Specialist Importers' Trade Tasting, spring 2026

 SITT

 

SITT was founded in 2005 and we have been covering the London tastings for quite a while now without really paying tribute to this excellent institution. The participation of Specialist and Independent Importers makes for an inspiring demonstration of how the UK importers are still imaginative and eclectic in the wines they bring in from all over the world.

 

Of course, not having a native production on the scale of the big wine-growing countries we have always inclined towards the eclectic in our imports throughout history and it is encouraging to see that we have not lost that diversity even though there remain plenty of wine styles that have yet to be seen in this country. Those in short supply include Croatina/Bonarda, Grignolino, Rossese, Schiava/Trollinger, Elbling, Cornalin/Humagne Rouge, Portugieser, Trepat and others meriting greater distribution in our view.

 

On the day and at the time of our visit the exhibition hall was quieter than usual but the intrepid exhibitors were there anyway. One has to pay tribute to their hard work and the range of their initiatives.

Now to those 'new' kinds of wine: 

Our first Karasakiz! Wine from Turkey has been making inroads into tastings in this country to be sure and there are plenty of native grape varieties to make things interesting. It helps that Jancis Robinson is a fan, no doubt. Found mostly on Turkish islands in the Aegean, Karasakiz has been used for Brandy and Raki and there is even a sweet version.

 

Next novelty - our first sight of Prieto Picudo at any show we have ever been to. We first discovered and fell in love with Prieto Picudo thanks to a bottle from Malaga Duty Free of all places. Then there was the fantastic 'Catedral de Leon' Priet Picudo on the bottom shelf at El Corte Ingles in Marbella for E. 1.69. Probably the best value wine we ever bought.  

Since then we have been trying to get a Prieto Picudo that tasted...well, of Prieto Picudo but to no avail. It seems as in the case of Grignolino for example that producers are letting their wine get ever higher in alcohol that just results in a generalised red wine deprived of the typicity of the grape. Pleasant enough but lacking in the strong personality these grapes should be showing. At 14% this Prieto didn't have much of a chance but was a lt better than some. 

 

We hope Ultra Comida keeps the faith and finds a Prieto Picudo that shows this grape's lovely resinous and aromatic personality to the full. Wine grapes mentions the words 'perfumed,' 'fruits of the forst and black pepper.' We wish. Anyway, full marks for initiative.

There was a Chinese table but only with international varieties. We long for anther go at the promising Beichun grape. 

 

Next a real find: another wine from the Ukranian producer Shabo. 

 

Their Merlot is being imported by Novel Wines. We found Shabo's Telti-Kuruk a couple of years ago but we hadn't seen any others from this producer. Novel Wines are now importing quite a few from the Shabo range - a sparkling wine from Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay, straight Chardonnays, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Telti-Kuruk of course.

Novel Wines also import wines from Armenia, Austrian, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Lebanon, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey. Novel indeed.

 

Apart from well known names such as Chateau Minuty and Marques de Riscal, Richmond Wine Agencies have some interesting Portuguese wines.

 We spotted this Jaen from Caminho in the Dao. We had come across Jaen before but took the opportunity to try it again. We thought this one was rustic in a nice way. Later on checking Jaen in Wine Grapes, we discovered that Jaen is actually a synonym for Mencia. Now we know.

Next door was Orpheus Wine Sourcing. In conversation with the very personable Dave Murphy (left) told us the company had only been going for 18 months. We were impressed by their commitment and enthusiasm for Greek and Cypriot wine plus the professionalism and knowledge of their people including an MW, Demetri Walters and a business devellopement expert and an MD by the name of Antonis Sioulis.

 

 

Dave has a many and varied experience of working with Sainsbury's in their buying and category team, and with Pernod Ricard, Bacardi, Diageo among others. 

 

We were intrigued by a wine made from a grape called Amoriano. The back label admits to Amoriano being a synonym of Mandilaria. itself being another of Greece's secrets. Mandilaria is grown mostly on Rhodes and on other eastern Aegean islands. It was good to find among others including Vidiano, Kotsifali, Athiri with Assyrtiko (of course), Mandilaria with Fokiano, Vlahiko, Savatiano alone and  with Assyrtiko, Malagousia and Moschofilero. What riches!

 

 

And now for the SITT piece de resistance as far as we were concerned. Our old friend John Thorne at the venerable Portal Dingwall and Norris company told us they have now become the UK importers of Italo Cescon. Italo Cescon's wines from the Veneto are some of the best and their Raboso has been our favourite for many years.

At SITT, there was no Raboso alas. However there was seemingly everything else and really outstanding they were too; 

Cescon's Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir were very refined.

Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio back labels

                                                     Pinot Grigio and delicious Refosco

At SITT, there was no Raboso alas. However there was seemingly everything else and really outstanding they were too; 

Our first contact with John had been when he was importing the wines of Salena Estate (Australia). We had fallen in love with Salena's Bianco D'Alessano and John was kind enough to import a case especially for us. Since then he has always popped up at SITT and other wine fairs in his very hard-working life in wine. 

To our great surprise and delight we got a call from John soon after to say he had located Cescon's Raboso in their cellars. We felt as if we had won the pools and ordered 6. John had been rather hoping for an order of 6 cases he said with humour. We're sorry but our consumption has been going in the same direction as the rest of the world: down, so 6 bottles will have to do for the moment. You should order Italo Cescon wines from John though. It will be a treat for you.