Yesterday, London based wine and spirit importer, Mentzendorff, welcomed members of the press and trade to One Great George Street to join them for their Annual Portfolio Tasting. The event is without doubt the pinnacle of Mentzendorff’s calendar year, with the entire portfolio on display and representatives from wineries travelling from across the globe to present their wines to the UK market.

Highlights of this year’s tasting included a new producer, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery who joined the Portfolio in January, as well as three expert led masterclasses that took place throughout the day. These included a Chardonnay focus from Champagne AYALA hosted by Managing Director, Hadrien Mouflard, a look at four decades of environmental leadership at Spottswoode with Vice President of Sales and Marketing Heather de Savoye, and a focus on the artistry of elements in Oregon wine country with Chief Brand Officer at Ponzi Vineyards, Carrie Kalscheuer.

In addition to a host of new vintage releases, several new products were also introduced on the day. Examples included the 2022 Rully and Mercurey wines, new to Domaine Chanson following the acquisition of Château d’Etroyes in the Côte Chalonnaise. Maison Langlois in the Loire unveiled for the first time the Langlois Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Bio 2020 which is new for 2025. There has also been a foray into canned wines by Turkey Flat Vineyards who introduced a new range, featuring a Pinot Gris, a Grenache Shiraz and their iconic Rosé, all available in 250ml cans.

Even more exciting news saw the addition of the very first non-alcoholic wine to the portfolio with the presentation of BEAU VIVA, an alcohol-free sparkling rosé conceived by renowned Provence Rosé producer, Maison Saint Aix. BEAU VIVA is a sophisticated alternative that celebrates the art of living and the moments that bring people together. For those with a sweeter tooth, guests were also offered the full “Port Cup” experience in Port Cup Corner with guided Port and chocolate pairings hosted by master chocolatier, Pedro Martins Araújo. Designed with the sharing occasion in mind, attendees were encouraged to take a sip of the Port poured into the chocolate cup then immediately savour the chocolate, letting the flavours harmonize to discover the perfect pairing.

Commenting on the event, Mentzendorff Managing Director, Justin Liddle, expressed, “We are thrilled to have been able to welcome so many old friends and new faces to explore and discover the Mentzendorff range. The Portfolio Tasting is the highlight of the year for us, where we are really able to not only show off the exceptional wines from our producers but also to allow them to showcase the great work many of them are doing back home in the vineyards and wineries. We were especially excited this year to officially introduce Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery as a new addition to our portfolio for 2025.

Liddle continued: “It has been a pleasure to connect with so many different professionals from across all sectors of the trade. The wine industry is facing considerable challenges at the moment, the most notable being the introduction of the new duty regime implemented last month and the spectre of an unworkable EPR scheme going live in April. In light of these challenges, we feel it is important to stay connected not only to our customers but to the wider trade in general to make sure we are constantly evolving to meet the needs of the people we work with.”

The Mentzendorff Annual Portfolio Tasting, drew an impressive crowd of over 400 industry professionals, providing a platform for attendees to experience first-hand the exceptional quality and diversity offered by all producers across the Portfolio.

With nearly 170 years of experience, Mentzendorff is one of the United Kingdom’s longest-established wine importers, continuing to offer our customers and partner suppliers a ‘full service agency” model; building brands and servicing all sectors of the UK trade.

Built around our leading shareholder brands Champagne Bollinger and Taylor’s Port, the Mentzendorff Portfolio includes many of the world’s leading family-owned wine estates.