Jackson and Seddon

11/12/2023

Seems only fitting.

This is one of my favourite pictures of all time, not just of Jackson and I but of all time.

So, it's seems rather fitting I'm using it to let you all know I have a last chance sale on all our wines.

As I mentioned before, I am sadly closing the wine business at the end of the year, so I need to shift all the stock that's left.

There are a couple of absolute gems left on the website, so make sure you get stuck in.

When you check out, if you end code EVERYTHING20, you will get 20% off our wines.

Should help you stock up before Christmas anyway...

21/11/2023

Couldn't believe we found this!

This summer, I was unbelievably lucky enough to visit New York once again and stay with my amazing friends in Brooklyn.

On one of our adventures, we ended up on a wine bar in Manhattan, and of course, I was handed the wine list. As always, I jumped straight to the Italian section to see if I knew anyone, and this bottle was in there.

This is one of my all-time favourite wines, especially as I'm a bit of a fiend for Sangiovese these days.

If you're lucky enough to try one of these bottles from the 900 they produce every year, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

18/11/2023

Thank you for being my friend!

If for no other reason, I'm posting this because I love the way the sunlight shines on his chest rug.

When I lost Jackson, I never thought a dog would come close to filling his shoes. Well, this little tinker gives it a bloody good go.

I had a rough day yesterday so walked into the village and had a beer, my mate called me and I said "I'm having a beer on my own" he said "Is Cooper with you, then you're not on your own"

Thanks for being there Cooper, thanks for keeping me company, being a goofball, and being my pal.

Sending you all love from both of us this weekend ❤️

05/11/2023

How is it 10 years?!

Today marks 10 years since the passing of My Dad, Jimmy.

I often wonder what he would think if he was still alive. When I walked away from my corporate job, he didn't understand. He was from a generation where you joined a company and stayed there.

I know he would roll his eyes but still be proud, proud I haven't given up and proud that through all the loss I've suffered, I'm still moving forward.

My big sister and I will be raising a G&T to Jimmy later, so if you knew him or are just having a bevvy on a Sunday, please raise a glass to Jimmy.

Sempre Avanti

23/10/2023

The people we met on our journey .

There are many things I'm truly grateful for since this journey began, but right up there has to be the people we met along the way. I say "we" as Jackson met all these lovely people, too.

Andrea and I have become good friends since we first met. He not only makes an incredible dark rosé he is also one of the funniest people I've ever met.

When he's not making wine, you can usually find him climbing a mountain, or if I'm in Tuscany, you can find us in Cinigiano eating and drinking like kings.

Oh, and I'm not in Italy right now, these are from the summer.

19/10/2023

Thank you!

Wow, I genuinely didn't realise how many people would send their love after my post. I haven't posted on here in so long I figured the algorithm wouldn't show my post to that many people.

Also, as HUGE, thank you for all the wine orders that came in! That blew me away.

It's been very humbling to read all the wonderful comments and to know that the wines I brought in were so loved. I mean, I know I loved them, but to hear it from everyone was quite emotional.

I've added more wines to the website today, basically a few that I was going to keep to drink myself, but I would rather share them with you guys.

Don't worry, I kept a couple back to drink myself...

17/10/2023

It's been a while....

I realised a few things lately, one of which is that I haven't posted on here in ages. The other, well, we will get to that.

I was going back through pictures from the summer and realised there are some belters I took that I would love to share, so if it's alright with you, I will post a few more.

The other thing I realised is that it's time to tell you all the news. Well, you can probably all guess by now, but I've decided to close down J&S.

The long and short of it is that it's just not financially viable to keep it going, to keep importing wine. Brexit properly screwed us, then the fact EVERYTHING went up in price, then the cost of living crisis, oh and let's not forget the Rona! So yeah, it's been a tough few years.

We've still got some stock in the warehouse, so I've put together a couple of three bottle boxes on the website that are a bit of a bargain as the wines are fantastic, as always. So go take a look and grab some of our wines before they go.

14/04/2023

How has it been 3 years?

What a journey it's been these past three years without you. So much has changed, and so much has stayed the same. You're still talked about by everyone. Your touch is still felt on the hearts of those who loved you.

The pain of your loss still sits with me every day, I still struggle to picture our last goodbye, the last time I got to tell you how much I loved you and how much you meant to me.

As my tattoo says, "Sempre Avanti," so we always move forward, and this day will always be a celebration of your wonderful life and your gentle heart.

My friends now have spaniels because of you, that's how much you meant to people and the impression you left on them.

A bottle of your wine shall be opened today with family who knew and loved you, your name shall be toasted, and memories of your adventure told with smiles and tears, and more tears shall also be shed by your soft Dad.

Thank you for blessing my heart with your love.

I miss you Super Jay ###

30/03/2023

Life in the Chilterns!

It's been AGES since I posted on here, and after the flurry of stories yesterday, I figured I was long over due an actual post.

I just took Cooper and his pal Bertie for a lovely long walk, after two days of being in that there London, and it was seriously needed.

Don't get me wrong, I had a bloody great time, I tried some amazing spirits at the Great Taste judging, I had dinner with my sister, even if she did flick me in the face at dinner because we were talking about Jackson and I got upset hahaha

But getting back here and being able to walk in this very beautiful part of the UK is what my mind and soul needed.

Anyways, off to wash two very muddy and very happy spaniels...

08/03/2023

International Women's Day

When I think about important women in my life, there are so many, so many amazing, brave, smart, strong, powerful, beautiful women.

Always the one image I go back to though, is this one of mum. Funnily enough, someone said the other day. "When's Mother's Day?" And I had no idea, which made me quite sad. It's Sunday the 19th in case you just panicked.

So today, being International Women's Day, I want to say a huge thank you to those women in my life that support me, for those that make me smile and those that have helped me get to where I am today, I love and appreciate you all.

Here are just a few I want to roll call; Rachel, BAP, Kim, Caz, Aliex, Liz, Charlotte, Corinne, and Dani, and of course Mum! I cant thank you enough for the love and support you've given me over the months, days, and years. I will spend a lifetime trying to thank you back.

12/02/2023

What a weekend!

As you may have seen, I turned 45 last week, so I thought, what better of a way to celebrate than to spend a weekend with two of my best mates hiking in the Peak District.

We rented a beautiful Airbnb in the town of Bakewell, packed up the car and two spaniels and heading up to the Peaks.

Over the past 3 days we walked close to 50km, we laughed, we ate great food, we drank good wine and we saw some of the most beautiful scenery the UK had to offer.

Cooper and I are absolutely shattered now though, my legs ache already and I'm excited for a bloody early night!

07/02/2023

My last post....

As a 44 year old! Holy f*ckballs! How did I become 45? I swear I was 40 last week and I was in NZ with my sister throwing myself out of a plane then going surfing.

Well this year is quite quiet in comparison, I'm having a lazy morning, then a nice walk with Cooper, followed by family over for dinner. Then on the weekend I'm going walking...

I mean, that says it all right? I'm going hiking for my birthday! Hahaha. Too be fair, I'm going with two friends who have transcended friendship to become family and we have a load of wine, spaniels and beautiful British country to explore.

Anyway, as a treat I bought this beautiful South African Pinot Noir from my friend Mike, and anyone they knows me knows I'm an absolute hound for a good pinot. So tonight I'm drinking this to start the party early.

22/01/2023

Hello stranger!

My mate said to me the other day that I haven't posted on here in ages, not withstanding my "buongiorno" posts of a morning, so here I am!

If I'm honest this is going to be the norm now as I spend a considerable amount of time on my other business, with one possibly two more markets this year already in the works.

Let's talk wine though, that's why we are here. Do you remember this beautiful wine from a couple of years ago? Made by a wonderful French lady in Le Marche in Italy

100% Aleatico and quite light and floral, not to dissimilar to a beaujolais so very quaffable. This vintage Lea made 3000 bottles so as always we have been very lucky to get them.

When I first imported this wine it was a little funky, but now its had time to settle in the bottle its singing.

I bloody love this wine!!

31/12/2022

Well, that was a weird one, hey?

This year had been weird and a little wild for us, how about you?

I was asked recently what have you done in 2022 and I, as a natural response said "yeah not a lot" then i paused and said "wait, hang on, I launched a new business and then added a second venue to that business, so I've actually done loads"

The biggest hit for me this year is how much I've put the wine in second place and focused on the new business.

I guess over the coming weeks, I will decide how to balance out things better in 2023, but if you're not following then let me just say, you're missing out!

Oh, the wine, we can't import this one or sell it, so I bought it in Italy, and it's pretty punchy price wise, so I'm drinking it by myself tonight 😁

Buon anno everyone!

17/12/2022

Did someone say free delivery?!

Well, it's almost Christmas so why not give a little something back...

As I've been super slack and not put together Christmas boxes this year, I figure you can build your own and get free delivery.

Obviously you want this bottle to be included. It's a champagne style wine from Le Marche made from 100% Aleatico and left of the Lees for 36 months. So basically and Italian pink champagne and only 1800 bottles made in this 2018 vintage.

If you want this and maybe one or two more bottles, then enter CHRIMBOFREE at our checkout and delivery is on us.

Merry Christmas you beautiful people

15/12/2022

14 years, how is is 14 years?!

I sent a voice note to one of my best friends yesterday saying I couldn't believe its been 12 years, seems I can't keep track of time as its actually been 14 years since my Mum moved on.

This also took me back to the night she passed and I sat on the steps of the hospice and called my friends to tell them the news, firstly my best mate Billy who my Mum loved and vice versa. It came back like a sledge hammer of emotion remembering sitting there making that call.

Always through the years has been my big sister, driving me mad and supporting me no matter what. Even when we lived in different countries we were still really close.

Thanks for keeping an eye on me for the past 14 years, putting up with me being a stressed Eric at the markets, helping me through the dark days, laughing with me at the funny things we remember about the olds and always, always forgiving me.

Love you!

12/12/2022

One more weekend, one more weekend!

Well waking up to a snow covered world was quite lovely today hey? Not having the puppy at home means no walking for me in the snow though, rubbish!

Yesterday we braved the cold and sold mulled wine and a few bottles in beautiful Amersham all day, and Mamma Mia was it cold!

I have to say, I'm SO grateful to my friends and family for their support, they were all involved in one way or another to help me yesterday, even sent the big sister off to sell mulled wine for me at another event.

This weekend is our last weekend on the markets and it can't come quick enough.

We are on Guildford High Street Thursday night, Richmond Saturday day and Old Amersham on Sunday, if you are looking for us.

08/12/2022

First frost.

Well technically there was a little frost a few weeks back, but not a proper frost like this morning.

As I'm sure you've noticed I've not posted on here in a while, in all honesty I've been so busy with the other business that I've let this slide a little. So I apologise for that.

I do have some new wines in so will stick my daft face up with a bottle again soon. I'm doing markets this weekend and next, Richmond on Saturday and Amersham on Sunday, both weekends some come say hello and get a bottle or some mulled wine.

Obviously this is silly season for us food and drink bods, everything you spend with us now helps us through the really tough months ahead. So please support small businesses and shop local if you can.

23/11/2022

Happy Wine Wednesday!

Have I ever told you how much I love this wine and the people that make it? Well are you sitting comfortably, then I shall begin...

Made from Sangiovese and old vine Montepulciano this Rosso Piceno (picheno) is a proper winter wine. The old vine means the Montepulciano packs a hell of a punch, and the Sangiovese gives you a little spicy tickle.

Aged in cement vats and not oak, you get a true expression of the grapes coming through with this wine. I mean, pop it somewhere warm while it breathes and thank me later.

I tell everyone it's made by identical twin sisters, well, because it is but Alessandro the husband of one of the sisters is heavily involved, so I hope he forgives me for never mentioning him in my stories.

Anyway, if you want a smooth wine with stacks of dark fruit to sip on a cold winters night, then head to our website and give this a go.

23/11/2022

We will have mulled wine and our organic wines for sale at this lovely event on Saturday 🍷

23/11/2022

Come see us here this Friday if you're around. We will have a selection of our fantastic organic wines for you to try and buy.

This Friday! Market Square Wendover from 4pm!

Superb street food, mulled wine, mulled cider. Live Music…

Craft, food and drinks to go…

There will be Stichelton - basically a brilliant blue cheese!!

29/10/2022

Have you tried the new vintage of this?

You know I'm a sucker for a Vermentino with a slightly salty finish, and this vintage Gregorio has really brought his A game.

Sat at home watching Gangs of London season 2 (meh) and trying not to polish off the whole bottle is going to be a struggle.

Obviously I won't drink the bottle, it's red wine time so the white can go back into the fridge, where it belongs!....Until tomorrow.

So if you want a beautiful bottle of white wine that's a little floral, clean and has a little salty finish then this is your badger!

28/10/2022

As requested.

Here is the reason I get away from my laptop or out of bed or off the sofa every day, I mean have you spent a day with a spaniel that hasn't been walked, it's pretty horrific.

He's also the reason I've been so busy lately and not had much time to post on here, you see, he has his own business and its proving quite the hit.

While we were in Liverpool someone said "post more pictures of Cooper" so that's the other reason you're seeing his sweet face tonight.

Cooper wants to know what y'all are drinking this weekend?

18/10/2022

Our amazing friend wrote a book about food and drink businesses based in the Chilterns, and we are featured! ❤️