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  “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy”. - Winston Churchill Who remembers Boris Johnson’s triumphant declaration after signing his Brexit deal. Britian would be, “prosperous, dynamic and contented,” along with, “the Brexit deal will enable UK companies to do even more business with the European Union…” In reality, Brexit has hobbled the UK economy and awoken many voters from their ‘it’s a great idea’ dream. The Vinorium has been directly impacted – our loss of business amounting to several million which grates me to the core. As it stands (almost 4-years on) there is no realistic chance of shipping wines (to private customers) from the UK to Europe. Most countries have imposed limitations on alcohol which makes commercial sense. ‘We’ll flog as much as you Brits will take however, you ain’t shipping wine to our private citizens.’ The costs are equally prohibitive and it’s not going to change. For years, we have been toying with the idea of operating out of Belgium. Strategically, they have five ports which can accept direct shipments from Australia. We even found the perfect, bonded warehouse however, Covid hit, and they were too busy to consider working with The Vinorium. Today, the realisation of operating out of Belgium is almost complete. We have found a partner (based in Geel, Belgium) who provides everything we require.
The team and I have liaised directly with DHL and DPD. DHL is a non-starter – simply, too expensive. DPD submissions are excellent - we have no complaints whatsoever. How will The Vinorium operate in Belgium? Cautiously at first rather than opening the flood gates as we must test the European market. Principally, we need to re-build what Brexit has undone, which will take time. We plan to ship all EU client reserves from LCB, Eton Park to our new bonded warehouse in Belgium – we will cover this cost. From here, we will organise home delivery for those customers wishing to take receipt of their wines. *Prices will be shared in January 2024. We will transfer key stock lines across which will be available to purchase by-the-bottle and by-the-case. We will not be transferring every SKU / wine as building sales is key. Where possible, EU customers will be offered the opportunity to purchase ‘pre-arrival’ specials (those previously offered to our UK customers). Ideally, and if sales support split shipments – all future pre-arrivals will be shipped directly from Australia to our bond warehouse in Belgium. Utopos, Standish, Wild Duck Creek being examples. However, if sales are too small to support direct shipments, we will simply consolidate EU orders in the UK and ship to Belgium. Of course, this will increase lead-times, but it’s realistic in the early days. Our e-commerce website will require remodelling to accommodate wines available for delivery across Europe. Ideally, EU customers must enjoy the same, user-friendly experience. Again, this will take time however, it is a vital part of the jigsaw… In the short-term – we can always revert to email invoices and payment either sent via BACS or you call us with your card details. Prior to our first shipment from the UK to Belgium: EU customers will have the opportunity to purchase any wine (any combination) from our website. We will add all additional orders to our first shipment to Belgium. As previously stated, we will cover the cost for this leg of the journey. Customers will be responsible to pay delivery fees from Belgium to their respective homes. In line with the UK – will we be offering free delivery across Europe for all orders exceeding £150.00? Most doubtful as Europe is a vast continent however, and to support larger and repeat orders, we are prepared to assist with some costs. But, lets walk before we run… Our UK operation will remain unchanged and uninterrupted. For the EU operation to succeed – we need customers to support the business (and lots of it!) and spread the word.  Luminosa: Stella Bella’s most premium range which rivals the very best Margaret River is one of Australia’s most breathtakingly beautiful wine regions, with the territory fringed by the white sands and azure waters of the Indian Ocean. It is also one of the country’s most prestigious regions, boasting truly world class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The list of iconic wineries is growing – esteemed producers being Cullen, Leeuwin Estate and Moss Wood. Yet, the tier below is where the fun is taking place and where wines of equal quality to the aforementioned trio can be found… Thanks to Stuart Pym (of Flowstone, which we brought to the UK) and Janice McDonald who founded Suckfizzle in 1996. ’97 saw the first vintage of the Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, which was inspired by the great Bordeaux property, Domaine de Chevalier. Controversial at the time and it took years for this magnificent wine to be highly acclaimed in its native country. Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon has either been on my shelves or my home cellar since 2013. With bottle age (circa 10-years) this would find its way to the top of any white, Graves tasting. It is simply exquisite and one of the best examples you will ever find below £50.00. Why it doesn’t fly out of the door is one of life’s peculiarities. Try it and you will understand what you’ve been missing out on. The brand has changed and formally in 1999 with the creation of Stella Bella. In 2013 Stuart Pym handed over the Senior Winemaking reins to Luke Joliffe who remains the top man today and has steered the winery to the very top with Wine of the Year 2021 (2018 Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon) and in 2022 (99-points for the 2019 Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon). Today, their wines flourish on the Margaret River stage. Competition is immense however, they regularly take the top spots.   Distinctly Southern Margaret River and uniquely Luminosa. Farmed from a single vineyard located in the Boodjidup Valley, each vine is curated & nurtured with an attention to detail that embraces our pristine natural environment. Gently handled to enhance the explosive yet elegant individuality and flavours that can only be Luminosa. "This is the archetypal Miss World of Chardonnays. So, so, beautiful, graceful, calming and perfectly balanced. Flawless, in fact…"  2022 Stella Bella Luminosa ChardonnayTROPHY - Best Chardonnay - Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2023 TROPHY - Most Outstanding White Wine in Show - Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2023 TROPHY - Best Chardonnay - Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2023 TROPHY - Best White Wine of Show - Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2023 Stuart McCloskey "This is a real showstopper a worthy of correct preparation: Not too cold, please, decant for 30-minutes and serve using Zalto’s Burgundy glassware (or a similar size stem). Preferably, be selfish and spend a few hours alone with it too… Power builds, but in a way that gently brushes past rather than takes you out with a shoulder into your chest. Sea salt, confit lemon and grapefruit, orange zest, fresh vanilla and toast. Youth cocoons many aromatics. They’re hiding and waiting for time unlock their beauty. Be patient. The palate is a silken dream – the gloss and sheen are wonderfully soothing. Acidity jolts you back to reality and provides the perfect framework. This is the archetypal Miss World of Chardonnays. So, so, beautiful, graceful, calming and perfectly balanced. Flawless, in fact… This could be devoured now (and why not) however, these bottles are hard to come by. As good as most Art Series Chardonnay releases and Cullen too. By all means, try a bottle or two, but stash the rest away for 8-10 years…" Maximum Order of 6 bottles per customer. Share the love… £50.00 per bottle  "The palate is suave and elegant. Chiselled and focussed, merging texture and tension perfectly. Lovely gloss to the palate feel, too."  2022 Stella Bella Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc SemillonThe story begins here...a wine as unique in its inception as it is now. An extreme expression of the Margaret River white blend. A narrative of place and style, a wine of distinction and raw individuality grounded by complexity and ageability like no other. One of the worlds very best examples and Platinum Medal winner at the 2018, 2019 and 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards. BLEND: 74% Sauvignon Blanc 26% Semillon Stuart McCloskey "This is a powerful example of Sauvignon Blanc / Sémillon which shows considerable promise from the start. The key to this wine is bottle age which rewards the drinker with layer-upon-layer of aromatics, flavour and complexity. For now, the bouquet delivers grapefruit, nectarine, pea-pod, lime, jasmine, sea-spray and struck match. The palate is suave and elegant. Chiselled and focussed, merging texture and tension perfectly. Lovely gloss to the palate feel, too. I am also rather smitten by its gin and tonic bitterness – you’ll understand my reference. Quietly confident, pure, and impeccably balanced. As expected, the flavours are tightly coiled and require time to unfurl, but it shows a lot of class. As ever, and after sampling 17-years of Bordeaux white wines, this is heading towards another cracking release. Time is the key – five years, I say, and then watch it develop into a beautiful swan thereafter. Served using Zalto universal glassware." £29.95 per bottle "Complex, engaging and difficult to put down. What a wine. Deserves a ‘Wow’."  2020 Stella Bella Suckfizzle Chardonnay700 vines create this southern powerhouse teaming oceanic flavours with complexity, texture and generosity. Unfined and unfiltered to show the raw power of this vineyard. Tiny volumes are available. Stuart McCloskey "The bouquet takes you directly to the vineyard – sea salt, yuzu, freshly grated lemon zest, lime, anise, fresh ginger, a smidgeon of sweet pastry, mint and oodles of spice. This one quenches the soul and screams with energy – the waves of stone fruits, citrus, minerality crash against the palate. I love the saltiness and the intensity grips you and doesn’t let go. The senses come alive, and the flavours are driven and super-long… Power is currently being harnessed by graceful restraint (youthful athleticism). Give it a few years and watch the wine explode the from the blocks. Complex, engaging and difficult to put down. What a wine. Deserves a ‘Wow’. Drinking now (decant for an hour) and cellar with confidence through to 2030+. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware." Erin Larkin “Flinty, pithy, mineral and sumptuous. This is an expansive chardonnay of pristine poise and length. I love it. So much. But then again, all the chardonnays that the Stella Bella team have been putting out of late have been just like this: powerful and driven, but endlessly nuanced and detailed. The acid, although high, is perfectly nailed.” £43.95 per bottle  "This beauty is assertive, powerful and a wonderfully intense experience."  2021 Stella Bella Suckfizzle ChardonnayStuart McCloskey "Grapefruit, brine, confit lemon, lemon sorbet, freshly sliced apple, fennel seed, cold steel and peach, along with a sweet spice. The palate is a joy, I hate to use the term ‘intellectual’, but this one stops you in your tracks and forces a private discussion between you and the wine – so much is going on. Texturally, there’s chalkiness, tightness (a puckering if you will) along with a direct line of acidity. Equally quenching and powerful – more savoury than the ’20 release. We’ve sampled too many Margaret River Chardonnays that are overtly ‘lean and mean’ – fashionable juice which often fails to impress our tastes. This beauty is assertive, powerful and a wonderfully intense experience. This bristles with so much energy. What a dream to see this in 7-10 years’ time. Drinking now (decant for an hour) and cellar with confidence through to 2030+. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware." Jane Faulkner, WineCompanion.com “Quite possibly the finest Suckfizzle to date. Tightly focussed with smokin’ sulphides, grapefruit and spice. Mouth-watering acidity drives the palate, which is detailed and complex but all of that aside, and most importantly, it’s a fabulous drink. According to the back label ‘Suckfizzle Chardonnay says kiss my arse.’ Each to their own.” £43.95 per bottle 2023 Capezzana Extra Virgin Olive OilA sublime olive oil which we have supported every year since 2013. Like so many wines, our allocation is cut year-on-year. It was only a few years back when we ordered 360 bottles. This year, we were allocated a mere 60-bottles due to yields falling by 70%. Keen eyed customers have already begun snapping these up - only 38 bottles remain…  Capezzana Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2023 (Unfiltered)Capezzana Olive Oil has a very intense green colour and very fruity aromas of freshly cut grass and artichokes. On the palate, it is dense and viscous, with flavours that match the aromas on the nose, a very long finish with a touch of spice. A very elegant and harmonious Olive Oil. £36.00 per bottle   The Vinorium Selection: ShirazStandish The Standish Shiraz 2017 RRP £230.40   The Vinorium Selection: Cabernet SauvignonAylesbury Estate The Pater Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 RRP £163.35  The Vinorium Selection: ChardonnayDomaine Naturaliste Floris Chardonnay 2021 RRP £144.30  The Vinorium Selection: Pinot NoirGlaetzer-Dixon Avance Pinot Noir 2021 RRP £175.80  "A sheer joy and one of the best value wines of 2023...Highly recommended is an understatement. There are no negatives..."  2021 Aylesbury Estate QO5 GamayStuart McCloskey “The compliments are becoming rather embarrassing. In a nutshell, this is the best New World Gamay I have sampled / drunk in the last 27-years. In terms of price, this is seriously undervalued and puts many other Gamays / Pinot Noirs (they are cousins!) priced around the £25-£30 mark to absolute shame. The bouquet is an infusion of black cherry, brambly, hedgerow red fruits, sweet cinnamon, unmistakable blood orange which makes me skip with joy and sweet lavender. Aromatic subtleness concludes with fruit skins and earth. Today, this is thrilling to drink – the palate is another textural bomb (incredibly sensual). Fresh, fleshy, rich, expansive, silky and seamless are just a few descriptions. A sheer joy and joins one of the best value wines of 2023 (all from the same producer). Highly recommended is an understatement. Buy it and serve using Zalto’s Burgundy glassware (or a similar sized bowl). There are no negatives save for the fact that my glass has emptied far too quickly (no spitting allowed). Drink now to 2028.” £19.95 per bottle  "The magic happens on the palate as the weight and glossy texture amaze. Oily viscosity punctuated by ineffable weightlessness – mindboggling stuff."  The NEW 2022 Pater Series ChardonnayStuart McCloskey “The compliments are becoming rather embarrassing. In a nutshell, this is the best New World Gamay I have sampled / drunk in the last 27-years. In terms of price, this is seriously undervalued and puts many other Gamays / Pinot Noirs (they are cousins!) priced around the £25-£30 mark to absolute shame. The bouquet is an infusion of black cherry, brambly, hedgerow red fruits, sweet cinnamon, unmistakable blood orange which makes me skip with joy and sweet lavender. Aromatic subtleness concludes with fruit skins and earth. Today, this is thrilling to drink – the palate is another textural bomb (incredibly sensual). Fresh, fleshy, rich, expansive, silky and seamless are just a few descriptions. A sheer joy and joins one of the best value wines of 2023 (all from the same producer). Highly recommended is an understatement. Buy it and serve using Zalto’s Burgundy glassware (or a similar sized bowl). There are no negatives save for the fact that my glass has emptied far too quickly (no spitting allowed). Drink now to 2028.” £24.95 per bottle The BEST Cabernet Sauvignon you will drink for under thirty quid...  2018 The Pater Series Cabernet SauvignonStuart McCloskey “Sampled over two days. The bouquet is a heady mix of red and black currant, blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, fresh toast, graphite, lavender and blackcurrant pastille along with fresh lead pencil shavings. Black olive, bay leaf, lavender, and floral notes emerge on day two. The palate is wonderfully fresh, firm, balanced and serious – I can feel myself sitting more upright prior to taking my next sample. The tannins and acidity provide the framework for extended cellaring (ten-years and more). This is a beautiful example of Western Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. I would strongly recommend buying a case – enjoy six bottles over the next 5-6 years and serve the rest at a swanky supper and pretend you paid double the cost – you’ll get away with it. Sheer enjoyment – just wonderful… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.” £24.95 per bottle "Why serve expensive rosé when you can put this on ice for 10-minutes and wow not only yourself, but all your guests too. I’m left doffing and bowing. A frisky delight…"  2021 Aylesbury Estate QO5 TempranilloStuart McCloskey “The bouquet grows to spiced red fruits, violet, soused cherry, cola, Campari-like bitters, wood and orange zest. Black olive, anise, leather and fresh, black pepper develop with more aeration. The palate is firm and wonderfully refreshing. The spiced fruit (raspberry, cherry and orange) provide a real prickly tang – a vigorous shake down, if you like… This is never going to win awards or huge scores however, this is crafted to provide vibrancy and bucket loads of fun (albeit with a touch of seriousness). The sweet spice and salinity tick all my boxes. Why serve expensive rosé when you can put this on ice for 10-minutes and wow not only yourself, but all your guests too. I’m left doffing and bowing. A frisky delight…" £19.95 per bottle Also available under bond - £70.25 per case (6x75cl) "This is delicious, especially at this price point...lots of flavourful satisfaction. It’s easy to appreciate the quality and easy to drink this all day long."  2019 Waterfall Gully Cabernet SauvignonStuart McCloskey “A thoroughly enjoyable sibling, which delivers a cracking set of aromas and flavours. This is delicious, especially at this price point. The bouquet opens to cassis, blackcurrant, brambly blackberry, a little chocolate and bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied and the flavours roll with ease. I admire the freshness and the balance (very neat and tidy). There really isn’t anything not to like. Of course, this does not enter the realms of complexity, but it does provide lots of flavourful satisfaction. It’s easy to appreciate the quality and easy to drink this all day long. Drinking now through to 2026…” Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion “This is a riotous feast of berry aromatics - it's so bright that it brings a smile to the dial. The palate follows as instructed, lending a crunchy nouveau vibe to the wine. Not strictly serious cabernet, but seriously joyful, with enough layers of interest to hold attention. Ripper.” £14.50 per bottle Also available under bond - £97.45 per case (12x75cl)  We are almost sold out... Enjoy 10% discount on all Zalto glassware Use code ZALTO10   Deliveries from our bonded warehouse, LCB: Last orders leave our HQ warehouse at 2:00pm Thursday 21 December Last collection from our HQ: Team Vinorium Christmas Opening Hours Orders received after 2:00pm Thursday 21 December will be dispatched on Wednesday 3 January |
