Alan Jenkins from Bolney Wine Estate

The wine trade is an industry I have thoroughly enjoyed for 50 years. Wine is a fascinating culture and there is much to learn, as the man who introduced me to the trade told me: ‘I have forgotten more about this trade than you could ever learn’. And I am still learning. I like to promote English Wines and talk to people about the production process, how the vines are cultivated and how to spot the best wines, along with enjoying the wines that we are tasting at the time. My own personal passion outside of English Wines is for Vintage Port and Sparkling Wine.

Alan Jenkins celebrated 50 years in the wine trade this month, having started work on 1 September 1962, aged 15. One of his first jobs was breaking used wine bottles into bins for recycling, before moving on to learn many other aspects of the wine trade including the retail side of wine and managing shops for some of the big retailers of the time. He opened his own specialist wine shop in 1991 which he ran successfully for 17 years. Today he works for the Bolney Wine Estate hosting talks, tastings and guided tours. He also runs his own independent business promoting English Wines and gives talks and wine tastings to groups and organisations locally. Alan mixes in his sparkling personality to make his talks very entertaining and is often asked by people if he is Rolf Harris’s brother!
thewinestore@hotmail.com
www.bolneywineestate.co.uk