Indie wine shop Wolseley Wine Loft, which lies between Rugeley and Stafford at Wolseley Bridge, has been named Off-Trade Winners of Wines from Rioja’s ‘Drink Rioja’ campaign.

The Loft, as it’s affectionately known to regulars, beat stiff competition from independent wine shops across the country in a competition run by Wines from Rioja – the UK marketing arm of The Rioja Regulatory Council or Consejo Regulador de Rioja DOCa.

Shops the length and breadth of the country were challenged to celebrate all things Rioja during the month of October. Wolseley Wine Loft impressed the judges through their sheer enthusiasm for all things Rioja and efforts to spread the word among their customers.

Events run as part of the campaign included a wine tasting and talk from Ruben Quintana of Bodegas Manzanos, with the audience treated to tapas dishes which paired beautifully with the wines. The loft’s Dave Eglington gave a Talk & Tasting session at the 2019 Stone Food & Drink Festival on the topic of ‘A flight through Rioja’; introducing the audience to the huge diversity of wine styles produced in the region – including white and rosé.

The shop’s diverse range of Rioja wines – including organic and vegan wines as well as lesser-known grape varieties like a 100% Graciano grape Rioja – also impressed, with special offers available on Rioja wines sold throughout October 2019.

In addition to being named the winner of the competition, The Loft was invited to attend a ‘Rioja Recognises’ awards evening at the superb Eneko Basque Restaurant in London’s Covent Garden, hosted by Master of Wine Tim Atkin, in recognition its work with Rioja in 2019.

Wolseley Wine Loft
Upper Floor, Willey Barn, Stafford, ST17 0XS
wolseleywineloft.co.uk