Our Story

“You should call yourselves The Great Wine Co., because every single wine I have tasted from you is just that: great.” — Charles Metcalfe, International Wine Challenge​

 Great Wine:  Everyday or Rare

The Great Wine Co. specialises in excellent wines:  whether affordable, everyday drinking, or fine bottles for special occasions.   We sell to the public, while having access to the producers sought out by top sommeliers for Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels.

 Expertise and Relationships

Our team has deep wine knowledge, garnered over decades of experience, and has forged close links to the people who make them.  We are proud to represent within the UK some sensational names, such as Trimbach, Planeta, Catena Zapata, Frescobaldi and Sierra Cantabria.

 Tastings and Dinners

Through our popular tastings and winemaker dinners, we provide a direct connection between wine producers and wine lovers.  These events are not just entertaining and delicious, they help foster a deep appreciation for the people, stories and craftsmanship that sit behind these fabulous bottles.

 Limited Releases

Thanks to our relationships with wineries, we are able to offer customers exclusive parcels of limited release wines that are only available through us.  Our customers are the first to hear about new producers, and get inside knowledge on the latest vintages and award-winning and top-rated wines.

Our History - 43 years of The Great Wine Co.

The early days of Great Western Wine

  1. 1983

    Philip Addis starts the business in the garage of a friend of his, before soon moving to the railway arches in Bath. This prompted the naming of the business ‘The Great Western Wine Company Ltd’. The wines sold were all destined for restaurants.

  2. 1985

    First wines imported.

  3. 1989

    Philip was persuaded to open a shop so his friends could buy the wines. Alan Nordberg joins the company as Shop Manager.

  4. 1992

    Great Western Wine outgrows its latest site on the London Road, moving to Wells Road.

  5. 2000

    The business now has four vans delivering around the Southwest every day. The first website is launched. Tom King joins the company as Fine Wine Manager.

  6. 2004

    We start to import Bogle Estate wines.

  7. 2005

    The first ecommerce website is launched.

  8. 2006

    Viña Leyda joins the Great Western Wine portfolio.

  9. 2007

    Another perennial favourite, Ken Forrester also joins us.

  10. 2010

    We are acquired by Enotria Winecellars, who take on the trade arm while Great Western Wine becomes wholly retail. We now sell some new iconic wineries like Trimbach, Planeta and Thelema.

  11. 2020

    Our brand-new website is launched just before Covid hits. Sales explode as demand for home delivery brings 14 times monthly sales in just 3 days. We rebrand, changing the name to The Great Wine Co. to reflect the changing nature of our customer base.

  12. 2023

    The Great Wine Co. turns 40!

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