November, in our industry is typically the calm before the Christmas storm with independent wine merchants receiving over a third of their annual turnover during this festive window. We have seen a substantial increase in November on-line sales surpassing 2017 figures by 29% and, quite extraordinarily, exceeding December’s figures too, which is remarkable and bodes well for the remaining weeks of the year. Using website analytics, an essential reference tool when operating an e-commerce website, we welcomed (during November) a snip under 4,000 new users to our website. Some browsed our website and left without being tempted, others were more curious and filled their baskets but forgot to checkout (or were disturbed in the process!) and 44.5% loved our offerings and received their first order from The Vinorium, which I hope you will thoroughly enjoy.  To our new and existing customers, may I thank you all for your kind and generous support.

Last week was particularly impressive, helped by the standout and our best value wine of 2018, 2015 Bay of Fires Chardonnay which I believe comfortably eases into a price range of £20-£25 per bottle which and something we kept secret last week, is exactly the price it retails for back home in Australia. Many of you purchased this superb Tassie Chardonnay based on my recommendation and tasting note. We would love to hear all your views. Please drop us a few lines with your thoughts as we would like to share these next weekend (with your approval of course).

This time of year makes me a tad anxious as many shoppers prefer on-line purchases over the high street, inevitably placing more pressure on the network of UK delivery companies. We have worked hard to safeguard a seamless service and our November delivery figures support the hard work of my team and our delivery company. I believe you are now receiving a one-hour delivery window by text-message or email which adds a layer of assurance as to when to expect your Vinorium parcel(s). Unavoidably, these slots may be missed and this is not always the fault of the network drivers. The majority work incredibly hard and generally care about the service they offer. The minority, if truth be known, are less respectful and often forget to engage their common sense. An example from last week; It was raining throughout the day and our customer lived in high-rise accommodation in London. The driver, in his wisdom, ignored the delivery instructions and left the cardboard parcel in the rain and outside the main lobby door for anyone to simply pick-up and have a free case of wine on The Vinorium. Stupidity happens, and we are powerless to stop it however, may I provide two pieces of advice in the busy run up to Christmas. Firstly, please pay attention to our delivery schedule and plan ahead to save you unnecessary stress. Save the odd act of insanity, everyone is trying their absolute hardest to make sure you receive the perfect Christmas on time. Let’s, and a note to myself, take a deep breath and remember our Christmas spirit.  

We have resisted the unveiling of Christmas until today as I believe it comes a little early. It’s such a wonderful time of year but I do wonder if the spirit wears off when the decorations and advertisements arrive in October. Our website has received a makeover and the team has prepared a selection of festive wines and gift ideas to assist. We are also available for personal recommendations as we have an exceptional understanding of food and wine pairings.

Given our global delivery network (and we deliver to many countries) we are the perfect choice and partner to ensure your corporate, friends & families’ gifts are delivered in time. Please contact the team as we are ready and perfectly able to assist with all your gifting requirements.

We are looking forward to sharing many, personal messages from our winemakers although, and given their historical reluctance to read their emails, these may arrive around Easter!

Merry Christmas from the Kay Brothers team! Whilst the northern hemisphere is dreaming of a white Christmas we're dreaming of a Rosé Christmas.

It’s bound to be warm in McLaren Vale during the Festive Season and Grenache Rosé is the perfect wine for the summer months - it seems we can't get enough of this delicious pink wine! Not only is it refreshing and lighter than a red wine, but it still retains the complexity you come to expect from a Kay Brothers wine. It will perfectly match the ‘Australian’ Christmas seafood feast.

Our 2017 Griffon’s Key Grenache is popular year-round, but should definitely have a spot in your Christmas wine rack. This top drop is a pleasure to drink, with alluring aromas of rose petal and dark cherry to bring back memories of Christmas’ past. With concentrated fruit flavours of strawberry, raspberries and dark cherries, this Grenache is another perfect accompaniment to your Christmas ham. It just was reviewed by Tyson Stelzer – Wine Business Magazine and scored 96 points “one of Australia’s most sophisticated Grenaches achieves even accord between exacting varietal definition”.

Christmas time is a special time of year and as we enjoy time with family and friends a ‘museum vintage’ of Block 6 Shiraz will certainly be one of the precious wines served during celebrations. We recently hosted a Shiraz McLaren Vale master class to UK & EU media and the 2004 vintage was in stunning form. It demonstrated the aging capability of our enduring signature wine superbly. While the rest of the world freezes through the holiday season, in Australia we enjoy the sun, surf and sand.

Thank you for your support - all the best wishes from the Kay Brothers custodians!

Our final deep-sea shipment from Adelaide arrives at Tilbury port on the 10 December. The cargo is precious, and time is running out to get these gems to your Christmas table on time. Inside the container lies wines which have not set foot on UK soils before including Two Hands Yacca Block, Heartbreak Hill, Holy Grail to name a few. Wild Duck Creek and Kay Brothers also form part of this final shipment. I am looking forward to enjoying a bottle of the 2012 Wild Duck Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and their 2017 Roussanne which is a first for me. I am also looking forward to tucking into a bottle of Kay Brothers Amery Vineyard Griffon's Key Grenache and very excited to see how the new, 2016 Block 6 is drinking. Of course, young, but drinking shiraz from vines dating back to 1892 is always something special.

We have planned which wines are coming to our HQ shop – These will be available by the bottle and with the added advantage of buying the entire range directly from the producers, without upsetting Santa’s budget! All three producers are now live (by the bottle). Pre-Christmas delivery is going to be tight, but we will do our utmost and will, of course, keep you posted with exact delivery days.