Our wines are not bland "mass market" factory wines; they are all hand-crafted "real wines" that come from individual estates. But with prices starting at just £4.99 per bottle, 'real wines' don't have to be expensive; in fact you will see our prices are amongst the most competitive in the market thanks to our 'direct from vineyard' partnership approach. Wines Unfurled is the perfect place to start discovering the breathtaking diversity the world of "real wine" has to offer.

Our take on ...

Producers:

we know that to find really exciting and new producers you can't sit-back and wait for them to knock at your door, you need to get out there and find them. We spend a significant chunk of the year exploring emerging wine regions such as Maribor in Slovenia and Puglia in Southern Italy, and also the most established regions seeking to work with producers whose wines reflect the unique character of the area and are the best example in a particular region. We are the exclusive distributors of most of the wines on our list and many have never previously been exported. More importantly we are friends as well as business partners with all our dedicated producers.

Price: it is important to us that our producers receive a fair price for their wines and through buying direct we remain competitive without squeezing our suppliers.

The environment: our producers are passionate to protect the unique attributes of their particular region and these characteristics are reflected in their wines. They all practice sustainable viticulture in their vineyards.
Our packaging is 100% recyclable and we use the most efficient transportation methods possible including groupage shipments (never air freight).

Responsible drinking: unfortunately it appears that all alcoholic drinks (and abuse of them) have been clumsily lumped together. We believe that the care and attention that has gone into producing our wines deserves a little more respect and that they are best enjoyed in moderation with food.

About us: I'm Jerome Harlington and I set up Wines Unfurled in 2007 with my wife Carrie and my Father, David Harlington. David's love of wine spans over thirty years of discovery; David shares his passion with others for 'real' wines that have a unique sense of place. I hold the Diploma in Wines and Spirits and worked alongside some of the world's most celebrated wine producers and Masters' of Wine before setting up Wines Unfurled.

Our Parent Company, Harlington Wine Ltd, is the UK distributor for our exclusive Wine Agencies. If you would like to see technical or in-depth information or are interested in retailing or wholesaling our wines please visit the trade website:

www.harlingtonwine.com

13th November 2009

We at Wines Unfurled regularly go out to the wine growing regions of the World and look for emerging and interesting wines, building friendships with producers and importing directly from the vineyard, helping these small growers to ‘unfurl their wines’ in the UK. Our wines are “real” wines made in traditional ways and by producers who are eager to conserve the character of their wines. Real wines tell their own unique story; the initial sip takes us on a journey to the heart of the wine region from which they come. Then follows the unfurling layers of flavours which tell us a bit about the weather conditions experienced that year and also much about the ground and rock where the vines were planted. Finally with time to savour, the flavours linger on the palate and tell us a bit about how well the winemaker has harnessed the natural environment to produce the best the region has to offer.

Slow Food Ethic
Wines Unfurled is the retail arm of our parent company Harlington Wine Ltd. We represent wine producers which espouse the Slow Food values, remembered in the three words “Good Clean and Fair”. Our wines are good; they taste delightful and have been produced by the wine makers with a passion for making the best wines they can. They are clean in the sense that the stewardship of their own vineyards and the care of their surroundings is paramount. Wines Unfurled is fair in the Fair Trade sense that word as the producers gain a fair return for their wines and the customers feel they’re getting good value for money.

Reducing Diversity
Jerome Harlington holds the Diploma in Wines and Spirits and has worked alongside some of the world's most celebrated wine producers and Masters of Wine. Recently, he has become aware that the increasing tide of simple factory wines is reducing the diversity of flavours and tastes available on the shelves. Indeed, his uncle, amateur wine sleuth Barry Staples, was saying that during his constant search for interesting wines he felt that “even in the specialist wine shops all wines were beginning to taste the same”.

Losing Local Character
Nowadays, the “flying wine makers” have the skill to blend wines to suit the tastes of their customers who are very thankful that good consistently tasting wines can be found in their favourite supermarkets and wine merchants. However, there is an acknowledged danger that wines are losing their local character. Marino Aldrighetti of Gamba, our wine producer with 14 hectares of vines in the Valpolicella Classico region, said recently that he had been approached by such a flying wine maker but this time he resisted the temptation to change the character of his wine to suit the average palate of the generic customer.

Wine Works Best With Food
Good wine works best with good food. Each of our producers is teeming with advice about the best food and wine pairings and not surprisingly, their favourite foods tend to be found locally to them. We are very interested in finding local food pairings with our wines wherever our customers are. How many times have you returned from a holiday abroad with a bottle of wine and tried to repeat a marvellous food and wine matching experience with disastrous results?

Local Food and Wine Pairing
It is also perhaps surprising to find that there are chefs in some prestigious restaurants who are passionate about sourcing their food from local suppliers but yet spend so little time researching their portfolio of wines. Our interest in the Slow Food movement is not accidental. It focuses on finding sources of good food locally and I was excited to find at the Ludlow Food and Drink Festival a range of foods produced local to Ludlow which perfectly matched our wines. I’m sure that in your own locality, the same can be said!

Delve Deeper at our Wine Tasting Events
We are committed to encourage you, the wine lover, to delve a little deeper into the world of ‘real’ wine and experience a taste of the variety on offer. Jerome’s wife, Carrie, manages a regular monthly wine tasting event at our Chilton offices where for a nominal sum you can taste 5 or 6 wines together with specially prepared canapés and compare notes with other like minded people.

Come and Visit Us
We pride ourselves on our personal and friendly service. If you’d like to come and see us at our brand new premises in Chilton, Buckinghamshire not far from the M40 exits to Thame or the Bicester Village you will be able to explore the impressive diversity of wines on offer. Relax with a glass of real wine set against the delightful backdrop of the lake on the Chilton Estate.