Yapp Brothers celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It's hard to believe that half a century has passed since Robin Yapp (then a full-time dentist, now turning 80) ventured forth to befriend artisanal winemakers from the little-known Rhône & Loire valleys and began shipping their wines.
Jean Vatan and Robin Yapp
Much has changed since we produced our first list back in 1969, but our commitment to discovering best-in-class producers often from un-championed regions and importing directly from the estate to the consumer hasn't waned. In the past decade alone we have added agencies from Corbières, Malepère, Minervois, Fitou, Saint-Chinian, Maconnais, Beaujolais, Alsace, Jura, Hérault, Rioja, Bierzo, Rheinhessen, Mosel, Baden, Pfalz and Western Australia.
In short, we've never worked with more winemakers, stocked or sold more wine, employed more staff, supplied more consumers and restaurants or had more fun doing so!
Our 2019 wine list will be published in March and coincide with the launch of a fresh website. Other events will follow.
Happy New Year!
Tom & Jason.
Current affairs:
Nixon became US President, Harold Wilson was at No.10, Charles de Gaulle was replaced by Georges Pompidou, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
Films & TV:
Midnight Cowboy, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Easy Rider, Monty Python's Flying Circus first episode, Ken Loach's Kes, 007: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Where Eagles Dare.
Music & Literature:
'Mrs Robinson' Simon & Garfunkel, Beatles release Abbey Road album, The Godfather, The French Lieutenant's Woman, Flashman, Woodstock festival.
Science:
First in vitro fertilization of a human egg (Cambridge UK), maiden flight of Concorde, first ATM installed in US, the microprocessor invented.
Toys:
The Space Hopper, Raleigh Chopper.
Sport:
Don Revie's Leeds United win Football League, Tony Jacklin wins Golf's Open.
