Dear Wine Lovers,

Welcome to 2014!  This year marks the 63rd year since Douglas Lamb (my grandfather) took the bold step of starting his own business as a vintner, after some years of study of the wine industry both here and abroad. Plenty has happened since then. With the evolution of the wine industry, a vastly different landscape presents itself today. Whilst some doors may have closed, there are opportunities now which never existed before, and the revolution in communications has brought the global wine community together in a way that could not be imagined back in 1951.  One thing is clear though: there was good wine back then and there is good wine around now. To that end, our core values haven’t changed at all since Douglas first branched out on his own.  Value, authenticity and quality, without the pomp, are the driving motivators for our family and will continue to push the business on, I hope, for at least another 63 years.

2013 was an interesting year as I was given the opportunity to take on the Douglas Lamb Wines mantle, evolve the name and revise the business. This year Douglas Lamb Wines will redefine its portfolio, gain some new agencies, and continue to nurture the relationships we have had with great wine makers for several generations.

Louis Sipp of Alsace was the first producer Douglas ever represented and remains as part of our portfolio today.  Subsequently he introduced the wines of  Lucien Crochet, Roumieu Lacoste and Domaine de Durban to the Australian palate. In 1997, my father, John Lamb, took the reins and expanded the imports, most notably in 2006, by introducing quality Greek wines from world class wineries like GAIA, Kir Yianni and Domaine Gerovassiliou.  More recently he added China’s Chateau Hansen to the portfolio. Hansen is an organic winery located in Inner Mongolia and is one of the top quality wineries poised to lead the Chinese wine industry into the global market.  I joined the business in November 2003, for the most part as a key sales person. However, my palate was indulged, and we began relationships with new producers like Foradori (Italy), Thymiopoulos (Greece), Karanika (Greece) and Andre & Michel Quenard (France).

What does all this really mean?

- There are going to be some bargains to be had over the next few weeks.

- A new slender portfolio will be launched

- Then, we get to go shopping!

There will be renewed focus, with some exciting new producers coming to complement the existing ones we have proudly grown over a lifetime in the industry.

We’re certainly excited by the prospect of good food, great wine and breaking new ground with you over the next 12 months.

Kind Regards

David Lamb