Having launched the first vintage release earlier this year, Sir Ian Botham’s icon range of wines are now exclusively available through the prestigious wine merchants, Berry Bros. & Rudd. The 3 wines, Sir Ian Botham Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013, Sir Ian Botham Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 and Sir Ian Botham Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2017 are available to buy from the Berry Bros. & Rudd store in London’s St. James’s and via their website www.bbr.comand will retail at £42.50 per bottle.
Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. With over 315 years of history, Berry Bros. & Rudd are justly proud of their past. The shop, at No. 3, St. James’s street, was originally established by a lady, known only as Widow Bourne and over 3 centuries later, with 2 Royal Warrants and 6 Masters of Wine, the family business continues to flourish with offices around the world but with its heart still very much at No. 3.
When Widow Bourne first opened her shop, her timing couldn’t have been better. Situated opposite St. James Palace, the shop opened in the same year as the palace became the official principle residence of the monarch. As her business grew and the ownership passed down through the generations, change was inevitable, but the company has always valued its traditions whilst embracing innovation and global wine and spirit trends. In 1967, Berry Bros. & Rudd became the first independent wine merchant to build temperature-controlled cellars. Today these cellars hold 8.5 million bottles of wine belonging to both the company and its customers and the collection is valued in the millions of pounds. In 1994, the company was once again at the forefront of progress as they launched the first wine merchant’s website (www.bbr.com) and in 1997, the company celebrated as they were awarded the second Royal Warrant by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales.
Whilst the second half of the 20thcentury saw the expansion of the traditional business, the 21stcentury saw new sides of the business be established. The historic cellars below the shop were gradually renovated to facilitate private wine events and the highly respected wine school. To this day, this world-renowned wine merchants stock over 4000 wines carefully selected by their team of Masters of Wine and they still supply the British Royal family as they have done since the reign of King George III.
Sir Ian Botham wines are incredibly proud to have been selected by Berry Bros. & Rudd and to be listed within one of the finest wine collections in the world.
Paul Schaafsma, Managing Director of Benchmark Drinks, is thrilled to be working with Berry Bros. & Rudd “It is an absolute privilege to have our icon range of wines listed within the Berry Bros. & Rudd portfolio. Both Sir Ian and I have worked tirelessly to craft these wines with some of the most respected producers in South Australia and the range has had some incredible feedback from wine experts and consumers alike. To now be stocked in such an iconic venue, alongside arguably some of the best wines in the world, is genuinely thrilling for us and the Botham wine brand”.
