Su Birch, Author at The Buyer

By Justin Keay on December 1, 2023

“Fresh, elegant, fine tannins”: say hello to the new Brunello 2019 vintage

London’s Brunello 2019 tasting was an opportunity to assess just how good the latest Brunello di Montalcino vintage is and whether it compares to the classic 2016s. Justin Keay sums up the vintage as one which is approachable now but also has great potential to age, and picks 12 wines from the 46 producers that were showing wines this year. He also looks at some of the issues facing this Southern part of Tuscany and talks to event organiser Walter Speller about how the region needs to change to stay ahead of the game.

Posted In: Brunello 2019, Brunello di Montalcino 2019, italian wine, Justin Keay, slider, walter speller

Awards

By Richard Siddle on December 1, 2023

Shortlists announced in People’s Choice Wine and Spirits Awards 2024.

Drum roll please…The finalists have been announced in both People’s Choice Wine Awards and the People’s Choice Spirits Awards across all categories in both competitions. In what are the seventh wine and fourth spirits awards they remain the only major UK competition that involves everyday drinkers as part of the judging process. Here Janet Harrison, founder of both competitions, explains the latest developments and the stand-out features of the 2024 edition.

Posted In: people choice spirits awards, people choice wine awards, slider, spirits, wine

Awards

By Richard Siddle on November 30, 2023

Entries open for Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer

The UK’s top sommeliers, restaurants and on-trade wine buyers will have the chance to put themselves forward and compete in what will be the fourth edition of the Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer. Entries for the 2024 event are now open ahead of the awards ceremony to be held in London on March 4. Here we look at what categories are available for this year’s awards and how to enter.

Posted In: sommeliers, star wine list, the buyer, wine, wine lists

Insight

By Ellie Scott on November 30, 2023

How Bordeaux is changing, adapting and modernising to secure its future

With 65 appellations, diverse terroirs and more than 6,000 winegrowers, the sheer scale of the Bordeaux region can seem overwhelming for even wine professionals to get a handle on, let alone consumers. But however famous some of its producers might be there is a collective understanding that Bordeaux has to change to keep pace with huge advances in winemaking all over the world. Here, in her first article for The Buyer, Ellie Scott assesses the big challenges facing Bordeaux and how it is looking to address them.

Posted In: Bordeaux, Ellie Scott, france, french wine, slider, sustainability, wine, wine education, wine producers

Insight

By Richard Siddle on November 29, 2023

How Preferabli is using GenAI for personalised wine recommendations

“It’s like having the world’s best wine, beer and spirits expert in the palm of your hand.” That’s how Kevin Miller, chief marketing officer of The Fresh Market – the award-winning premium US grocery retailer – explains how Preferabli’s AI-driven discovery and recommendation platform gives on and off-trade operators the power to create personalised experiences for their customers, including through its new GenAI. Here’s how it all works.

Posted In: genAI, personalisation, Preferabli, slider, wine, wine technology

Tasting: Wine

By Mike Turner on November 29, 2023

Long Read

Tasting the luxury Bemberg Estate range with winemaker Daniel Pi

Argentinian wine icon, Daniel Pi, recently visited London to help launch the new vintages of the luxury Bemberg Estate Wines project. For many years the wine-making guru behind the popular wines coming out of the hugely successful Grupo Peñaflor, Pi has returned to the cellar, this time to take charge of a range of premium Argentine wines under the Bemberg Estate label. We sent The Buyer’s Mike Turner along to meet the man himself for a guided tasting through the new releases.

Posted In: Bemberg, Daniel Pi, La Linterna, Mike Turner, Pionero

People People: Supplier

By Richard Siddle on November 28, 2023

Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS on heading up fine wine at Enotria

Such is the competition in the premium on-trade wine market that even distributors of the scale and reputation as Enotria&Coe need to be changing, adapting and moving not just with the times, but ahead of it. Which is why it is keen to push the credentials of its fine wine portfolio and the fact it has promoted Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS from her premium wine ambassador role to the head of its new fine wine division. Here she sits down with Richard Siddle to explain what her new position entails and how Enotria&Coe wants to work closely with its producers and restaurant buyers to develop a fine wine offer that allows them to sell the finest wines to as many customers around the country as possible.

Posted In: Enotria&Coe, fine wine, Kathrine larsen-robert, on-trade, restaurants, sommeliers, wine

Insight

By Mike Turner on November 28, 2023

How Feliz Rioja is bringing new wave Rioja to the UK

Following on from the success of its ‘100kms of Diversity’ marketing campaign, Team Rioja is back. This winter, selected off-trade retailers across the UK are running Feliz Rioja to promote the variety on offer across this most famous of Spanish wine regions. The Buyer’s Mike Turner attended this month’s launch tasting to find out more about the promotion and why the wines of Rioja are perfect for this winter’s sales campaigns.

Posted In: Feliz Rioja, Mike Turner, Rioja, Spain, wine

Insight

By Richard Siddle on November 27, 2023

Hallgarten’s distribution model can claim to be best in class

There can be no better way to mark a major anniversary for a business than being voted best in class by not just one major industry competition, but three of them. It really has been a special year for Hallgarten & Novum Wines. Not only is it celebrating its 90th birthday, it was named On-trade Supplier of the Year by the International Wine Challenge in the summer, quickly followed by becoming Drinks Business’ Drinks Company of the Year and then last month picked up the Wine Distributor of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition. So what is it doing to keep itself so far ahead of its competition? Richard Siddle sits down with managing director, Andrew Bewes, and buyer and quality controller, Beverly Tabbron MW, to find out.

Posted In: andrew bewes, Beverly Tabbron, hallgarten & novum wines, wine, wine distributor, wine importer

Jobs

By Richard Siddle on November 27, 2023

Jobs vacant: Woodwinters needs a London Account Manager

Woodwinters the growing, premium on and off-trade wine distributor, with offices both in Scotland and London is looking to strengthen its London office with a vacancy for a new account manager. The position is available from now and would be ideal for a wine trade professional with current sales experience, although candidates looking to move into sales within the industry for the first time would be considered.

Posted In: account manager, jobs, wine, WoodWinters

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