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Here's a small selection of what journalists have to say about House of Townend:

 

"Despite the ongoing labour shortage, House of Townend has no problem retaining exceptional staff. Indeed, the average length of service is over 10 years, a testament to the positive working culture that this family-owned, independent business has created. France is the key strength, particularly Burgundy and Languedoc-Roussillon. Moreover, agency sales have doubled in the past 12 months, driven by active electronic digital marketing, focusing on new wines and offering free tasting samples."

 

 "Award winning House of Townend is a heritage family-owned cellar in the heart of Yorkshire which happily also ships nationwide from their online wine shop to now allow non-Northerns access to its listings. While the offering may be digital as well as physical, the personal values endure with friendly tailored service given top priority.

When it comes to the wines themselves the En Primeur service is exciting, allowing you to purchase coveted wines before their general release – a pre-sale of sorts which ensures you get your hands on some of the world’s finest vintages while they’re still in the barrel. This means no price surge and guaranteed access. The enduring strong ties with producers means fair pricing and a regular “offers” section which represents excellent value for money."
 

“A lovely dry white from winemaker Christine Cabri of Plaimont Producteurs, a cooperative in South-West France, this sauvignon blanc is crisp, zesty and fresh bursting with flavours of lime, cut grass and just a hint of gooseberries. An absolute steal at the price.”
 

"House of Townend was founded in 1906 in Yorkshire and has remains under ownership of the Townend family, who have benefitted from a century of relationship building with producers the world over. The company’s approach to buying remains with “smaller, quality led, and often family owned, wine estates and domaines who possess like-minded philosophies”.

“The restaurant and hotel business is a significant part of our business, so although we do specialise in certain regions, eg Burgundy, we have to be strong in all areas,” explains Hannah Boyes, head of marketing. “Our emphasis is on family owned producers who share the same philosophy as ourselves, preferring organic and biodynamic producers.”

Everyday drinking wines are of particular importance, adds Boyes, with the team not interested in ‘off the peg’ wine purchases, choosing instead to visit winemakers after harvest each year to put together our own specific blends and House of Townend wines. “We insist that all our wines are bottled at source, with an aversion to UK bottling,” says Boyes. “The love, care and attention that top producers devote to their vineyards in order to produce the best possible fruit, followed by meticulous winemaking in the cellar, should be concluded by overseeing the final important stage – the bottling process.”

In 2016, the retailer relaunched its online wine site with the intention of unifying its wholesale and retail businesses under one brand. The online site now includes some 1,500 lines in total, including beers, spirits and soft drinks, with no minimum order."
 

"Richard Siddle helps chair a debate with John Townend, managing director of House of Townend, the Yorkshire based wine merchants, and Manoël Bouchet, director general of Maison Roche de Bellene the négociant business in the heart of Beaune, and vice president of marketing and development commission for the BIVB."

 

"John Charles Townend, managing director of House of Townend and Decanter’s Best Specialist Retailer for Bourgogne at the 2020 awards said: ‘Chablis remains the forgotten corner of Bourgogne where the wines can rival the world’s greatest whites year in year out but where prices are far friendlier’. He recommends ‘spending a little time in selecting your choice of producer’, and suggests trying ‘to buy those that are at least two years old, when the character of Chablis starts to develop in the wine’."

 

"www.houseoftownend.com, 01482 638888: The cellar-door remains open but if you prefer to order online there is free delivery to all HU postcodes. House of Townend works with The Yorkshire Post to fulfil the Yorkshire Post Wine Club orders. Check the latest offer opposite."

 

"Also independent, House of Townend focus on finding new producers and making quality wines accessible to all. Check out their wine guides for some jargon-free sign-posting"

 

"Tempranillo is the rioja grape but this wine is made in the adjoining region of Navarra, just to the north-east. It's a bargain buy, bright but with a hint of spice and fresh leather, showcasing tempranillo's more garnet flavours."