Highlights from our 2026 spring tastings

The last few months have been a whirlwind as we launched our spring calendar of tastings, five events across two countries, each designed to bring our producers, wines and customers together in meaningful and inspiring ways.

A new en primeur experience…

As part of our fresh approach to events, we began January with an en primeur tasting unlike anything we’ve hosted before. Held at the Haymarket Hotel in London, the tasting brought together a mix of Burgundy and, for the first time, Rhône en primeur, alongside older vintages — offering customers a rare chance to explore how these wines evolve over time.

By presenting future releases alongside more mature bottlings, the tasting encouraged deeper conversations around style, ageing potential and long‑term value. It also created space for guests to engage with producers in a more rounded and meaningful way. 

As Ned Llewellyn, Sales Director - Off‑Trade, explained:

“By introducing a dynamic format that blended future bottlings with more established vintages and expanding the breadth of the tasting to include Rhône alongside Burgundy, we were looking to elevate the event to a different level. This approach enhanced not only understanding but also redefines relationships between customer and producer.”

This expanded en primeur focus also reflects our growing presence in the fine wine market. With fine wine sales rising by 30% over the past year and our fine wine customer base increasing by 18%, the tasting marked an important step in showcasing the strength and depth of our offer.

Getting to the heart of the matter…

Heart of the Matter at Glaziers Hall in London was our January showcase; an event where the energy and expertise inside spoke far louder than the grey London day outside. Customers engaged enthusiastically with our selection of self-pour wines, discovering first-hand what sets our range apart.

The event marked the introduction of our new tasting‑zone format, designed to make navigating our portfolio easier and more intuitive. Whether customers were seeking recognisable, quick‑serve wines in Fast Pour, exploring food‑led versatility in Casual Dining, or diving into more adventurous styles within our Wine Bar selection, the structure helped them move confidently through the range.

As Miriam Cameron, Sales Director - On Trade, reflected:

“What a fantastic day! A tasting that was designed to specifically showcase our core wines, which underpin so many wine lists. This time we gave these wines the full stage so customers could compare and get inspired by many different styles at very accessible price points. Breaking the portfolio into smaller, digestible segments makes their decisions much easier. And that is what it's all about helping our customers, doing more than just opening hundreds of bottles of wine.”

Finding inspiration in iconic classic regions…

Next, we took our Inspire theme to Scotland, with tastings in Glasgow and Edinburgh, each in beautifully atmospheric spaces; Timberyard's industrial elegance in Edinburgh and Ubiquitous Chip's warm character in Glasgow. Against these inviting backdrops, customers explored our range with genuine enthusiasm, discovering new additions to their ranges.

Freya Reinsch, Head of Scotland Sales, noted:

“With our customers often so geographically dispersed, our tastings serve as a vital opportunity for us to chat with them and introduce so many of the new additions to our portfolio. My thanks to everyone who joined us and made the day such a success!”

Exploring inspirational stories told by the producers themselves…

In the first week of March, we returned to Glaziers Hall in London for A Taste of Inspiration, this time greeted by bright blue skies and the first real signs of spring!

This tasting centred on four distinct sections: 

• Stories written in the land
• Stories inspired by innovation
• Stories shaped by heritage
• Stories nurtured from one grape.

The event brought together 20 outstanding producers, each offering insight into the narratives and creative decisions behind their wines. For those who attended, this translated into compelling stories, and direct list and retail opportunities.

As Sarah Benson MW, Buyer, shared:

“Monday’s tasting was wonderfully busy and buzzy. The concept of featuring a small yet diverse selection of producers from our portfolio enabled the winemakers to dedicate quality time to talking about their wines in detail the customers and provide a focussed showcase event. The wines were excellent—it was impossible to pick a highlight!”

We’re incredibly grateful to every producer who joined us and shared their personal insights, experiences and passion with such generosity.

Learn more about our portfolio…

The enthusiasm across all three events was genuinely rewarding—and reinforced that consumers today are seeking the stories and inspiration behind the label. Explore our current portfolio here, and do get in touch with our sales teams if you'd like to discuss any particular wines or producers – we'd love to hear what caught your eye.