It’s a part of the UK where steel and beer have traditionally held sway. But a collective of independent wine merchants is determined to change perceptions, as Claire Harries reports
The merchants behind the inaugural Sheffield Wine Week, which took place in June, are confident that it will become a regular annual event, positioning the city firmly on the wine map for both consumers and trade.
Virginia Myers and Sarah Hatton at Tenaya Wine came up with the idea for a formal wine week to promote and celebrate the vinous options, both retail and on-trade, already available in the area.
“I don’t imagine Sheffield is the only city that is very beer-focused,” says Hatton, “but there are a lot of things that happen around here that revolve around that, including the fact we have loads of microbreweries. So we wanted to highlight that there are places to go in the city and have really good wine. You don’t have to just make do with whatever wine the pubs have got. You can go and have something really beautiful and delicious in some quite unique spaces.”
Myers and Hatton teamed up with neighbouring bar The Old Shoe to create a series of events across Sheffield. Indie collaborators include Starmore Boss, Gills & Co, Mitchell’s and Bench.
“We’ve all got our own personalities,” says Hatton of her fellow independents, “and nobody felt like they were competing. We all offered support to each other where we could.”
About 25 events took place over the participating venues, from tutored wine tastings and supper clubs to DJ takeovers and the intriguingly titled Rugs, Rap & Rioja.
“Most of the events sold out,” reports Hatton. “I’d say probably the most popular were the wine and cheese tastings. We had so many of them across the city and they all sold out. People were also very interested in the education side of things but the wackier stuff went down very well too. The Old Shoe did a wine and crisp pairing and that was hugely popular.”
Visitors to Sheffield Wine Week were given an illustrated map depicting the participating venues. “We wanted to provide a permanent thing that people could take round with them and unfold, rather than doing something online,” explains Hatton. “Grace Jandrell, who works in our shop, is an illustrator so she did the map and logo. We’re very fortunate to have her.”
There’s a trade element to Sheffield Wine Week that Hatton is keen to develop in the coming years.
Suppliers in on the action this year were Wines Under the Bonnet, which held a trade-only tasting which was then opened up to the public in the afternoon. Ally Wines and Enotria&Coe were on board with tastings at Tenaya Wines and Hatton is confident that a suitable venue has been found to host enough suppliers to enable a larger dedicated trade event as part of Sheffield Wine Week, attracting merchants who will find it an easier travel prospect than the capital.
There’s every indication that Sheffield Wine Week 2025 will be even bigger and better. As Hatton says: “This year was kind of a trial run. We didn’t give ourselves very long to organise huge events but everyone in the city got on board with it quite quickly.
“The reach was broader than I thought it would be and I had people saying that they might come into town specifically for Wine Week, so it’s something we can talk to the local tourist board about.
“Next year I want plans for some bigger events to happen as a collaboration between all the spaces, as well as everyone doing their own thing. It would be nice to have a big finale where we’re all bringing something to the party.”
