This month we are dedicating our Local Business Spotlight to Cellar Door Wines. An independent wine merchant based in St Albans, Cellar Door Wines specialises in top-quality fine wine from small, boutique vineyards around the world, as well as offering craft beers, spirits, liqueurs and more.
We were excited to chat with co-owner Penny and delve into the fascinating world of boutique wine. Let’s find out more…
When were Cellar Door Wines founded?
The business was founded in 2004.
What was the inspiration behind the business?
In 2004, after years of thought and planning, brothers Miles and Peter Lilliott left their senior city jobs and opened Cellar Door Wines on the Verulam Industrial Estate in St Albans. With boutique winemaking and viticulture already being a family business in Hunter Valley, Australia, they decided that their goal should be to source great quality, affordable wine from around the globe.
Penny, when did you join the business? Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Penny joined Pete in running the business in 2017, a local wine expert, with many years of wine retail experience. With hard work and investment, together they built a new brand for Cellar Door Wines, bringing in a much wider and premium range of new and exciting wines and spirits, together with complementary boutique and locally sourced delicatessen products.
How would you describe the ethos of the company?
We offer our trade and retail customers friendly, unpretentious advice and service.
What has been the business's greatest highlight to date?
The refurbishment and rejuvenation of the business in 2018.
We know you must get asked this all the time but if you had to choose your favourite three wines, what would they be?
Gattinara Travaglini, Boekenhoutskloof Syrah and Blank Bottle Moment of Silence.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your Wine Club?
With a focus on quality over quantity, our commitment to exceptional vineyards and small batches allows us to curate wines with distinct character.
We offer 3 levels of membership: Club level, Premium Level and Superstar Level. These can be sent monthly, bimonthly or quarterly as you wish and of course you can pause your membership at any time.
However (and this is where we differ), being a small independent, we pride ourselves in getting to know all of our customers' preferences, so we can tailor your case to suit your taste. Once you join, we'll contact you to get an understanding of the kind of wines you prefer, and then you let us do the rest. We'll always push your comfort zone a little and suggest a few that you may not have heard of, but that's what we like to do!
Finally, what does Cellar Door Wines have planned for the rest of 2022 and beyond?
At the beginning of June, we opened our second store in the beautiful surroundings of the stable yard at Hatfield House. Our plan is to get this shop up and running smoothly and start to host great tasting events there very soon!
If you are a wine-lover and are interested in finding out more about Cellar Door Wines’ wines, Wine Club and/or Tastings, head on over to their website www.cellardoorwines.co.uk.
They also have a fantastic blog and you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
