BERRY BROS. & RUDD LONDON WINE SHOP AND TASTINGS
- Founded: 1698
- Adress: 63 Pall Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5HZ, UK
- Phone: +44 800 280 2440
- Web: www.bbr.com
Berry Bros. & Rudd is a family-run British wine and spirits merchant founded in London in 1698. Since then, the company has grown from a small coffee shop into an international business with six offices worldwide and over 5000 wines for sale. They have two Royal Warrants, 300 years of history and currently employs seven Masters of Wine, more than any other company in the world.
- Services: As well as the finest wines, such as en primeur from places like Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Italy, the company also sells wines and spirits under its own-label range, Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Own Selection. They have a broking exchange, wine tasting events & schools and specialists in en primeur wines. Their services includes wines, spirits, wine tastings, dinners, wine education and private dining and corporate hospitality, wedding gift services, wine club and wine investment advice.
- Demetri Walters: One of Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Masters of Wine, has been conducting wine tastings, lunches and dinners, as well as providing wine education to the company’s restaurant and corporate clients, for many years. As part of a new service, Demetri will bring Berry Bros. & Rudd’s wine expertise to your event, wherever it is being held. Demetri will create your event with you, advising on wines for a reception, tasting and/or meal, and present the wines to your guests via an entertaining and informative tasting. Wines will be charged at retail bottle prices, with a £1,200 tuition fee which includes Demetri’s time, wine selection and menu-pairing, delivery of wines and bespoke tasting sheets. Total charges are subject to a minimum spend requirement of £1,750. All charges are inclusive of VAT.
- Filosofy: To be the closest link between the people who make the wine and the people who drink it. While they embrace progress, they also value their traditions. Today, they are still run by members of the Berry and Rudd families and they continue to supply the British Royal Family, as they have done since the reign of King George III. But most importantly, they still believe that everything you should look for in a wine or spirit comes down to one simple question: ‘Is it good to drink?’
- History: Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, and one of the ten oldest family-run businesses in the UK. It was founded by the Widow Bourne in 1698 at 3 St. James's Street, London, which today is a Grade II listed building still used as the company’s headquarters. No.3, as it’s known, contained Berry Bros. & Rudd’s main retail premises until mid 2017, when these moved around the corner to a purpose-built shop at 63 Pall Mall. The company has a discounted store next to its main warehouse in Basingstoke, Hampshire and additional offices in Battersea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The company started out selling coffee, and then diversified into cocoa, tea, snuff, spices, and other exotic goods, quickly becoming one of London’s most fashionable grocers. Its West End location and close proximity to St James’s Palace also contributed to its growing popularity. In 1903 they formulated a ginger liqueur to revivify Edward VII from cold car journeys, still purveyed as The King's Ginger.
During the years, it has counted many famous customers among its clientele including: Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger, the Aga Khan and Beau Brummel. In 2005, Simon Berry, who joined the company in 1977, became Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Chairman. He was succeeded in the role in 2017 by Lizzie Rudd. In 2015, the company appointed Dan Jago, formerly the Group Wine Director at Tesco, as its first Chief Executive.
- Awards: 2014 Wine Merchant of the Year (IWC); 2014 En Primeur Specialist of the Year (IWC); 2014 Large Independent Wine Merchant of the Year (IWC); 2010 Off Licence News Online/Direct Mail Retailer of the Year Award, Independent Bottler in the Icons of Whisky Awards 2011 & 2010, 2010 Innovation Award, 2009 International Wine Challenge - Wine Merchant of the Year. In 2017, the Chairman Simon Berry was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Simon received the CVO (Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) for his role on the Royal Household Wine Committee.
- Royal Warrants: Berry Bros. & Rudd has been the official wine supplier to the British Royal Family since the reign of King George III and received its first Royal Warrant of Appointment in 1903 from King Edward VII. Queen Elizabeth II granted the company her royal warrant in 1995, while Charles, Prince of Wales granted it his in 1998.
British Royal Warrants are currently granted by Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales to companies or tradespeople who supply goods and services. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family. Royal Warrants are only awarded to tradesmen.
The professions, employment agencies, party planners, the media, government departments, and "places of refreshment or entertainment" (such as pubs and theatres) do not qualify. The Merchandise Marks Act 1887 makes it illegal for companies to falsely claim that they have a Royal Warrant.
The Queen has granted 686 Royal Warrants. The Prince of Wales has granted 159 Royal Warrants. The Duke of Edinburgh has granted 38 Royal Warrants. The Royal Warrant Holders Association has a searchable directory.
- Basingstoke Warehouse: In 1967, the company moved its bottling operation and warehouse to purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities in Basingstoke, Hampshire. In spring 2014, it relaunched its Warehouse Shop on the site of the former bottling hall, the shop now sells bin-end and reduced price wines and spirits alongside a fine wine collection.
- Cutty Sark Whisky: In 1923 Berry Bros. & Rudd launched Cutty Sark Scotch whisky, whose yellow label became famous the world over. In 2010 the brand was sold to The Edrington Group; under the deal, Berry Bros. & Rudd acquired The Glenrothes single malt brand, which was then sold back to Edrington in 2017.
- Berry Bros. & Rudd's Broking Exchange (BBX): Berry Bros. & Rudd was the first wine merchant to open an online shop, launching bbr.com in 1995. Today it also has an online wine trading platform called BBX (Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Broking Exchange). It enables customers to sell and trade their own wines if they are stored in the company’s bonded warehouses. Today BBX is the world’s most extensive online fine wine trading platform.
- The Future of Wine Report: In May 2008, a team from Berry Bros. & Rudd, Jasper Morris, MW, Alun Griffiths MW, Simon Field MW, and David Berry Green, drew up a document of speculations into the state of the wine industry in the coming 50 years, The Future of Wine. Among the predictions for 2058 were suggestions that China may become one of the world's biggest producers, that grapes will be grown hydroponically in floating offshore vineyards, and honey bees could be trained to detect wine faults.
- St James's: Is a central district in the City of Westminster, London, forming part of the West End. In the 17th century the area developed as a residential location for the British aristocracy and around the 19th century was the focus of the development of gentlemen's clubs. Anciently part of the parish of St Martin in the Fields, much of it formed the parish of St James from 1685 to 1922. Since the Second World War the area has transitioned from residential to commercial use.
The St James name is derived from the dedication of a 12th-century leper hospital to Saint James the Less. The hospital site is now occupied by St James's Palace. The area became known as "Clubland" because of the historic presence of gentlemen's clubs. The section of Regent Street (colloquially known as 'Lower Regent Street') that runs between Waterloo Place and Piccadilly Circus has been officially renamed to 'Regent Street St James'.
St James's was once part of the same royal park as Green Park and St. James's Park. In the 1660s, Charles II gave the right to develop the area to Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans, who developed it as a predominantly aristocratic residential area around a grid of streets centred on St James's Square. Until the Second World War, St James's remained one of the most exclusive residential enclaves in London. Notable residences include St James's Palace, Clarence House, Marlborough House, Lancaster House, Spencer House, Schomberg House, Norfolk House and Bridgewater House. For the aristocratic nature of the speculative buildings, see Townhouse (Great Britain).
MEET THE TEAM
- Richard Veal (Head of Events and Education): Richard came to the UK from his native Australia in 2003. His early career was in educational consultancy before developing his wine experience at La Fromagerie and Selfridges. Having worked in Private Wine Events at Berry Bros. & Rudd since 2011, Richard now oversees the Events and Education department. Blessed with some of the finest dining and educational venues in London, Richard is thrilled to offer our guests the chance to experience some of the best wines in the world and help them take a small step towards the farms and fields of the great wineries of the world. Email: richard.veal@bbr.com Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 1604
- Rebecca Lamont (Deputy Head of Events and Education): Rebecca joined Berry Bros. & Rudd in 2000, following a career in music teaching at Warwick Academy in Bermuda. She now manages our Wine Schools, tastings and dinners. Rebecca is passionate about wine education because it encompasses so many fascinating subjects which interconnect: sensory perception, history, innovation, tradition, art, health, geography, geology, biology and chemistry, to name but a few. She is convinced that everyone can be an excellent taster and that the best way to learn is through taste. Rebecca is also dedicated to bringing together the talents of Berry Bros. & Rudd’s many gifted experts to share their profound knowledge of great wine throughout their events. Email: rebecca.lamont@bbr.com Phone: +44(0)20 3301 1682
- Demetri Walters, MW (Wine Educator and Presenter): The seeds of Demetri’s long-standing appreciation of wine were sown young: “My grandfather in Cyprus had vineyards,” he recalls, “and I remember as a child walking through them, and how romantic and fascinating it was.” This appreciation of both the emotive nature of wine, and also the mud-on-boots aspect of viticulture inspires Demetri’s vinous interest to this day.
Despite his early grounding in wine, Demetri’s route into the trade was an unconventional one, coming to us via a brief stint in the army, a spell in Australia working as a jackaroo, a degree in property surveying and also a number of years in new media, and head-hunting in that industry. “I knew my real interest and enthusiasm lay with wine,” says Demetri, “and I was looking for an excuse to break into the industry. Sometimes, life leads you – and a company I was working for went bust: it was the prompt I needed.”
Demetri was recently made a Master of Wine, his thesis for which brought him back to his formative interest in Cypriot wine. “I really like to champion the wines of Eastern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as fortified wines, and evangelize about our small but pretty Hellenic wine selection,” he says. “But of course, the main thing that the MW has taught me is objectivity and how much there is still to learn.” Email: demetri.walters@bbr.com Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 1600
- Barbara Drew (Wine and Spirits Education Specialist): Barbara joined Berry Bros. & Rudd in 2011, organising and hosting many of the dinners, lunches, tastings, one-day wine schools and courses in the cellars. She is particularly passionate about unusual, obscure or just plain unloved wine regions, and loves experimenting with food and wine matching. Barbara believes wine to be one of the most rewarding subjects to study, as there is always something new and exciting to discover. Email: barbara.drew@bbr.com Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 1681
- Felipe Carvallo (Wine Advisor): With a varied Argentine, Chilean, Australian and Cornish heritage, Felipe felt attached to a sufficient number of quality wine regions to warrant a foray into the wine trade after his degree. Any deluded fantasies of such a life were, however, to be tested shortly after, during a year spent at a winery in Argentina. Fortunately, his encounter with some memorable characters, too many asados and some great hooch meant this was only to be replaced by an equally rose-tinted vision of the future, and the deal was done. Having worked as a Wine Advisor in our head office since 2013, Felipe brings a welcome knowledge of our Basingstoke operations to the Events and Education team. Email: felipe.carvallo@bbr.com Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 1605
- Stewart Turner (Head Chef): After completing a three-year Chefs Diploma, Stewart headed to the bright lights of London to gain experience in many top establishments, including Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn. With a real passion for food and wine, being Head Chef at Berrys is his perfect job. Since joining in 2008 he changed the face of Berrys’ food served, bringing a more restaurant and fine dining feel to the menus, without losing our ethos of food and wine matching. When not slaving over a hot stove, Stewart loves going to new restaurants to keep up with current food trends and, away from food, spending time with his young family.
- Isobel Watson Smith (Sales Coordinator): Looking back to her university days down in Exeter, Isobel’s love for all things vinous can be traced back to being a member of their wine society as well as endless cheese and wine nights with her friends. Post-graduation her career in the drinks world began at Bacardi Brown-Forman, working with large international spirit brands before joining Berry Bros. & Rudd in the spring of 2012. Her next step is the completion of the WSET Diploma. Isobel enjoys wines from all over the world, taking every opportunity to expand her knowledge. In her spare time, Isobel enjoys a very competitive game of squash. Email: isobel.watsonsmith@bbr.com Phone: +44 (020 3301 1602)
- Catriona Felstead MW (Wine Buyer): Catriona graduated from St Andrews University with a languages degree and spent the first few years of her working life at a Spanish petrochemical company. Having rapidly discovered a love for wine, she moved her career to the wine trade.in 2004 and gained a thorough grounding in the trade as an Oddbins’ Manager. She joined Berry Bros. & Rudd's marketing department in April 2007, became Direct & Interactive Marketing Manager in September 2008 and moved to her current role in 2013. Catriona won the WSET Vintners' Scholarship and Vintners' Cup in the wine Diploma exams and in 2012, she passed the Master of Wine examinations to become our first female MW.
- Edwin Dublin (Champagne Specialist): Edwin left a 20 year medical sciences career, during which time he organised staff wine tastings, to enter the world of wine full-time. Having 'graduated' from Oddbins and via a short spell with Laithwaites, he arrived at BB&R in 2005. Since then he has developed a passion for the wines of Alsace, Burgundy and especially Champagne.
- Chris Pollington (Italy Specialist): Chris has worked in the wine trade since 1992 and joined Berry Bros. & Rudd in 1997. After working at our Heathrow stores for many years, he joined the Head Office team in 2004. Initially working with the Website and Telesales teams, Chris joined the Fine Wine Team, selling to private clients and Cellar-Planners. With a passion for all things Italian, especially the wines and food, Chris has been presenting our Italian themed Dinners in The Cellars since 2000 and now also presents our One-Day Italian Wine Schools.