Tell us about the moment you first became interested in wine
I took a job as a salesperson for Tetley Beer in Yorkshire when I was 21, selling beer and wine to working men’s clubs and pubs. One day we received wine training. It was a proper lightbulb moment. I realised I was fascinated by the whole story of vineyards, their locations and the winemakers behind them, and that I could study wine and make a career out of it.
Describe your list at Charlie’s Drinks Store
One thousand of the wines I like to drink! Fortunately, I like a bit of everything and am passionate about exciting yet affordable wines, as well as wines further up the price scale. We are a proper retail store – no drinking in, other than during the events we run. There are more than 80 wines under £15 and more than 200 under £20. France is a huge area for us, but so are Italy and Australia, with significant representation from Portugal, Spain, South Africa and South America.
Over the course of your career, have you had any wine-related disasters?
My wife will kill me, but here goes. It was 2004 and my wife and I were in Vouvray. We bought a bottle of 1969 Vouvray – my birth year – to drink on our wedding night the following year. We carefully took it home and stored it, only for my wife to drop and smash it a few days before we were married. Oh well, it’s only wine.
Name your top three restaurant wine lists
Ransom’s Dock (not around anymore, but a massive shout-out to Martin Lam), Andrew Edmunds in Soho and Blue Sardinia in Guildford.
Who do you most respect in the wine world?
David Gleave, founder of Liberty Wines.
What’s the most interesting wine you’ve come across recently?
Ancestral Method dry Muscat from Samos in Greece, made by Kostaki. Fabulous.
What are the three most overused tasting notes?
“Notes of...”, “classic flavours of...” and “middle palate”.
What’s the best value wine on your list at the moment?
2024 Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Galets from Vignerons d’Estezargues. A proper grown-up Grenache blend that’s utterly delicious. It tastes like a £20-plus wine but costs just £14.80.
What is your ultimate food and drink match?
Steak and chips with Cornas.
Old World or New World?
Old World.
What is your pet hate when it comes to wine service in restaurants?
Hand behind the back and wines served at the wrong temperature.
Who is your favourite producer right now?
Almost impossible to say, but let’s go with Cantina Terlan from Alto Adige.
As the owner of Charlie’s Drinks Store, what question do you most often get asked by customers?
“I need some help. I’m looking for a white wine...”
Which wine-producing region or country is underrated at the moment?
Greece.
It’s your last meal and you can have a bottle of any wine in the world. What is it and why?
2010 Cornas from Clape. That would take me to another realm.