After 30 years in the wine industry — from owning a vineyard in Italy to building Great Wines Direct into one of the UK's most trusted online specialists — I've learned that the best wines rarely come through traditional distribution channels. They come from direct relationships with the people who make them.
Why Source Wine Direct?
The traditional wine supply chain is long: producer → exporter → importer → distributor → retailer → consumer. Each link adds cost and, often, removes character. By the time a wine reaches the shelf, it may be two or three years old, marked up 200–300%, and stripped of the story that made it special.
Direct sourcing changes this equation fundamentally. When you buy from a producer — or from a specialist retailer like Great Wines Direct that maintains direct relationships — you get:
- Fresher wines — shorter supply chains mean wines arrive in better condition
- Better value — fewer middlemen means more of your money goes to the producer (and less to logistics)
- Unique selections — small-production wines that never make it to supermarket shelves
- Authentic stories — you know exactly who made your wine and how
- Traceability — full visibility from vineyard to glass
How I Approach Direct Sourcing at Komerz
As Chief Procurement Officer at Komerz, I use a data-driven approach to sourcing that combines traditional tasting and relationship-building with insights from millions of consumer data points.
If you're a producer, this is exactly where my services can help: from assessment and positioning to route-to-market and execution. See my services.
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