Vinotopia drinks to national success
Nailsworth-based independent wine and spirit specialists Vinotopia beat UK-wide competition to be named ‘Independent Wine Retailer of the Year’ in the Drinks Retailing Awards 2025.
The Drinks Retailing Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the UK drinks industry. Vinotopia were shortlisted as finalists against hundreds of hopeful businesses across the UK, with the award winners announced at a ceremony in London yesterday evening.
Recognised for the impressive growth achieved following the move to their new ‘Wine Barn’ home on the Nailsworth Garden Centre estate just over 16 months’ ago, judges highlighted the unique barn feel to the store as a stand-out feature alongside the breadth and quality of beverages on offer, making the wine merchants such an exceptional retail destination.
Vinotopia’s focus on an enriching experience for customers and the local community was also mentioned as a reason why the merchants had beaten some impressive UK-wide competition to be named finalists, thanks to the wine merchant’s buoyant and exciting programme of events, workshops and dinners that run regularly at the Barn. Recent highlights include a sold-out Burns Night supper, paint-and-wine workshops, a Champagne masterclass and monthly ‘sip & stitch’ night for local craft-lovers.
Andy Cole, Managing Director of Vinotopia, said: “This truly is testament to the incredible hard work of our close-knit team here at the Barn, as well as the wonderful support we’ve had from our local Cotswold community. When we moved from our shipping container unit to the much larger Barn premises 16 months’ ago, we were taking a risk; yet remained confident in the fact that not only were we offering something unique for local customers to enjoy, but that the larger premises would allow us to grow the online and corporate side to the business."
