Andrew Firth’s Summer 2023 Newsletter

Hello, here’s what has been going on recently at Firth & Co…

Good morning,

I have been thinking that it is quite some time since I have done one of my newsletters, so I am writing to you with our news and thoughts on a variety of stuff.

The Kings Coronation was pleasing and joyous to all, such a shame that Princess Anne`s smart plume on her headgear meant we couldn`t quite see Prince Harry`s smiling face sitting behind her in Westminster Abbey. God save the King. We shall watch and see how Prince Louis matures.

On the wine front, we are busy as, a new wine list is at the printers with much new to crow about. Our new arrangement in Chile with the family owned Tagua Tagua estate in the Rapel Valley has been a big success. Their wines are of very high quality and very reasonably priced, the benefits of us buying directly from the vineyard. Even the exchange rate has been kind to us. We stock their Vuelo range of varietals, a Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and a delicious Chardonnay all priced at £8.10 inc vat. Then we have a very structured reserve Merlot under the cool Sismo label at £10.74 and a really fascinating blend Gran Reserva Sismo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Nebbiolo £14.34, total bargain that one. Packed in 6s.

Also in South America we are working with Bodega Weinert in Mendoza, Argentina, it was a real delight to have Iduna Weinert visit us in April and we visited some customers and had an outstanding lunch at The Star Inn at Harome, lucky us hey, go us! The wines are really good and made in a very traditional style at one of Argentina`s oldest and finest estates. Carrascal Malbec is £13.14 inc vat and the Reserve Malbec is 2015 vintage and is £22.74, special quality that wine.

Champagne stocks seem to be getting back up in the cellars of all of the major suppliers. Another visit we had was from Baptiste Marchal from Champagne Brimoncourt in Aÿ. They are a small boutique house, based in the same village as the mighty Bollinger. We are very proud to be their distributor in the north of England. The Brimoncourt wines challenge all of the major houses for quality and win hands down on price. Brut Regence non vintage is £34.20 inc vat.

Burgundy stocks are bursting at the seams, after Will Tilling and me went to Burgundy last November, latest to arrive are the stunning Cotes de Nuits wines from Domaine de la Poulette, these are a little under the radar at the moment but fame is around the corner and we are in there now, worth a try, happy to put a mixed case together for you let me know. Coteaux Bourguignon 2021 is £16.20, Cotes de Nuits Villages 2018 £21.00, Nuits St Georges 1ER Cru 2018 £51.00 and also the great value Nuits St Georges Les Vallerots 2018 for £33.00.

A few other areas that have been tarted up, include Greece, some great dessert wines and lovely crisp Assyrtiko white wines, new arrangements in the Loire valley with Domaine Bonnard Sancerre, classy and flinty dry. Puglia in the South of Italy is a regular collection point for our excellent freight forwarders WineFlow, with our supplier Giustini. Always trying to improve our selections.

People wise, the most important part of any business, Will Tilling was made a director last year and he is a very important member of the board. To celebrate, last year he was nominated to attend the very prestigious Champagne Academy week long course in Reims and surrounding areas, last June. Passing the exam at the end of the week comfortably, he says!

Speaking of exams office manager and taxi control of Firth & Co, Callum Bowers, passed his Wine and Spirits Education level 2 exam with 80% which to my mind is a very high score.

I have recently invested in an over 60s rail card, which I am very proud of and is saving vast amounts of money.

New to the team is Kate Jackson who is joining us to help Will on the sales side and we all are delighted to be working with her, she comes from a hotel background and has good wine knowledge and a very cheery disposition, which is always a very useful asset.

We can`t miss out our number 1 van driver Paulie Reilly, who has grown a beard, bought a new car and continues to be a great ambassador for the company. A lady you may not know, Carol Peirson is our accounts lady and keeps us all on the right path, we just need a full biscuit tin and all is good.

The new wine list is due back from the printers very soon and will be posted out. Our new web site – www.firthandco.com – is also available and Callum is constantly adding and tinkering to ensure it’s fresh and up to date.

Sorry to go on, but lots to tell you.

Final thoughts, it`s OK to put an ice cube in rosé wine on a hot day, but hold the glass by the stem, decanting young red wines can really help them show more fruit and balance. Discover some of Bordeaux`s bargains for under £20. Rediscover CAVA its not all crap, we have a really good one , well packaged and well priced. Don`t rip the foil of, it`s not big or clever!

With very best wishes and thanks for reading this,
Andrew Firth