Our Aim
Our aim is to introduce small vineyards making exceptionally high quality individual wines to our wine merchant contacts who will have the knowledge that the wines will have been made to a high specification and in accordance with best viticulture and vinification practices, often using organic or biodynamic guidelines.
Our History
The Club was formed in 2000 by Graham Chidgey and Robin Baum to provide assistance to Sesti, Castello di Argiano, based some 12 miles south of Montalcino and 30 miles south of Siena, a new winemaker making Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino in a traditional, organic way. In 2002 the Club began to work with Santa Giulia, a vineyard some 4 miles North East of Montalcino also producing a Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, but in a different style.
Subsequently we have expanded into the adjoining area of Chianti and established close ties with a number of young new winemakers. Most recently we have begun to work with winemakers located in Friuli and Veneto, North East Italy and over the border in Slovenia.
The Team
Graham was formerly Managing Director and proprietor of Laytons, well known independent wine merchants in London, before selling the business and moving to Italy in 1997. From his base south west of Siena he has developed connections with vineyards throughout Italy,
After working in the City for many years, Robin completed a number of recognised wine related courses including the Diploma run by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust to extend his knowledge of the wine industry, winemaking and viticulture. He regularly gives talks about the wines, art and culture of Tuscany to wine societies and retailers.
John, Robin’s youngest son, started his wine career after leaving University with Oddbins. Wanting to try his hand at every aspect of the trade has seen him work as a Sommelier, at the OXO tower and Roux at Parliament square and with various wine merchants, while on his holidays working in the Vineyards and wineries of Montalcino, Chianti Classico and the Barossa valley. .
