Did you know one of the UK’s leading wine merchants is based in the North East like us?

Established by the Cleary family in 1980 Lanchester Wines is now one of the UK‘s leading suppliers of quality wines and spirits to the trade.

Not only that, but the business is also well on the way to being the greenest and most sustainable wine business in the world – Lanchester has invested £8m in developing clean, renewable energy and heat generation for their offices and warehouses which greatly reduces the business’ carbon footprint.

Headquartered near Stanley, the company offers over 3,000 products ranging from award-winning house wines to some of the best wines in the world. And, many of Lanchester Wines products are bottled at its sister company Greencroft Bottling which can fill up to 90,000 bottles and boxes of wine per hour.

However, the family-owned business doesn’t only specialise in wine. You may have seen, or indeed bought, last year’s must-have Christmas present – the sparkling wine advent calendar – but you may not know this was created by Lanchester Gifts, part of Lanchester Wines.

Lanchester Gifts has become a leading business in its own right, creating hampers, presents and gifts for leading retailers and online shops. It also sells gifts via its own website www.first4hampers.com and has launched its own luxury pet product business too www.bestinshow.co.uk. Planning for this year’s spectacular Christmas presents is already well underway, keep an eye on the websites for more details.

Lanchester Wines’ products are available in bars, pubs, restaurants and shops across the UK, including many of our favourite venues in the North East. You can also buy direct at the company’s off licence, The Pip Stop. Based in a former garage in Maiden Law, the store is a unique retail experience with hundreds of wines, beers and spirits to choose from – you can also order online at www.thepipstop.co.uk. Ben Cleary is pictured at The Pip Stop above.

This business is a true tale of entrepreneurialism and vision – where will they lead us next?