Averys of Bristol

Sometimes a sum really is greater than its parts.   John Avery was always a proponent of this theory - even blending Evangile and Lafite at a tasting at Chateau Lafite - and cheekily proclaiming to those present - "See what I mean" These five lovely people make up our shop team.  From left to right -  Tia is our wonderful Wedding and Trade Co-Ordinator. Currently undertaking the #WSETDiploma her one weakness is the never-ending supply of custard creams in the staff snack box! Shop manager Nick we asked him for his #fAVERYtewine of the moment and he went for Beaujolais in this heat - great, chilled a little! Santil, he's a Retail Wine Advisor and our Stock Manager. He's come to us from the sunny shores of Portugal and has received the most views and engagements on our Social media piece about him.  His favourite spot is The #BristolHarbourside Paul is a superstar and some of you may know him already, he's our van driver and has been with us for ne...

4. Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon The next of our ‘10 wines that tell the Averys story’ is Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve, America’s first ‘cult’ Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1964, aged 22, John Avery spent a summer touring the USA, whilst taking a break from his studies at Oxford. There he visited the University of California Davis and met Professor Maynard Amerine and winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, two of the most influential figures in America’s wine history. Amerine was head of the wine faculty at Davis and is still to this day considered the USA’s most significant wine scientist. Tchelistcheff had been winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard since the 1930s and his Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon was considered the benchmark Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. They had a lasting impact on the young John Avery and helped introduce him to some of California’s finest wines. Shortly after John’s return to the UK, Averys beco...

Meet the winemaker – Guenole Breteaudeau Guenole started as a winemaker Domaine des Malandes in 2006 and works closely with the owners, the Marchive family, to make wines with great purity and precision. at Do you remember when & how you first began working with Averys? OVER 25 YEARS! What is it about the Chablis region and Domaine des Malandes in particular, that makes the wines so distinct?   The soils (Kimmeridgian & Portlandian) and the foresight of Amandine’s grandfather who swapped agricultural   land for vineyard sites - Vaudesirs, Clos, 1er Crus Lechet and Montmains. He then planted using the old rootstock which is what sets the Domaine apart. Also, they were the first growers to revitalise the 1er Cru Vau de Vey, which has been abandoned since the Second World War because of its steep incline. We’re currently selling the 2016 vintage Domaine des Malandes Chablis – can you tell us a bit more about this vintage? Difficult is an understa...

International Wine Challenge Regional South West Wine Merchant of the Year. I am so proud in this our 225th year to announce that last night Averys was named South West Regional Wine Merchant of the Year. It is testament to our staff, both customer-facing in the shop and our customer service and Personal Wine Advisor teams on the phones. I was among the "great and the good" of the wine trade, eminent journalists, fellow wine merchants and producers. A personal highlight was to raise a toast with the wonderful Bob Lindo, celebrating the centenary of the RAF and receiving the life time achievement award! Cheers to all at Averys, and our lovely customers without whom we would not exist. photos of the Grosvenor House hotel, Mimi Avery (me!) with our award and celebrating with our 2006 Blanc de Blancs Averys Champagne - which went down well with the whole table!

This month, we caught up with John Matta, owner of Tuscany’s beautiful Castello Vicchiomaggio Do you remember when & how you first began working with Averys? Yes, it was about 8 years ago, and the contact came through my good friend Joseph Minerva of Vinimpo Ltd. For those customers who are not familiar with your wines, can you sum up Castello Vicchiomaggio in a few lines: We have, over the years, identified all the small variations in soil types that we have on our estate here at Greve in Chianti, the French call this creating “selections parcellaires”. From each of these small areas we produce our various wines. They are all obviously similar but not identical with the overriding characteristic of elegance. Vicchiomaggio is considered among Tuscany’s finest estates – what do you think it is that makes your wines distinctive? Our estate enjoys excellent exposition, south facing and open to the east and west. This gives us maximum hours of sunlight and very good ven...

Meet Hugo Levingston of Domaine de Mourchon Walter and Ronnie McKinlay bought Domaine de Mourchon in 1998 and still run the estate, together with daughter Kate and son-in-law Hugo Levingtson. Do you remember how and when you first began working with Averys? Averys offered our first order in March 2005 for the Tradition Rouge, then we became regulars at the tastings in Bristol … we’ve been ever since, 12 years now ! The wines of Séguret are steadily gaining in reputation, which is in a large part down to Domaine de Mourchon. What do you think makes the region so special? Today Seguret as an appellation has experienced a renaissance in wine production. Since we created Domaine de Mourchon 20 years ago, a new generation of growers and winemakers have taken forward their traditions with new attitudes and respect to developing respectful techniques and technologies with a trend towards organic methods. Domaine de Mourchon will be certified 100% in a few years - presentl...

10 wines that tell the Averys story Next on our list of wines that have helped shaped Averys history is the infamous Château Pétrus. 2.      Château Pétrus, Pomerol Château Pétrus is one of the world’s finest and most expensive wines but it hasn’t always been that way. Indeed 70 years ago, when Ronald Avery first tried it, it was virtually unheard of.   “ The great post-war champion of Pomerol, indeed Pétrus, was the late Ronald Avery ,” Christie’s Fine Wines Ronald first came across Château Pétrus back in 1949, after sailing his yacht to Bordeaux. There he met Jean-Pierre Moueix, a wine merchant in Libourne who introduced him to Pétrus. Apparently, Ronald tasted the wine and agreed on the spot to fill his yacht with cases to take back to England! “Avery’s of Bristol, then lead by the late Ronald Avery, who did so much to put Pomerols on the map (perhaps the Mayor of Libourne should commission a statue?)” Grands Vins: The Finest Châteaux of B...