We started out as one man, one van and a few cases of red Bordeaux. Today our team covers every corner of the wine world on your behalf.
We’re unique because we specialise in going the extra mile to work directly with winemakers whose passion for their craft translates into delicious wines.
This case is a celebration of 50 years of ‘going direct’. Landmark styles that have helped put great wines made by lovely people firmly on the world wine map.
And if yours is one of the first 500 orders we receive you’ll get a FREE bottle of Cabalié Coup de Coeur – the limited edition of our most re-ordered red, made from old vines in southern France.
Our World Wine trek in numbers
- We work directly with 450 winemakers
- We taste more than 40,000 wines from around the world each year
- Our current range includes wines from 20 different countries
Portugal
Jaime Quendera: Winemaking star and driving force at the 70-Golds vineyard
The wine: Vinha do Fava
Championing brilliant Jaime is one of the reasons we’ve been named Portugal Retailer of the Year. His wines from one legendary vineyard have won more than 70 Golds, including five for this rich, juicy, brambly red.
Chile
The Pioneers: More than 30 years ago we introduced UK drinkers to Chilean wines
The wine: Valle de Leyda Limited Release
We’re still blazing a trail in Chile. This new find comes from Leyda Valley, an ocean-cooled region whose specialty is cool, crisp Sauvignon. This is a mouthwatering, citrus-charged smasher.
Argentina
Beyond Mendoza: Looking for Malbec in regions beyond Mendoza brings great rewards
The wine: Arquero Malbec
Arquero Malbec comes from a family-owned bodega in the San Juan region. High-altitude vines make for a super-ripe, fruit-filled Malbec, rounded out by time spent in oak barrels. This wine is the perfect choice at summer barbecues.
South Africa
Unsung hero: Cape whites never grab the headlines, but the quality is amazing
The wine: The Huguenot
The Huguenot Chenin is our number one Cape white, it’s bursting with sunny pineapple fruit and lemony zip – and comes from an extra-ripe vintage. Absolutely delicious – and one of the reasons we keep banging the drum for South Africa.
New Zealand
John Walsh: A giant of a man whose Sauvignon has made a very big impact
The wine: Mussel Pot
We launched Kiwi Sauvignon in the UK when Hunter’s won at our London show in 1986. And we’re still championing independent winemakers like John Walsh and his intense, gooseberry-scented Mussel Pot.
Italy
Angelo Maci: Championing the little guys in southern Italy – with your help
The wine: Il Brutto
When a century-old vineyard owned by local growers was threatened by developers, we teamed up with award-winning winemaker Angelo to save it. Your reward is this juicy, smoky red made from the fruit of those heirloom vines.
And we keep going…
Those are just six of the wine producing countries we’ve been championing for decades, but it doesn’t end there. We also work with independent producers from Austria to Canada and Australia to Moldova.
View our entire range at www.laithwaites.co.uk.