INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH
“It’s the best part of selling wine – meeting people from all walks of life and sharing our passion”
and us going out to vineyards to seek out wine for our customers,” he says. James has always loved the idea of an old-school wine merchant, someone a customer gets to know and can trust. “But because we’re not tied down to one location, we can take that role a step further, be flexible and spend time seeking out new wines from new places. It’s the perfect mix.” As for plans for the future, James is keen for Thorne Wines to do a bit more partying. “We’ve got into doing wine tastings in people’s homes recently; we’ve got all the glassware, the equipment, the tasting sheets – so we can come round and do a birthday party, or a company event, throw in some charcuterie or antipasti from local food suppliers – and have a bit of fun in a comfortable environment. I mean, what could be better than an evening spent drinking and talking about wine?” Cheers to that! Thorne Wines, thornewines.com, 01223 779361/07775 598029
there seeing our customers and chatting to them, not using a faceless delivery firm.” As well as working with restaurants, Thorne Wines has a thriving business selling directly to customers. “That was goal number one,” explains James. “It’s the best part of selling wine – meeting people from all different walks of life, and sharing our passion for wine. We like to make it a collaborative process, sitting down with customers to talk about what kinds of wines you like, taste a few different bottles. There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a wine for a customer that’s just right and ticks all their boxes, whether it’s a big order for a wedding, a few bottles for a dinner party or an occasional box for a treat.” The private sales have led to an evolution in Thorne Wines, too. James’ original plan was to be very focused with around 60 wines for sale – and now they’re selling over 400, from a range of different countries. “And that’s through people asking us for recommendations,
IMAGES A selection of the wines available from Thorne Wines, including 4 Kilos 12 Volts wine, Lustau’s East India Solera and Tabula Rasa #V17R
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