Jonathan Ray Jonathan Ray

The finest, quirkiest wines France’s hidden quartiers have to offer

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issue 19 October 2024

It’s the end of an era at Yapp Bros, long-time partners in the Spectator Wine Club, and many a wine-lover’s favourite independent merchant. My old mucker, the vinous truffle-hound that is Jason Yapp, is stepping down in December after 32 years with the company, having served variously as sales director, wine director and MD.

Yapps ferret out the finest, quirkiest, most interesting wines France’s hidden quartiers have to offer

Yapps have recently left the famously welcoming Old Brewery in Mere, Wiltshire, for larger, less romantic premises in Sparkford, Somerset, and Jas felt it time to step back. His liver will be relieved. I know mine is. I’ve lived a thousand lives on trips with Jason and his stepbrother Tom Ashworth (who remains as CEO), and after three decades ferreting out the finest, quirkiest, most interesting wines France’s hidden quartiers have to offer, Jason has decided that such jaunts abroad are for younger folk.

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