Alastair Stevens, founder of Stevens Garnier, dies after long illness

Published: 15 January, 2010

Alastair Stevens, the founder of wine agency Stevens Garnier, has died peacefully at home after a long illness.

A well known and loved figure in the wine trade he began his career in 1964 at Rigby & Evens in Halebank, near Widnes. He went on to found Stevens Garnier in 1976, which has grown from a small office in Sloane Street, London to a multi-million pound international wine agency.

Stevens Garnier in a statement said: "He was particularly proud of the pioneering work with South American wines that he and his father David achieved during the 70s and 80s, and was always pleased that the portfolio still includes one of the two French agencies with which he started in 1976.

"He, and his charm, wit and distinctive laugh will be sadly missed by all the team in Oxford and, we suspect, by many others besides."

Stevens finally retired from the business in September 2008.

A service of Thanksgiving is to be held at Dorchester Abbey (Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire) at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday 21, January. His family would like all his friends and colleagues from the trade to know they are very welcome and have requested that "bright clothing is preferable".

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