Richard Siddle
@richardsidddle.bsky.social
Co-founder of The Buyer http://www.the-Buyer.net for premium on-trade & drinks industry decision makers. Loves LFC & Laurel & Hardy http://www.richardsiddle.uk
Ventoux producer #Marrenon in the Luberon has signed a 3 year collaboration with @LeTour #TourdeFrance to promote key wine brands around cycling’s most famous event. Julien di Matteo, export director, explains how the link up is going to work www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
www.the-buyer.net
February 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Ventoux producer #Marrenon in the Luberon has signed a 3 year collaboration with @LeTour #TourdeFrance to promote key wine brands around cycling’s most famous event. Julien di Matteo, export director, explains how the link up is going to work www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
“Jeroboams' consistency of service is why the relationship has lasted as long as it has.” So says Matilda Di Cecio, head sommelier at @ChezBruce on how & why they have worked together for 30 years & what she looks for in a trusted wine supplier www.the-buyer.net/people/on-tr...
The Buyer | Chez Bruce & Jeroboams: 30 years of trust, service & shared standards
“ Jeroboams is very good at bringing us ideas that make sense commercially and on the floor. That consistency of service is why the relationship has lasted as long as it has.” That’s how Matilda Di C...
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February 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM
“Jeroboams' consistency of service is why the relationship has lasted as long as it has.” So says Matilda Di Cecio, head sommelier at @ChezBruce on how & why they have worked together for 30 years & what she looks for in a trusted wine supplier www.the-buyer.net/people/on-tr...
#LondonTastingAwards returns in April & to help set the scene awards president @AbbieBennington talks to director Lucille Oudard about what sets the awards apart in a crowded awards landscape & why its results continue to matter to producers & buyers alike www.the-buyer.net/awards/what-...
The Buyer | What London Tasting Awards can offer beers, wines & spirits
The London Tasting Awards return to London this April, forming part of the wider Armonia group of leading European tasting competitions. Together, they bring a strong focus on rigorous blind tasting...
www.the-buyer.net
February 3, 2026 at 11:56 AM
#LondonTastingAwards returns in April & to help set the scene awards president @AbbieBennington talks to director Lucille Oudard about what sets the awards apart in a crowded awards landscape & why its results continue to matter to producers & buyers alike www.the-buyer.net/awards/what-...
Reposted by Richard Siddle
Here @richardsidddle.bsky.social makes the case for why Elton John 0% sparkling wine on the back of @kylieminogue.music-social.com huge wine success spells more bad news for major drinks brands that have lost their ability to connect with consumers in the same way. the-buyer.net/insight/why-...
The Buyer | Why Kylie & Elton’s wines are on a level big brands can’t match
It might have been a while since Elton John was riding high in the charts, but it might only be a matter of time before his new Zero Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine released into the market this week ...
the-buyer.net
January 14, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Here @richardsidddle.bsky.social makes the case for why Elton John 0% sparkling wine on the back of @kylieminogue.music-social.com huge wine success spells more bad news for major drinks brands that have lost their ability to connect with consumers in the same way. the-buyer.net/insight/why-...
The drinks industry is being let down by its most powerful companies unwilling to speak out against all that's against the sector. It's left a vacuum for small to mid sized players to step up, speak out and set a new agenda with new voices & leaders www.the-buyer.net/opinion/rich...
The Buyer | Richard Siddle: Why drinks giants’ woes are big opportunity for others
It’s hard to imagine any other industry that is being let down quite so badly by its most powerful companies. At a time when the global drinks industry has never been under so much pressure, hit by a ...
www.the-buyer.net
February 2, 2026 at 11:20 AM
The drinks industry is being let down by its most powerful companies unwilling to speak out against all that's against the sector. It's left a vacuum for small to mid sized players to step up, speak out and set a new agenda with new voices & leaders www.the-buyer.net/opinion/rich...
"May his legacy be our inspiration." In this deeply personal tribute to South African wine consultant André Morgenthal Bruce Jack captures the spirit of a deeply loyal man who touched the lives of so many & made a huge contribution to South African wine www.the-buyer.net/people/andre...
The Buyer | André Morghenthal: "May his legacy be our inspiration"
"Unwavering, unselfish and always totally committed to the benefit of all. May his legacy be our inspiration." In this wonderfully written and deeply personal tribute to South African wine consultant,...
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January 31, 2026 at 11:20 AM
"May his legacy be our inspiration." In this deeply personal tribute to South African wine consultant André Morgenthal Bruce Jack captures the spirit of a deeply loyal man who touched the lives of so many & made a huge contribution to South African wine www.the-buyer.net/people/andre...
#NebbioloPrima is a chance for top wine critics, buyers & wine writers to assess the latest vintages of Barolo, Barbaresco & Roero wines. Isobel Salamon @SlonkWine travelled to Alba in north west Italy to give her personal and professional assessment. www.the-buyer.net/tasting/wine...
The Buyer | Isobel Salamon picks the best of the best at Nebbiolo Prima 2025
The type of event the wine industry does best is when producers from a specific region open their doors to allow forensic analysis of their wines. Which is exactly what Nebbiolo Prima has done for the...
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January 27, 2026 at 10:42 AM
#NebbioloPrima is a chance for top wine critics, buyers & wine writers to assess the latest vintages of Barolo, Barbaresco & Roero wines. Isobel Salamon @SlonkWine travelled to Alba in north west Italy to give her personal and professional assessment. www.the-buyer.net/tasting/wine...
It’s 4 years since #BolneyWineEstate was taken over by Freixenet Brands. @thebuyer11.bsky.social talks to Robin Copestick & Rob Hilton about the huge investment it's making to professionalise & modernise the winery & its wines & potential of English rosé www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
The Buyer | How Bolney is being re-invented for a bigger, stronger future
It’s four years this month that Bolney Wine Estate was taken over by Freixenet Copestick and brought into its parent company, Henkell Freixenet , to become part of what is the biggest producer an...
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January 26, 2026 at 10:12 AM
It’s 4 years since #BolneyWineEstate was taken over by Freixenet Brands. @thebuyer11.bsky.social talks to Robin Copestick & Rob Hilton about the huge investment it's making to professionalise & modernise the winery & its wines & potential of English rosé www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
Hats off to David Kermode who was 1 of the 1st drinks podcasts when he launched #TheDrinkingHour on @FoodFMRadio 5 years ago. To mark his 250th episode @TheBuyer11 talks to him about his podcast journey & what he thinks the key to making a good podcast is. www.the-buyer.net/people/the-d...
The Buyer | The Drinking Hour's David Kermode on what makes a good podcast
If you are reading this then, thankyou…as there are now so many more options and distractions for your time, be it scrolling through social media, watching the latest AI-produced reel, or increasingly...
www.the-buyer.net
January 24, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Hats off to David Kermode who was 1 of the 1st drinks podcasts when he launched #TheDrinkingHour on @FoodFMRadio 5 years ago. To mark his 250th episode @TheBuyer11 talks to him about his podcast journey & what he thinks the key to making a good podcast is. www.the-buyer.net/people/the-d...
Going to Wine Paris? @vinexposium Keep some space in your diary for its huge programme of talks, masterclasses & special tastings taking place across the three days of the show. Here we pick out some of the highlights from the Wine Paris events programme www.the-buyer.net/tasting/how-...
The Buyer | How to make the most of Wine Paris' talks and tastings programme
If you are busy filling your appointments diary for Wine Paris it might be worth keeping a few gaps in order to make the most of what is a huge programme of talks, debates, masterclasses and special...
www.the-buyer.net
January 23, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Going to Wine Paris? @vinexposium Keep some space in your diary for its huge programme of talks, masterclasses & special tastings taking place across the three days of the show. Here we pick out some of the highlights from the Wine Paris events programme www.the-buyer.net/tasting/how-...
The @theIWSC's new ‘IWSC Trusted Distributors’ initiative highlights UK importers with multiple IWSC winning wines. Its 1st partner is #LibertyWines & ceo Tom Platt talks about plans for its range this year & building sales in today’s challenging market www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
The Buyer | IWSC Top Distributors: Tom Platt on taking Liberty Wines to a new level
The IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) has introduced a new initiative ‘IWSC Trusted Distributors’ to highlight UK importers whose portfolios contain multiple IWSC award winning wines fro...
www.the-buyer.net
January 22, 2026 at 11:43 AM
The @theIWSC's new ‘IWSC Trusted Distributors’ initiative highlights UK importers with multiple IWSC winning wines. Its 1st partner is #LibertyWines & ceo Tom Platt talks about plans for its range this year & building sales in today’s challenging market www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
The drinks have been tasted, the spittoons have been emptied & the points added up in order to announce the finalists for the #PeoplesChoiceDrinksAwards for wine and spirits. Founder Janet Harrison talks us through the shortlist www.the-buyer.net/awards/short...
The Buyer | Shortlists announced for People’s Choice Wine and Spirits Awards
The drinks have been entered, the products have been tasted, the spittoons have been emptied and the points have all been added up in order to officially announce the shortlist of finalists for the P...
www.the-buyer.net
January 22, 2026 at 10:47 AM
The drinks have been tasted, the spittoons have been emptied & the points added up in order to announce the finalists for the #PeoplesChoiceDrinksAwards for wine and spirits. Founder Janet Harrison talks us through the shortlist www.the-buyer.net/awards/short...
With a major brand relaunch it's a vital year for @BABICHWINES in the global wine market which is why it's switching to #WineParis @vinexposium from @prowein for 1st time. David & André Babich on listening to market needs & why it's right time to change www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
The Buyer | Why Babich now sees Wine Paris as key to its global wine strategy
With a major brand relaunch, new look and lots of stories to tell 2026 is a vital year for Babich, no matter how long it has been at the top of the New Zealand wine industry. All of which have convi...
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January 21, 2026 at 11:25 AM
With a major brand relaunch it's a vital year for @BABICHWINES in the global wine market which is why it's switching to #WineParis @vinexposium from @prowein for 1st time. David & André Babich on listening to market needs & why it's right time to change www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
Buyers going to @wine_australia & @nzwine tastings next week have a chance of winning a place on a wine buyers' trip to Australia. Top sommeliers @stuartskea & Martina Larnach reflect on the trip they went on in 2024 & share the experiences they had www.the-buyer.net/people/what-...
The Buyer | What it's like & how to enter Wine Australia's buyers' trip Down Under
Next week’s series of joint trade tastings for Australia and New Zealand wines offer more than the chance to explore hundreds of wines in one place, there will also be the chance to win a two-week tri...
www.the-buyer.net
January 20, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Buyers going to @wine_australia & @nzwine tastings next week have a chance of winning a place on a wine buyers' trip to Australia. Top sommeliers @stuartskea & Martina Larnach reflect on the trip they went on in 2024 & share the experiences they had www.the-buyer.net/people/what-...
Katy Keating MD of #FlintWines reflects on what it's been like for her being pregnant working in the wine indudstry. She also talks to other leading female business figures and asks them to share their experiences in the hope that it can help others in the trade www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
The Buyer | Katy Keating & her peers on being pregnant in the wine trade
“ As I prepared to give birth to our third child, friends and family were all asking the same question. What’s it like, working in the wine trade and being pregnant? Can you still taste wine? (Yes). D...
www.the-buyer.net
January 19, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Katy Keating MD of #FlintWines reflects on what it's been like for her being pregnant working in the wine indudstry. She also talks to other leading female business figures and asks them to share their experiences in the hope that it can help others in the trade www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
Corkable's Tom Planer says using fun & emotion has to be the way forward if the wine industry is to cut through to the mainstream consumer - as @tomgilbey has successfully done. If meerkats can do it for insurance why can’t we make it happen in wine? www.the-buyer.net/opinion/tom-...
The Buyer | Tom Planer on the art of selling more wine with fun and emotion
Arguably one of the biggest things to happen in the UK wine industry over the last 18 months has been the arrival of Tom Gilbey on Instagram who has transformed the world of “wine influencing” with ...
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January 16, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Corkable's Tom Planer says using fun & emotion has to be the way forward if the wine industry is to cut through to the mainstream consumer - as @tomgilbey has successfully done. If meerkats can do it for insurance why can’t we make it happen in wine? www.the-buyer.net/opinion/tom-...
Here Wine Australia & New Zealand Winegrowers explain why they are again joining forces to host joint tastings in London, Edinburgh & Dublin & why it gives their producers, & importers the best chance of showing their wines to as many quality buyers as possible. www.the-buyer.net/tasting/wine...
The Buyer | How Aussie & Kiwi joint tastings work best for importers & buyers
January is a key time of the year in the UK for Australian and New Zealand wines when traditionally both countries have hosted their separate major generic tastings. Last year Wine Australia and Ne...
www.the-buyer.net
January 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Here Wine Australia & New Zealand Winegrowers explain why they are again joining forces to host joint tastings in London, Edinburgh & Dublin & why it gives their producers, & importers the best chance of showing their wines to as many quality buyers as possible. www.the-buyer.net/tasting/wine...
Here I make the case on @thebuyer11.bsky.social for why launch of Elton John 0% sparkling wine on the back of @kylieminogue.music-social.com wine success spells more bad news for major drinks brands that have lost their ability to connect with consumers in the same way. the-buyer.net/insight/why-...
The Buyer | Why Kylie & Elton’s wines are on a level big brands can’t match
It might have been a while since Elton John was riding high in the charts, but it might only be a matter of time before his new Zero Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine released into the market this week ...
the-buyer.net
January 14, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Here I make the case on @thebuyer11.bsky.social for why launch of Elton John 0% sparkling wine on the back of @kylieminogue.music-social.com wine success spells more bad news for major drinks brands that have lost their ability to connect with consumers in the same way. the-buyer.net/insight/why-...
#AllianceWine has been able to buck an industry wide decline in fine wine sales with a 30% increase in sales in the past year. Sales director, Ned Llewellyn, explains how it has done it ahead of its 2024 en-primeur Burgundy & Rhône London tasting tomorrow www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
The Buyer | How Alliance Wine is bucking the market to drive fine wines sales
The past 12 months have been amongst the toughest trading environments for fine wine in decades. But despite the challenging headwinds, leading fine wine supplier Alliance Wine has managed to buck t...
www.the-buyer.net
January 13, 2026 at 10:10 AM
#AllianceWine has been able to buck an industry wide decline in fine wine sales with a 30% increase in sales in the past year. Sales director, Ned Llewellyn, explains how it has done it ahead of its 2024 en-primeur Burgundy & Rhône London tasting tomorrow www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
Here The Buyer goes behind the scenes at Wines of Hungary's autumn tastings where it brought 30 producers face to face with key on & off-trade buyers in London, Birmingham & Bristol - we talk to Bristol buyers about what potential Hungarian wines have www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
The Buyer | How Wines of Hungary’s UK tour connected buyers with producers
Getting producers and wine buyers together and giving them the chance to meet, talk and taste in an environment that is right for doing business sounds easy to do on paper, but very hard to achieve in...
www.the-buyer.net
January 12, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Here The Buyer goes behind the scenes at Wines of Hungary's autumn tastings where it brought 30 producers face to face with key on & off-trade buyers in London, Birmingham & Bristol - we talk to Bristol buyers about what potential Hungarian wines have www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
FellsWine is expanding its French wine portfolio on the back of #MaisonLouis Latour joining the importer's already strong portfolio. New Fells' France portfolio manager, Florence Fagan, explains why she believes France is the gift that keeps on giving www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
The Buyer | How Fells' wine portfolio is going through a French revolution
Fells is running into the new year with a new focus on its fast improving and widening French wine portfolio which now includes some of the country’s biggest names with Maison Louis Latour now joinin...
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January 8, 2026 at 11:15 AM
FellsWine is expanding its French wine portfolio on the back of #MaisonLouis Latour joining the importer's already strong portfolio. New Fells' France portfolio manager, Florence Fagan, explains why she believes France is the gift that keeps on giving www.the-buyer.net/insight/how-...
#CondorWines is marking its 15th anniversary by breaking new ground & adding two New Zealand producers to its award-winning range of South American wines under the new umbrella brand of Flight of The Condor. MD Lee Evans explains why its made the move now www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
The Buyer | Condor Wines marks its 15th year by expanding into New Zealand
Condor Wines is looking to celebrate its 15th anniversary by breaking new ground and adding a new range of fresh, exciting New Zealand wines - under the neatly-named umbrella brand Flight of the Cond...
www.the-buyer.net
January 8, 2026 at 10:33 AM
#CondorWines is marking its 15th anniversary by breaking new ground & adding two New Zealand producers to its award-winning range of South American wines under the new umbrella brand of Flight of The Condor. MD Lee Evans explains why its made the move now www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
Wine Paris @vinexposium has fast become the world's biggest wine & spirits show. Ceo Rodolphe Lameyse explains how it plans to build on its No 1 status with strategic changes to ensure it provides the platform for producers & buyers to do business www.the-buyer.net/insight/-how...
The Buyer | Analysis: How Wine Paris wants to build on its Number 1 world status
Since its inception back in 2020, Wine Paris has rapidly become the world’s leading wine and spirits trade event, with the 2026 edition set to welcome a record 60,000-plus visitors from over 155 dif...
www.the-buyer.net
January 7, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Wine Paris @vinexposium has fast become the world's biggest wine & spirits show. Ceo Rodolphe Lameyse explains how it plans to build on its No 1 status with strategic changes to ensure it provides the platform for producers & buyers to do business www.the-buyer.net/insight/-how...
A must read: 5000+ words but all worth it. Bruce Jack @brucejackwines shares highs & lows of 2025 and gives his unique perspective on how the global wine industry can maximise its opportunities as well as guard against the many head winds the sector faces. www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
The Buyer | Bruce Jack on wine’s challenges and untapped opportunities
If you want one individual with the vision, experience and expertise to sum up the macro issues facing the global wine industry, alongside the micro challenges of running their own family wine busines...
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January 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A must read: 5000+ words but all worth it. Bruce Jack @brucejackwines shares highs & lows of 2025 and gives his unique perspective on how the global wine industry can maximise its opportunities as well as guard against the many head winds the sector faces. www.the-buyer.net/people/produ...
“There's never been a greater opportunity for the industry to evolve.” Mitch Fowler of @FeroDrinks, the funding & supply chain platform, looks back on what its achieved in 2025 & how it plans to help drinks businesses maximise their potential in 2026 www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...
The Buyer | Fero's Mitch Fowler on financing highs in 2025 & an ambitious 2026
“There has also never been a greater opportunity for the [drinks] industry to evolve.” That’s how Mitch Fowler, co-founder of Fero , the breakthrough funding and supply chain platform, looks back on ...
www.the-buyer.net
January 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
“There's never been a greater opportunity for the industry to evolve.” Mitch Fowler of @FeroDrinks, the funding & supply chain platform, looks back on what its achieved in 2025 & how it plans to help drinks businesses maximise their potential in 2026 www.the-buyer.net/people/suppl...