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The government has added off-licences, wine merchants and other shops licensed to sell alcohol, including those within breweries, to its list of “essential businesses” that can stay open during the coronavirus lockdown. The late addition of alcohol outlets to the list will be welcome news for many people stuck at home, with pubs and restaurants shut down and supermarkets running low on supplies of beer and wine. Despite this surprising news, The Vinorium’s HQ shop will remain closed simply to protect our team and to avoid the need for customers to leave their homes unnecessarily. Across the pond, our stylish Aussie friends have introduced restricted alcohol sales across Western Australia to prevent panic buying and stop excess drinking during the coronavirus outbreak, with limitations introduced on how much bottle shops can sell to patrons. Under the new restrictions which came into force on Wednesday morning, daily limits restrict people to purchasing the following: three bottles of wine, one carton of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits, one litre of spirits or one litre of fortified wine. Patrons will be able to purchase across two of those categories under the rules. And that’s a daily restriction! Team Vinorium remain in good spirits with business ticking along nicely. Personally, I do not believe companies should be boasting about sales / profits during this dreadful time, but I also understand the need for customers to be reassured that all is well too… Unexpectedly, sales for the month of March have been astonishing and quite by surprise. December is always the busiest month for any independent wine merchant however, we may even pip these numbers this month through online sales (I’ll let you know next week as this is quite incredible). The monetary value of March’s orders will certainly exceed that of December however, and perfectly understandable, international sales have stopped for both private and trade customers. Personally, I believe we are a matter of weeks away from a more stringent lockdown and my team and I are doing all we can to prepare ourselves for the same. Regardless of what is classed as essential, I will ask my team to retreat to the safety of their homes, which inevitably will halt our ability to pick, pack and deliver wines to you – We may be able to offer a one day service (I’ll happily pick, pack and dispatch myself), but that is entirely dependent on the terms of the lockdown. This is far from one of those ghastly sales emails suggesting you must order now and before the storm arrives. Instead, I am communicating openly and honestly as I believe our service will soon come to a close. I must also apologise for the brevity of this weekend’s read as I have a new role as chief warehouseman. I hope to be back with a more substantial read next weekend. Until then, thank you for all your generous orders, and most importantly, keep safe and in good spirits. My very best wishes, Stu  As an online retailer, we are in an exceptional position to offer support to our producers and of course you, our loyal customers and friends. Aussie winemakers have overcome the devastation of the bush fires and now they face a torrid time with the Covid-19 virus. Magda and I have been communicating with our winemakers over the last few days. Angus from Vinden Estate is and to quote
He also sends his best wishes to you all… Steve from Soumah says
Much love from team Soumah too… Soumah sales have been fantastic which is no wonder considering the sheer wonderous quality versus their respective price tags. Despite uncertain times, we are starting to prepare orders for shipping (whenever that is possible). We’ve increased our Soumah order substantially including a healthy allocation of the newly released Equilibrio Pinot Noir (we previously sold-out within weeks). With many winemakers’ support, we have created a stay at home & save collection. It is important to highlight that these wines do not form part of a sale as many represent ours, and your favourites.   Barossa: Off The Beaten TrackIncluding a blend of Shiraz, Aglianico and Montepulciano and a truly special bottling from one of the oldest Cabernet Vineyards in Australia Includes: RRP £185.30 per case  Tasmanian TreasuresTreasures from the remote Apple Isle including wines from the leading producers and those hardly ever seen outside of Tassie borders. Includes: RRP £160.80 per case  Our Top 6 ChardonnaysHighlights which unite our recent discoveries and all-time favourites. Includes: RRP £207.80 per case  Our Top 12 ChardonnaysWe have selected only the best of the best Includes: RRP £371.60 per case  Great Value Without CompromiseEveryday wine shouldn't mean lowering your expectations. Includes: RRP £162.25 per case  Vinden Wines Mixed PackAngus mainly produces wines from the estate vineyard and local old vine sites, in particular the Somerset Vineyard in Pokolbin where he was mentored under eighth-generation grower Glen Howard. The Headcase series provides Angus with the freedom to make wines that are a little more eccentric compared to the Vinden Estate wines. We love all the wines which are produced with lots of texture underneath layers of primary fruit. All the wines are handcrafted (literally not figuratively) on-site at their Hunter Valley vineyard and winery from hand-picked grapes and using the traditional methods of open fermentation, hand plunging and basket pressing, as well as incorporating the best of modern wine making techniques. The 2019 87 Block Single Barrel Chardonnay is incredible and comparable to a young Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru - Sold-out within weeks of arriving. Angus produces some of the best Semillion and Syrah in this region… Includes: RRP £132.75 per case  Massena Mixed PackMassena Wines is the joint project of two fabulous winemakers whose names are on everyone’s lips within the Barossa and beyond. Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins came together to tend Barossa’s treasured old vines. Both lads bring invaluable experience derived from their own respective and successful careers. The authenticity in Massena has always been about making the most interesting wine possible at that given time and thoroughly enjoying the process, not chasing the current fad or trend. Includes: RRP £156.70 per case  Kay Brothers Mixed PackRecently featured in Decanter's top 10 names to know in McLaren Vale and as Sarah Ahmed perfectly describes "The oldest McLaren Vale winery to remain in founding family hands (since 1890) is no stick-in-the-mud. However, the Kay’s 22ha of ‘mud’ is special, especially Block 6, planted in 1892, which produces an iconic Shiraz. Attractively earthy, flavoursome reds (including a Nero d’Avola) are vinified in the original basket press and open fermenters. With more restrained oak, nothing is over-blown." Includes: RRP £151.00 per case  Josh Cooper Mixed PackJosh works with central Victorian fruit from outside the family winery to craft his own collection of low-intervention wine. The Vinorium team have been blown away by Josh’s wines naming his Springs Syrah as our Wine of the Year 2019. His Chardonnays are to die for with two being awarded 96+/-98 & 97-98 points… Adorable Pinot Noir. Includes: RRP £134.45 per case  Greenock Creek Mixed PackThe world market became obsessed with this small, boutique winery, when and at his most prominent, Robert Parker awarded 100 points for the ’95 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Parker awarded a further 100 points for the ’96 & ’98 vintage. Their ’98 Roennfeldt Cabernet Sauvignon also received 100 points. Skip a few vintages until the ’01 & ’03 Creek Block Shiraz scooped 100 points and both the ’02 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz and Cabernet received the same accolade. Five wines have been awarded 99 points and nine, 98 points… To date, Greenock Creek is the most ‘Parker’ celebrated Australian winery (Penfolds Grange & Torbreck The Laird have each received three 100-point scores, two for Torbreck Run Rig and Astralis and Hill of Grace has never been awarded 100 points). A wonderful opportunity to taste through the old and the new… Includes: RRP £212.25 per case  After Five Mixed PackThe solo venture of Grant Burge Chief Winemaker Craig Stansborough. Craig produces a range of incredible wines which includes his single vineyard trio, the After Five Wine Co range. These wines are sourced from three individual sites across the Barossa Valley, one of which is Craig’s own Stansborough vineyard. This particular vineyard is planted with 8 hectares of Shiraz and 1 hectare each of Italian varieties Aglianico and Montepulciano, as well as a third generation, family owned Grenache vineyard. Through their single vineyard range, Craig produces fruit driven wines with elegance and texture that reflect the vineyards from which they are sourced. Includes: RRP £109.35 per case  Best of Grant BurgeAnother look at Craigs craftmanship. This time with his Accolade hat on (owners of this iconic Barrosa producer). We’ve included the sensational 98 point (James Halliday) 2012 Meshach which has also been awarded the Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 and has been mentioned on the Barossa Grape and Wine Association's inaugural Barossa Super 100 Classification, a list of the most sought after and collectable wines in Barossa. Includes: RRP £197.80 per case  Hardys Mixed PackFor us, one of Australia’s true great wine producers, which is summed-up beautifully by another wine legend, Steven Spurrier “Eileen Hardy Chardonnay is, in my view, the Grange of Australian white wines”. Includes: RRP £132.85 per case  Eastern Peake Mixed PackOwen will certainly feature as one of our Wine Producers of the Year and there are two wines which are strong contenders for Wine of the Year 2020. His Morillon Block (arriving this spring) has set the benchmark for the year ahead – certainly for Pinot Noir and the 2016 Intrinsic Chardonnay, which if placed in a blind Grand Cru Burgundy tasting would fit in a treat. Declaring our Wine(s) of the Year now does appear rather premature however, let’s just say it’s going to take something very special to knock these off their top spots…The challenge has been set. Includes: RRP £167.35 per case  Classically ClarendonThey live and breathe under the motto of ‘purity and perfection’ with Biochemist Roman Bratasiuk flattering the palates of consumers and critics since 1989. With no formal oenological qualifications, his obsession to attain a finished product of unrivalled quality has been fuelled by a personal love of exceptional wine. Most vine stock is original French cuttings of more than 90 years old, which are dry farmed to prevent dilution of juice concentration. Harvesting of fruit is done by hand followed by rigorous sorting before pressing. Roman insists on using indigenous yeasts in the fermentation process as a means of expressing a sense of place and identity. This philosophy carries through to the pre-bottling stage where the wine sees no fining or filtration for maximum flavour intensity. Includes: RRP £92.15 per case   37 bottles available Hillside Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Decanter World Wine Was £17.95 per bottle  14 bottles available Deep Woods Hillside Chardonnay 2015China Wine & Spirits 95 Points - James Halliday Was £17.95 per bottle  11 bottles available Hentley Farm The Old Legend Grenache 2016"Picked early with a large percentage of whole bunches in the ferment adding plush fruit and vibrancy. As intended, the result is a rich and powerful wine with texture and structure to burn." Was £43.00 per bottle  18 bottles available Hentley Farm Von Kasper Cabernet 2015"Abundant fruit, Incredible poise and polish. Multi-dimensional & rich without heaviness or over extraction. Covering every facet of your palate and leading to a long and elegant finish, sensational" Was £62.50 per bottle  13 bottles available Mewstone
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