Hospitality, hotels, restaurants and pubs will return to something like a new normal soon, but will consumers ever be the same again?  

Lockdown saw consumers seeking out local producers, buying their produce, their wines, ales and spirits in a determined way and in quantities that have perhaps never been seen before - and it's continuing. What’s clear is they liked what they saw, it connected with them and the produce engaged them in a way it never had before.  

English wine producers saw unprecedented local and national demand as ordinary consumers all over the UK bought their wines and satisfied their curiosity. They were more than intrigued by English wines they were positively captivated by them; they became aware that their local English wines weren’t just quite good – they were fabulous. They discovered English wines had authenticity, provenance, hidden depths and dimensions they perhaps hadn’t experienced before; and they ticked the box for sustainability too.

Lockdown itself challenged our notions about our planet, on issues like climate change, already to the fore of global debate. People noticed how clean the air became, revelled in the sight of uncongested roads, appreciated much more of what was on their doorstep and it challenged the ethical outlook of more people than ever to support their communities, businesses, producers and, consequently, their environment. This newfound support and wider appreciation of English wines and their provenance and quality will, I believe, not only endure but grow.

There is a unique opportunity for hospitality businesses to develop and meet this new demand, support the vineyard businesses around them and across the UK by expanding their ranges of local and English wines, and that’s where I want help you.  

The time is now, as restrictions ease and the hospitality industry begins to return to doing what it does best, giving the consumer the best food and drink experience, to capture this newfound enthusiasm and desire to experience more English wines and be more ethical and sustainable in their purchases without losing quality.  Thinking about English wine in this way could give your business that edge as people return to support local hospitality providers.

I can help you by looking at your wine ranges, finding out what your customers like and finding equivalence in the English wine market so you can satisfy your customers with what they are going to enjoy.  As someone well-known to most of the best UK producers, making some of the most interesting wines I constantly keep my ear to the ground and can source the very best of what's out there.

With many years’ experience both as a grower and producer, with top-level industry involvement in the national body and more recently as an influencer and quality English wine merchant with a constant eye for quality and a good deal I can advise and connect you with the best vineyards and producers the UK has to offer. 

Get in touch and talk to me to find out how I can help you.