About us
Founded in Warrington by Richard Hales and Roger Barlow in July 1984, for forty years we’ve been supplying the North West with food-friendly artisan wines sourced from some of the world’s leading growers. Gerrard Seel has an unmatched reputation for providing a reliable, personal service and a cracking selection of wines, thanks to our founders’ energy and enthusiasm.
In 2022 we joined forces with award-winning wine club Honest Grapes and the last 18 months have been an exciting time for us. Founders Tom Harrow & Nathan Hill have brought a wealth of new artisan growers to the already impressive Gerrard Seel portfolio, alongside upgrades and investment in the team, our storage, warehousing and enterprise systems.
We have a wonderful heritage in the North West and we’re looking forward to improving our service and selection even more.
Your Account Managers
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Jeremy Cowan
Email JeremyMy love of wine began in the late ‘90s at Oddbins, eventually becoming one of the youngest managers in the company. I then worked at some of the country’s top restaurants as a sommelier before packing my bags and travelling around the world, where I visited Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy, scenic landscapes of Australia & New Zealand, the heights of the
Andes in Chile and Argentina and even vineyards in Vietnam and
Bolivia!After managing my own stores and a further stint in independent retail, I dedicated 12 years to trade sales in the North West. I’ve always admired Gerrard Seel and when I heard of their merger with Honest Grapes, I knew it was a chance to join something special.
What are you enjoying at the moment?
The 2017 Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru, Les Lavieres from Tollot-Beaut (get it while you can!) or for something delicious and easy-going, Domaine Horgelus, Côte de Gascogne, Sauvignon Blanc/Gros Manseng.
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Michael Byrne
Email MichaelMy introduction to wine was working in a Manchester restaurant that happened to be supplied by Gerrard Seel. Recommending a wine to Gordon Ramsey and getting a good reaction made me think a career in wine might be for me. From there I spent a number of years at the country’s largest specialist wine retailer completing the WSET Level 3 and Diploma. Before joining Gerrard Seel I also worked with one of the biggest national on-trade wine suppliers.
I joined Gerrard Seel a year ago to work with some of those wines and producers that had first sparked my interest in wine and the great range of family owned and independent producers in our portfolio.
What are you enjoying at the moment?
The Château Canet Minervois Evangiles 2017, after a visit to the
winery early this year and imaging I’m in the South of France. For a mid-week wine I’d go for a crisp, fresh white wine and new addition to our range; the Omissa Vinho Verde from Portugal.
In the Office
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Paul Wigger
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Having spent 15 years calculating the profitability of beers and spirits, Paul is now learning about the finer things such as being the CFO of Honest Grapes. 6ft 8 but annoyingly bad at all sports, he's happiest watching them played properly, especially the pleasure and pain of being a Luton Town season ticket holder... when the two little ‘uns and even smaller dog allow.
What are you enjoying at the moment?
Christmas dinner with a nice smooth red.
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Jennifer Carroll
OFFICE MANAGER
With a degree in Psychology and a keen eye for organisation, Jenny keeps the Gerrard Seel engine running smoothly, whether coordinating logistics, supporting the team, or making sure everything’s in its right place. Outside of work, she loves getting lost in a good book, exploring new destinations, and perfecting her latest culinary creations.
What are you enjoying at the moment?
A bowl of prawn linguine paired with a crisp, zesty Pinot Grigio—simple, elegant, and always a winner.
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Dawn Barcock
SALES ADMINISTRATOR
With over 30 years in the hospitality industry, Dawn has done it all—front of house, event sales, and management—making her a natural at keeping our trade clients happy. She’s got a knack for organisation, a love for great food, and a deep appreciation for the perfect drink pairing. When she’s not keeping things running smoothly at Honest Grapes, you’ll find her out on a long hike, baking up a storm, or discovering new restaurants.What are you enjoying at the moment?
Traditional Spanish tapas with a glass of crisp Cava or a refreshing Sangria.
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James Matthias
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
After having gained a degree in Biology, James naturally took a job in the wine trade over a decade ago, spending the majority of which at one of the UK's largest merchants. In the intervening years he has held various sales and leadership roles, whilst also completing a WSET Diploma in 2016. He finds true pleasure in helping clients build their perfect cellar, unearthing new opportunities - and of course, enjoying the odd bottle of wine along the way.
What are you enjoying at the moment?
Whilst James' true passion will always be for Burgundy, is there a better match than a cote de boeuf and a mature Cote Rotie?!
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Stewart Pryce
BUYER
After two decades in the trade spent buying and selling for major UK retailers, Stewart’s enthusiasm for the world of fine wine’s eclectic niches as well as classic regions led him here. Stewart looks after our range, scouting out new discoveries, as well as keeping us stocked up with old favourites.What are you enjoying at the moment?
Barrel influence may not be as fashionable as it once was, but a rich, oaky Condrieu paired up with a creamy potato dauphinoise is a decadent flavour and texture match made in heaven.
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Mojahid Miah
ACCOUNT ASSISTANT
Having navigated the worlds of banking and recruitment as a finance graduate, Mo is passionate about all things related to numbers when not diving into the fascinating world of wine. While still on a journey of discovering the world of wine, Mo is embracing every opportunity to explore the wine selection—one sip at a time.What are you enjoying at the moment?
A classic chicken curry paired with a smooth elegant Pinot Noir—spice and wine in perfect harmony!
Personal Service
We pride ourselves on our reliable, personalised service tailored directly to you. Here is what you can look forward to when you work with Gerrard Seel:
- Our operations and logistics team includes Jenny & Dawn, who are always on hand to support you, whether that’s taking orders online, by phone or email, responding to urgent requirements or delivering a personal service.
- We're proud of our reliable, efficient warehouse and experienced team of drivers, with our own fleet of vans. We always go the extra mile to deliver our wines to you across the North, supported by trusted couriers where necessary.
- In 2023 we increased our warehouse capacity by a factor of three in order to provide a higher availability of wines and expand the core range with new growers.
- Following major investments since the merger of Gerrard Seel & Honest Grapes we’ve also transformed our enterprise platform, meaning you will enjoy a smooth, hassle-free service, from inventory to billing.
Our Awards
Decanter Retailer Awards 2020
• Outstanding Wine Retailer of the Year
• Best Subscription Wine Club
• Green Champion (runner-up)
• Best Large Online Retailer (shortlisted)
The Drinks Business Awards 2020
• Fine Wine Retailer of the Year
• Green Retailer of the Year
• Online Retailer of the Year (commended)
Contact form
We’re here to answer your questions and we're always glad to talk to you.
If a “Contact Us” form doesn’t pop your cork and you’d rather get in touch with us directly, we can be found at:
Honest Grapes t/a Gerrard Seel,
29 Melford Court,
Hardwick Grange,
Woolston,
Warrington,
WA1 4RZ