Handford Wine Shop in London (South Kensington)

HANDFORD WINE SHOP IN LONDON

- Name: Handford Wines
- Since: Hand selected wine since 1989.
- Adress: 105 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3LE
- Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday (10am-8.30pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm).
- Phone: +44 20 7589 6113 Fax: +44 20 7581 2983
- E-mail: wine@handford.net
- Web: www.handford.net



  
- Introduction: Handford Wines is an independent wine merchant based in South Kensington in London. Since 1989 they have been bringing their customers the most interesting and unique fine wines from all around the world. Is a charming little shop, with a friendly and helpful staff, being a worthwhile destination for any wine lover. Spain, Portugal, Italy and Burgundy are strong, while South Africa excels.


They have won in 2012 IWC (International Wine Challenge) Award for UK's South Africa Specialist. As an Independent Wine Merchants, they strive to offer more of a interesting and carefully selected range of wines, many of which are not necessarily more expensive. They are also always interested and very happy to hear of wines you like and where possible will source them for you and even stock them. They aslo do good tastings and presentations.

  
- Wine List: They always try to champion the small artisanal wine producer, offering wines of distinction and character, often shipped direct from the wineries. Where on occasion they offer larger producer´s wines, these are always benchmark examples, world leaders in their own right, often produced from small single estates or single vineyards of exceptional terroir. Strengths: Languedoc, South Africa, Burgundy, Italy, Portugal and Spain. But they also have a very healthy portfolio of other wines from around the globe.


If you’re serious about developing a wine collection, enjoy their splendid array of wines. We are talking about a mixture of small-scale, off-the-beaten track, artisan producers alongside low-volume, super-premium classics from those with established and well-earned reputations. And if they don´t carry it, in many cases they will blend over backwards trying to track it down for you.

  
- Mailing List: For the most up to date information on offers and tastings, you can sign-up to their mailing list. The other great advantage to buying wine from an independent wine merchant is that in most cases they'll offer a mailing list, which I'd strongly recommend you join. Mailing lists are a great way to find out about a range of regular customer events such as weekly tastings. If you're looking to expand your drinking repertoire, these offer the perfect opportunity to try before you buy. From small and quirky through to ultra premium, this is often where you'll find the best combination of hard-to-get products and expert service.


OTHER WINE SERVICES

Most of wine retailers generally stocking the same wines, such as hig street chains and supermarkets. Together they account for the largest proportion of the total UK wine sales, about 80%. But the most interesting and fun wines are found at the Independent Wine Merchants. Nowadays the wine independents, not only make a living solely from the people who walk through the door of their wine shop, they also have to create events, tastings, wholesaling and private client sales are vital parts of the mix.

  
- Delivery: If you live close to the shop they can offer free local delivery, they  can also offer next day delivery anywhere in the UK if you contact them before 1pm. If you have spent over £150 they can offer this service free of charge, otherwise there is a £10 charge.
- Gifts: Pick up the perfect gift for any occasion in wooden or card boxes, or in elegant gift bags.
- Party planning & glass loan: From picking the perfect wine to meet the needs of your nibbles through to delivering on time with glasses & ice, they aim to remove all the stress of planning your next big party... one less thing to worry about! They can offer Sale or Return but please do first read our terms & conditions.


- En Primeur: En Primeur offers our customers the chance to purchase some of the world's finest wine while still in barrel.
- Wedding Lists: Not only can they arrange your wine for the big day itself but they can also set up a wedding list so you receive the perfect vinous gifts when you return from your honeymoon. Depending on your needs they can arrange wines for drinking today, in the future or as an investment.

  
- Cellar Management: Cellar management can be a fantastic opportunity to purchase the wines you want to drink in the future or for putting together the perfect investment portfolio.
- Trade Sales: If you own a Restaurant, Hotel or Bar and are interested in having access to some of the finest wines in the world for your list, expertly hand-selected to accompany your food by a Master of Wine.

  
PASSIONATE STAFF AND WINE TEAM

One of the best things about idependent wine merchants is the passion, knowledgeable and friendly staff they have. The more information that you can give them about what you like to drink. Including price, variety, country, style, loves and hates, etc. The closer they are likely to get to finding you something that really stacks up. Allow them to show you new things. Employees who are passionate about their jobs are also more likely to be engaged in and satisfied with their work and giving a better service to the consumer. Passionate employees can also boost the company's image and may even have a direct or indirect impact on the company's bottom line.


- James Handford MW: James founded Handford Wines in 1989 with the aim of bringing the highest quality Fine Wines from around the world to the good people of Holland Park. When the opportunity arose to take over the old site of La Vigneronne in South Kensington it was an easy decision. Became the youngest Master of Wine in 1994. Favourite tipple: A real soft spot for classic Languedoc Reds but still nothing hits the mark like a good bottle of Red Burgundy from the Cotes de Nuits. Contact: james@handford.net


Master of Wine (MW) is a qualification (not an academic degree) issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowledge. The Institute was founded in 1955, but the MW examinations were first arranged in 1953 by the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Wine and Spirits Association.


The Institute of Masters of Wine is a non-profit organization funded by its members and by corporate sponsorship from within the wine industry. Its stated objectives are: To promote the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of wine; To uphold the highest standards within the wine industry; To enhance personal and professional goals in pursuing wine-related activities.


Before enrolling on the MW study programme, prospective students must obtain a Diploma level qualification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, or another wine qualification of at least a comparable standard. Also, by the time they attain the title 'MW' they will need to have had five years trade experience. Applicants must submit a basic essay, a tasting paper and a brief statement explaining their interest in becoming a Master of Wine.


The study programme is made up of three stages. Stage 1 is the foundation year and gives students the opportunity to meet Masters of Wine and fellow students in both professional and social settings. Stage 1 assessment includes six pieces of work throughout the year, culminating in an exam that takes place in early June. The exam involves one tasting paper and two essays. Stage 2 is a crucial time for students - it can be very intense but immensely rewarding. Students must provide three pieces of work for assessment throughout the Stage 2 year, and must pass both the Theory and Practical parts of the June MW Examination in order to progress to the Research Paper in Stage 3. The Research paper is an individual paper of between 6,000 and 10,000 words in length, on a topic of the student's choice. The whole qualification takes at least three years to complete in full.


Until 1983, the examination was limited to United Kingdom wine importers, merchants and retailers. The first non-UK Master of Wine was awarded in 1988. As of October 2017, there are 369 MWs in the world, living in 29 countries. The MWs are spread across 5 continents, wherein UK has 208 MWs, USA has 45 MWs, Australia has 24 MWs and France only has 16 MWs. There are 9 countries with 1 MW each on the list.


Today, members hold a range of occupations including winemakers, viticulturists, winemaking consultants, wine writers and journalists, wine educators, and wine service, restaurant and hotel management. In addition, many are involved in the purchasing, importing, distribution, sales and marketing of wine. Typically, sommeliers choose to become Master Sommelier, but only a handful of individuals have achieved both qualifications.


- Greg Sherwood MW: Joining the team in 2000 as the Marketing Manager for Fine Wines, Greg, now is the Senior Buyer, is the man travelling the four corners to find the most finely crafted and sought after wines in the world. Completed the prestigious Master of Wine exams in 2007. Interested in En Primeur or difficult to find Fine Wines? Make sure to get in touch! Favourite tipple: Desert island reds - The 3 M’s … Margaux, Montebello & Masseto. Contact: greg@handford.net


Greg was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and as the son of a career diplomat, spent his first 21 years travelling the globe with his parents. All the related wining and dining, in the line of duty, is where he first realised his passion for fine wine. With a Business Management and Marketing degree from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Greg began his working career as a commodity trader. During this time, he rediscovered his passion for the wine trade and passed his Diploma wine degree at the Cape Wine Academy in Johannesburg in 2000.


A move back to Europe in mid 2000 to pursue a wine career in London, "the centre of the world fine wine trade" according to Greg, allowed him to work with and amongst some of the great wine personalities of the modern era. As Marketing Manager for fine wines from 2000 to 2006, and more recently Senior Wine Buyer for fine wines at Handford Wines in South Kensington, London, Greg, along with Handford Wines owner James Handford MW, has had the opportunity to buy, sell and taste some of the most finely crafted and sought after wines in the world on a daily basis.


This extensive tasting exposure enabled Greg to pass his Master of Wine tasting papers in his first sitting in 2004. Greg completed his Theory examination in 2006 and the MW dissertation process in 2007 with a topic entitled "Method Cap Classique Production in Constantia, South Africa." While Greg personally expresses no firm wine drinking preferences other than for "well made wines", his knowledge and expertise in the field of South African wines in particular is considerable.


Greg is proud to be counted as only the fourth South African ever to pass the prestigious Master of Wine examinations, and looks forward to helping and encouraging more of his fellow countrymen through the rigours of the MW process. Greg is also a family man, and enjoys the wonders of family life with his English rose wife Nicky, and his pride and joy in life, his son's Sam and Louis.

  
- Gavin Deaville: Gav first arrived to manage the Holland Park shop which they sadly shut in 2007. Now, the glue that holds the whole operation together, you’ll find him running everything from their Marketing through to their Stock Ordering, Maintenance, and general motivation! Favourite tipple: A good Manchester lad it would have to be a Boddingtons. Wine-wise: Chateau Palmer, if you’re buying, or Riesling - the Achilles heal!. Contact: gavin@handford.net

  
- Mick O'Connell: Mick joined the team in May 2011 as Retail Manager and looks after the day to day running of the shop. Finished his Wine & Spirits Diploma in 2010. Get in touch regarding parties, weddings, cellar management or just the right bottle for a rainy day. Favourite tipple: If a Sassicaia '85 isn't to hand he'll settle for a Guinness. Contact: mick@handford.net

  
- Vicky Thompson: Vicky joined the team in May 2011 to assist with day to day running of the store and to put together the Tasting programme in their cellar. Completed her WSET Diploma in 2010. Please get in touch with her if you would like help planning an event, or to hire their cellars and for any other Vinous related matters. Favourite tipple: 2002 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenue Batard Montrachet please! Or anything from Northern Italy would do! Contact: vicky@handford.net

  
- Harley Teraoke: Harley is their trusted van driver! He works in the afternoon from Tuesday to Friday and keeps all of their logistics ticking over. Favourite tipple: If he has a spare second he can show you the recipe for the perfect Caipirinha but in the world of wine he is all about Spain – Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Bierzo, the list goes on… and of course the mindblowing Miolo Brazilian sparkler!

  
PEDRO URBINA RIOJA TASTING WITH WINEMAKER

Pedro Urbina is a charming and fascinating winemaker who instantly captures your attention. Pedro turned out to be an inspirational speaker and he captivated us in his soft Spanish accent, as he explained his philosophy for releasing his wines at a much older stage, to release the low yielding complexity and quality of the family's old vineyards. The key to Urbina’s success is the vineyard. They own 75 hectares of vines at Cuzcurrita in the Rioja Alta and don’t buy in any grapes. They farm organically, so inputs are kept to a minimum and they use the environment to their advantage, selecting the areas to harvest when they are ready rather than just mechanically harvesting the whole plot at once.


They use bush vines and trained vines, with the older vines reserved for production of their Reserva level wines and the younger (less than 20 years) fruit going into their Crianza and Tinto. In the winery, oak ageing occurs in a 70/30 American to French oak ratio. This gives structure and balance to the wine. Amercan oak on its own can generate too much of a fleshy vanilla style which Urbina are keen to move away from. They like fruit in their wines and don’t keep them long (maximum 2 years) in barrel, preferring to age them in bottle or vat.


Rioja alta is a unique wine region!! Rioja Alta is in the mountainous far west of the region, so high and Atlantic-dominated that grapes are regularly picked in late October. (Tempranillo, temprano meaning ‘early’ in Spanish, is particularly valued in this relatively cool climate.) That part of the region can produce some very fine wines on soils that are not too fertile. Although Tempranillo and Garnacha dominate the vineyards of Rioja, Mazuelo (the local name for Carignan) and the much more exciting but relatively rare Graciano are also allowed for red rioja.


Viura, the Macabeo of southern France, is the staple ingredient for white rioja, but white Grenache, Garnacha Blanca, sometimes adds ballast, and the small amounts of Malvasia still grown can also add real character. In 2009 the authorities decided to authorise Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Most white rioja is either a squeaky-clean, cool-fermented thirst-quencher or a very oaky, often richly nutty wine.


Rioja's fortune was made in the late 19th century when Bordeaux wine producers, devastated by the twin scourges of mildew and phylloxera, brought their techniques over the Pyrenees. The oldest bodegas therefore tend to be centred on the small town of Haro in Rioja Alta, which had good rail links, although Logroño in the centre of the region is its administrative capital. Firms such as La Rioja Alta, CVNE, López de Heredia, Muga, Marqués de Murrieta and Marqués de Riscal belong to what might be called the Rioja aristocracy, all with longstanding reputations and in many cases a mixture of traditional and more modernist wines to offer.


On the other hand the traditional big names of Rioja are fast being usurped in the international press by an army of newcomers making seriously deep-coloured, deep-flavoured wines. Some of the most obvious practitioners of this new art are Artadi, Finca Allende, Finca Valpiedra, Marqués de Vargas, Remírez de Ganuza, Roda, Benjamin Romeo, Señorío de San Vicente, Sierra Cantabria and Torre de Oña.


For many years, Rioja bodegas did little other than blend and age wine. But there is an increasingly imortant move towards terroir-focused wines that express the personality of sigle sites. The best Rioja wines have a sense of place. From west to east, Rioja is just 100km and at its widest point 40km, tucked in between mountain ranges and cut through by the river Ebro. As a wine region it is compact, yet it is all about diversity. Politically it is divided, administered by three autonomous governments.


Climatically there are Diferences: Rioja Alavesa to the north has strong Atlantic influences. Rioja Alta to the west also has a mainly Atlantic climate. Rioja Baja to the east is drier and warmer with Mediterranean influences. Nothing is straightforward about the soils, either, a complex blend of chalky clay, ferrous clay and alluvial types. Add into this the differing aspects and elevations (up to 700m, and in a few cases up to 900m). Blend in the grape varieties. To finish, there are the decisions of the producers, each serving diverse customer tastes.


Now a days Rioja is rapidly becoming fashionable!! This well deserved popularity is not only due to the high standard of quality of their wines, but also to the great effort and extreme efficiency in reaching the goal of being side by side and at the same level as the classical and most reputable viticultural regions of Europe. A Rioja under £8 will be a straightforward, simple, fruity wine, whereas between £8 and £25 there is plenty of character to be found. Second, the very big brands (formerly known for cheap and cheerful reds, piled high in supermarkets) are coming to understand their customers, and to diversify.


A third trend is the arrival of people working with old vines, identifying subzones in a Burgundian village style, creating business models at odds with the work of the big producers. These wines will cost more than £25, but their philosophy will have an influence on the longer term. Consequently, Rioja wines are sold in over 100 countries, and bout one third of its production is exported worldwide.

  
TIM ATKIN ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE MASTERS OF WINE

Tim Atkin in one of the most notable Masters of Wine, Writer, Photographer and nowadays, he is also known to be the best Rioja wine expert and journalists. Every year spents a few weeks in La Rioja rediscovering the best traditional wines and finding the latest wines and styles emerging from around the Region. He has met with many of Rioja's top winemakers and especialist for private tastings at several wineries, tasting rooms and vineyards. As Tim explains no individual can taste every wine form Rioja´s 600-odd producers, but he has sampled most of the wines and a broad selection of what the region has to offer (850 wines for his last report).


Tim Atkin curriculum vitae resume is impressive!! He is not only a British Master of Wine, he has won over thirty prizes for his wine journalism and photography, has written for all the top specialist magazines (Decanter, The World of Fine Wine, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Imbibe) as well as popular publications like Jamie Magazine and is also the co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge, one of the top wine competitions in the world. Today, Tim Atkin works for numerous international publications and has his own website where he publishes reports and articles, which are known to be the best in the trade.

  
Tim Atkin Urbina Rioja Wine Report 2017:
- (94 Points) 1996 Urbina Gran Reserva: Urbina is not as well known as bodegas like López de Heredia, but it deserves to be. This is another mature, bottle-aged triumph that will have Rioja lovers purring with pleasure. Sweet, seductive and well balanced with classic red berry, game and balsamic notes. 2017-21.
- (94 Points) 2001 Urbina Reserva Especial Reserva: If you’re a fan of traditional, oak- and bottle-aged Rioja and Urbina is not on your radar then you’re missing out. This fresh, mature, savour, sweetly oaked red from Cuzcurrita is an amazing bottle of wine for only £20. Such balance, such poise, such downright enjoyment. 2017-24.
- (93 Points) 1999 Urbina Selección Crianza: No, I didn’t make a mistake with the vintage. This is indeed a Crianza from 1999, made by one of the very best traditional producers from Tempranillo with 5% Graciano and Mazuelo. It’s a silky, mature, gamey, hedonistic style with lovely balance and the acidity of a cooler area. 2017-22.


Tim Atkin Urbina Rioja Wine Report 2015:
- (95 Points) 1994 Urbina Gran Reserva  Especial: Showing the benefits of blind tasting, this remarkable blend of Tempranillo with 5% Mazuelo and Graciano from a family-owned winery in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón showed very well at the 10 x 10 tasting in London. Amazingly fresh for its age, it has savoury, dried fruit notes, fine tannins, good structure and the intensity and acidity to age further. 2015-21.
- (91 Points) 2014 Urbina Garnacha: Why aren’t there more varietal Garnachas made in Rioja, given how delicious they can be? This has a vibrant, strawberryish rose with juicy gluggable spicy red fruit, and good structure. All about fruit and youth, rather than oak and age. 2015-20.

  
SOUTH KENSINGTON (WEST LONDON AREA)

South Kensington is an affluent district of West London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and partly the City of Westminster. It is a built-up area 2.4 miles (3.9 km) west- south-west of Charing Cross. Two London Underground stations are located in South Kensington: South Kensington and Gloucester Road tube stations.


With its ivied mews, row upon row of Poppins-esque white washed mansions, and placid garden squares, it's easy to see the charms of South Kensington. And with superb access to Hyde Park, Holland Park and Kensington Gardens, as well as the largely child-friendly and mostly free Museum Quarter (not to mention more major attractions like Royal Albert Hall) such charms are easy to make the most of. As welcoming and cosmopolitan as it is reserved and residential, South Kensington is always a hit with visitors.


It is hard to define boundaries for South Kensington, but a common definition is the commercial area around the South Kensington tube station and the adjacent garden squares and streets (such as Thurloe Square, opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum). The smaller neighbourhood around Gloucester Road tube station can also be considered a part, and Albertopolis around Exhibition Road, which includes the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Baden-Powell House. Other institutions such as the Royal Albert Hall, Imperial College London, the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal College of Art, the Royal College of Music are within the City of Westminster, but considered to be in South Kensington. Although the postcode SW7 mainly covers South Kensington, some parts of Knightsbridge are also covered.


Neighbouring the equally affluent centres of Knightsbridge, Chelsea and Kensington, South Kensington covers some of the most exclusive real estate in the world. It is home to large numbers of French expatriates (mainly employed in the City, the financial centre), but also Spanish, Italian, American, and Middle-Eastern citizens, as well as a significant number of celebrities. A significant French presence is evidenced by the location of the consulate, the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle (a large French secondary school opposite the Natural History Museum) and the Institut Français, home to a French cinema. There are several French bookshops and cafes in the area and is even sometimes referred to as Paris’s 21st arrondissement.


The area was largely undeveloped until the mid-19th century, being an agricultural area supplying London with fruit and vegetables. Following the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, an 87-acre (352,000 m²) area around what is now Exhibition Road was purchased by the commissioners of the exhibition, in order to create a home for institutions dedicated to the arts and sciences, resulting in the foundation of the museums and university here.


Adjacent landowners began to develop their land in the 1860s as a result of the creation of new roads and a boom in the development of areas around London, and the absorption of South Kensington into London was sealed by the arrival of the Underground at Gloucester Road and South Kensington in 1868, linking the area directly to the main railway termini and to the political, commercial and financial hearts of the city in Westminster, the West End and the City of London.


In 1863 it was decided that the Church of England parish of Kensington should be divided up, and the parish of South Kensington was created, the parish church being St Stephen's (built 1865) on the corner of Gloucester Road and Southwell Gardens.


The area is the subject of Donovan's song "Sunny South Kensington", about the area's reputation as the hip part of London in the 1960s.


Kensington, California was given that name in 1911 by Robert Brousefield, an American surveyor who at an earlier time lived in the British South Kensington.