The Oxford Wine Cellar

Having celebrated its crowning as the number one merchant in Harpers’ 50 Best Indies list 2023, The Oxford Wine Group has opened a new city centre venue. It is the second ex-Oddbins site the business has taken over in the past few years and is a stone’s throw away from the OWC’s Turl Street shop. Visitors to the bar

Headline Heroes: Crémant rises

The UK’s appetite for sparkling wine has led to increasing sales for wallet-friendly Champagne alternatives, and crémant ticks the right boxes. James Lawrence reports.

New opening nears for Oxford Wine Group

The Oxford Wine Group is now set to open its new wine bar on Oxford’s High Street on 2 October in the centre of the city.

Oxford Wine Group announces new bar opening

Having celebrated its crowning as the number one merchant in Harpers' 50 Best Indies list 2023, The Oxford Wine Group has announced it will open a brand-new city centre venue later this year.

The tipping point for sustainable packaging

James Lawrence charts the onward creep of sustainable packaging solutions into the mainstream.

Thirty years of The Oxford Wine Company

After 30 years in business, Ted Sandbach, owner and chairman of The Oxford Wine Company, says moving to – and staying in – Oxford is still the best decision he’s ever made. Jo Gilbert reports

Little Sandy’s

Little Sandy’s

Indies: Fighting back against the obstacles to trade

Jason Millar looks at how the long tail of Brexit and Covid have impacted merchants looking to buy direct.

Harnessing Pays d’Oc IGP

Inviting a panel to taste and talk, Andrew Catchpole prompted a far-reaching exploration of the potential for southern France’s most versatile designation, in partnership with Pays d’Oc IGP.

Oxford Wine Company launches tourism platform

The Oxford Wine Company (OWC) has launched a wine tourism platform aimed at making wineries "accessible to everybody". 

New Horizons Q&A: Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company

With an end game to the coronavirus in sight sometime in 2021 as vaccine rollouts begin and up-to-the-wire Brexit uncertainties play out across an extraordinarily tough year, Harpers has been canvassing drinks businesses as to their predictions for trade deep into the new year.

Covid and Brexit: A perfect storm?

With Covid and Brexit uncertainty pressing down ahead of Christmas, Andrew Catchpole asked some of our top 50 Best Indies what lies ahead.

Paving the way back to tasting

50 Best Indies 2020

Padstow’s Bin Two has romped home for a second year running with top placing in our 50 Best Indies 2020 list.

Friday Read: George Sandbach of the Oxford wine dynasty talks shop during shutdown

George Sandbach of Sandy’s Piano Bar talks to Andrew Catchpole about adapting to lockdown, selling quality booze out the back door, the thorny problem of rent and launching an accessible podcast series.

Indie merchants look to nurture new trade ahead of economic slump

With lockdown easing and non-essential shops beginning to reopen from 15 June, the independent merchant sector is increasingly planning ways of achieving some semblance of ‘normal’ store opening, while balancing health considerations with marked changes in trading conditions.

Living with lockdown - Oxford Wine Company

Ted Sandbach, MD, at Oxford Wine Company, gives Lisa Riley a glimpse of the realities of life as a multifaceted indie merchant adjusting to lockdown.

Looking ahead: Ted Sandbach, managing director, Oxford Wine Company

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

Cambridge noses ahead to vinous victory in Varsity taste off

Cambridge narrowly triumphed over Oxford last night in a hard fought blind tasting challenge between these rival indie merchants.

Looking ahead: Ted Sandbach, managing director, Oxford Wine Company

How has the first half of 2018 been compared to 2017?