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Scotland gets new wine importer and wholesaler

Published:  14 December, 2017

Terroir, a new wine importer and wholesaler, has been launched to offer exclusive wines to operators in Scotland.

The focus of the new company, run by father and son team George and Andrew Deans, is to import quality wines from small under represented family producers across the globe.

The importer, based in Lauder in the Scottish Borders, currently sells to the on-trade and smaller retailers in Scotland.

The company, which has been running for three months, was set up, as the Deans believed there was an opening in Scotland for a small wholesaler that was importing directly from small producers.

It is currently working with six wineries including Oak Valley Wines of Elgin, South Africa; Westbrook wines of Auckland, New Zealand and champagne producer Lacourte-Godbillon.

“These are producers that are sometimes overlooked because they don’t have the volume,” said Andrew Deans.

“It is important that these wines have a story and something where the bar or restaurant can tell the customer.”

The strategy is to keep the portfolio small although there are plans to expand to 12 wineries by this time next year.

A crucial part of the offer was for the wholesaler to have “a level of exclusivity” on the product so it could offer its clients something different, said Deans.

“We will never be a company that can go into a restaurant and do the whole wine list. We are targeting clients with two or three suppliers who want a point of difference and an exclusive wine,” he added.

The company already has its own distribution via its butchery business Shaws Fine Meats, which supplies the hospitality sector in Scotland.

George Deans said that they would also look to sell their wines through their existing customer base.

“We supply catering establishments throughout Scotland such restaurants and hotels and many of these customers that are interested in buying wine from us as well,” he said.

The importer said it would consider expanding outside Scotland in the future.

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