Cumbria's premier wine importer has shared his end-of-year perspective on all things Covid, Brexit and the future of the trade going forward.
Tom Wall, General Manager of Stainton Wines in Station Yard, Kendal, imports wines from around the world to South Cumbria, supplying both hospitality and the public.
He said: "Most of our high-end wine normally goes to hotels and restaurants, but our customers have been buying them to drink at home instead - we've sold a lot of Champagne this year.
"For us, this years allocation of Dom Perignon has sold out - that isn't normal."
Tom cited one country that has suffered particularly in 2021:
"New Zealand had a shocking 2021 harvest, with climate problems such as frost and hail taking a big chunk of the harvest, as well as the usual itinerant workforce of pickers not being able to move freely due to the pandemic.
"We've been allocated a much smaller supply of Cloudy Bay (one of New Zealand's most iconic wines), which we can normally order on demand."
Tom says that while Brexit causes frustrations, all is not lost:
"We are still able to ship quite easily from Europe but have encountered problems with the time frames for our deliveries to arrive. 4 week turnarounds have been increased to 8 and even 12 weeks and increased costs of paperwork and transport will have to be passed on at some point
"In time, that will sort itself out, as shipping wine from Europe has always been done, so the set-up is there.
"There are still strong sales for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Merlot but in recent years we have seen an increase in consumer confidence with grape varieties such as Viognier and particularly Malbec being added to the favourites. White Rioja has seen a surge over the last couple of years."
Tom says 2021 has seen some fantastic wines pass through Kendal, and hopefully some exciting things coming in 2022:
"My wine of the year has to be Joseph Perrier Brut Nature Champagne - sensational. Really fine bead, smooth, dry, crisp - it's everything you want from Champagne, and while £42 a bottle sounds expensive, for a Champagne of this quality it's good value.
"There are some cracking wines beginning to trickle out of Eastern Europe now from countries like Romania, and Bulgaria - there's such a rich tradition of wine there, but we've seen very little of their best stuff in the West - that's starting to change."
To find out more, pop into Stainton Wines' shop in Station Road, Kendal, or check out their website www.stainton-wines.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here