The autumn edition of SITT (Specialist Importers Trade Tasting) returned this week with a burst of energy. From art-led English Chardonnays to Canadian-backed, cause-driven French blends, SITT reaffirmed its place as the tasting for indie exhibitors and buyers to connect and discover one-of-a-kind wines.
First up was popular stop Heretics, a new English wine brand from Essex’s Crouch Valley. Co-founder and ‘chief hustler’, Gareth Maxwell (pictured), explained how the business aims to stand apart from the “picnics-and-hedgerows” aesthetic of English wine, instead choosing to be unapologetically brand-led.
This design-led approach, via co-founder and creative Jimmy Hunter, has been reinforced through a collaboration with young creatives (a partnership with the Arts Institute at Bournemouth University is also underway). Labels feature artwork from under-25s who were invited to submit label concepts, with the names of the wines and artwork due to change every year.
“We’re really into art, fashion and music, so the brand it built more around those things than your classic vineyard business,” said Maxwell, who was previously commercial director at Hattingley Valley.
The wines are similarly idiosyncratic. Committed to still wine in a crowded sparkling marketplace, the winery’s first releases include a clean, crisp Chardonnay made using stainless-steel and old-oak, and a top tier Chardonnay made with 42% new puncheon barrels.
“Most people would have blended the two together and ended up with something that’s 15% new oak, but we want to make clearly different still wines,” Maxwell said.
Rosé production meanwhile, is barrel-fermented – in old oak for 2023 and second-filled puncheon for 2024, offering texture and weight from a richer, slightly fuller maceration.
Wine with global impact
Travelling over 3,000 miles to attend the London and Manchester sessions, held on 15 and 17 September respectively, Canadian Scott Zebrath had a mission-led story to tell via his Praise project.
A brand with a cause, every bottle of wine sold equates to one year of access to clean, safe water for people around the world via water.org. The project also helps to plug the $260bn fiscal gap lost to communities globally each year due to lack of basic water and sanitation.
“The ‘Drink Better’ movement aims to make a difference with every sip,” Zebrath said.
“So far, we’ve helped over 200,000 people. Now, we’re looking to find a distributor in the UK. We think the wines are very suited to this market.”
The wines are made in Minervois in the Languedoc, focused on accessible prince points for products which are organically farmed and sustainably produced.
The range currently consists of a red and white: Bistro Rouge, a versatile and unpretentious Grenache; and Bistro Blanc 70% Marsanne, 30% Viognier blend – both aimed an approachable £10-£15 rrp.
Bottling Cachet
Elsewhere, Yorkshire-based Cachet Wine, the agency arm of House of Townend for the past 30 years, emphasised its bottling at source policy.
The decision to be bottled-at-source only came after years of “us unconsciously rejecting UK-bottled wine”. A blind tasting eight years ago involving a supplier switch to its geographical bottling strategy, then sealed the deal. According to sales director David Archibald, the non-bulk wines said showed a marked “liveliness and freshness”.
“We said, ok, this is actually a lesson for us. We understand the reasons for wines that aren’t bottled-at-source – and there are many. But for us, it’s become a fundamental cornerstone,” Archibald explained.
He added that this approach has paid dividends for the business, “particularly at the entry and mid-level tiers where UK bottling is prevalent”.
Cachet’s portfolio spans France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia and the US, with strong recent growth for new listings.
West Coast confidence
For West Coast wines, Vineyard Cellars’ director of wine, Joseph Rubin-Broad, offered a deep dive into premium California and Oregon via an extensive portfolio which ranged from playful to serious expressions.
Among the standouts of the four wineries on show: Michael David’s mid-tier Freakshow Chardonnay (Lodi), the more premium Alexana (Willamette Valley), and in the top tier, Pius Estate’s PRD Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles).
Standing out from the crowd might be trite phrase. But it’s a battle that wine producers and importers know particularly well. Looking back on the day, it’s difficult not to note just how much the industry is led by its stories and diverse points of origin. SITT remains a bi-annual reminder of that, and it should be celebrated.
