Our Wine

It often comes as a surprise to some people that Harvey & Son's origins are firmly planted in the wine trade rather than brewing. John Harvey was originally a wine and brandy merchant operating from premises "at the foot of Cliffe Bridge", according to a contemporary newspaper article. Records of 1794 demonstrate supply of port to residences within five miles.

Following on from two centuries of unbroken experience in the wine trade, Harveys is today proud to offer wines from the modern new world of wine making, together with some of the most prestigious traditional estates of Europe. We are considered wholesale specialists in a number of diverse wine areas:

• New World wines selected for the licensed trade.
• South African wines
• The Rhone
• Burgundy
• Northern Italy
• Portugal
• Greece

Our shop also carries an unparalleled selection of:

• Red Bordeaux
• Alsace wines
• Port
• Dessert wines
• Local English wines
• Fruit Wines

And a diverse range of spirits and liquers, notably:

• Malt Whiskies
• Rums
• Prestige Brandies

Harveys trade in wine operates within a number of small niches. We are heterogeneous when it comes to wine, relishing the diversity to be found in sourcing smaller quantities. Customers will not find mass produced, dumbed-down or over refined wine brands at Harveys. We seek small parcels of well-crafted wine, sometimes a pallet (50 to 70 cases) from a small producer - often from an obscure corner of the world. We endeavour to find stocks of characteristic local styles or regional grape varieties. This philosophy also enables us to achieve great value (at every price level) because wine comes directly from the winemaker without the profit margins of 'middle men'.

Equally important is the service we offer which accompanies this expertise and experience. The world of wine can seem designed to be utterly bewildering. Each wine producing country has its own unique regulations relating to origin, packaging and labelling. The baffling array of grape varieties, regions, vintages and styles are then further bamboozled with expert opinion, tasting notes and food matching. By the time one has assimilated the factual and the subjective, the wine selection process has invariably become a very inexact science.

Harveys has a longstanding reputation to maintain, and is anxious to assist customers through this winefield, ensuring the right wine is sourced