Cullen Wines on tour in the UK and Ireland

February is always an eventful time for Cullen Wines in the UK and Ireland. Our importers, Liberty Wines, take us for a busy tour around the countryside to four cities in four days. The tour is part of their annual ‘Portfolio Roadshow’ where they invite producers from all parts of the world to visit customers who may not be able to make it along to their London tastings.

This year, the week kicked off in Manchester where we had over 200 customers through the door to taste our wines. The mood was buzzy and it was great to hear so many sommeliers and wine shop owners say they are looking to expand their Australian offerings this year. You can watch our video of the Manchester tasting to hear what a few of our customers had to say about Cullen Wines.

Our next stop was Edinburgh, our busiest tasting of the week with 245 customers tasting in the grand surrounds of the Balmoral Hotel (where JK Rowling penned the last book in the Harry Potter series). The Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Diana Madeline were particularly popular, with a number of customers commenting on the elegance of our wines.

The following morning we skipped over the sea to Ireland, where 160 customers visited us at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin. The room was quite intimate so it was a lively atmosphere, with everyone sniffing, swilling and spitting between tales of wonderful meals and wine adventures. The 2013 Mangan Vineyard Merlot, Malbec Petit Verdot was a particular hit with customers.

We ended the week in Bristol with a casual tasting for 92 customers. Despite it being the last leg for several producers and staff, we had a lovely time catching up with some long time Cullen Wines enthusiasts and lovers of biodynamics. I noticed a few sommeliers sneak off with the Cullen tasting bottles at the end of the day, the highest honour that could be bestowed on any wine producer in such company!

All in all it was a wonderful week and a great opportunity to catch up with our customers outside of London. Thanks to Liberty Wines for all of their hard work in making it happen.

Emma Cullen, Cullen Wines Brand Ambassador (UK)