageo, distill ventures, diversity, drinks industry, inclusion

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