The Buyer | Fells

Fells is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading fine wine distributors and is proud to represent some of the world’s greatest family-owned fine wine producers. Together they constitute an unrivalled collection of family-owned businesses whose winemaking achievements are internationally recognised.

Fells was established in 1858 and began life as a traditional importer at its Tooley Street premises in the City of London. The company has undergone many changes over the years, with a long history that includes some significant milestones.

The most important of these was the company’s acquisition in 1977 by the Symington Family – the world’s leading premium Port producer. Following this acquisition, the company became the exclusive UK distributor for the whole of the Symington portfolio and sales have grown so substantially over the intervening years that Fells is now regarded as the UK’s category specialist for Port.

In the early 1990’S the company took the strategic decision to focus the development of its agency business in the Premium and Fine Wine sectors of the market – a move which was to have a profound influence on its future success.

In 1993 Torres, the leading Spanish wine producer, joined Fells, taking a minority shareholding in the company.

Since then Fells have been instrumental in building Torres into one of the UK’s most popular Spanish wine brands. The iconic Vina Sol, for example, is now the UK’s No.1 Spanish white wine and the UK has become the Torres’ No.1 export market as a result of Fells’ success.

2018 marked a significant landmark in the history of Fells when the Hill-Smith family, owners of the famous Yalumba and Oxford Landing Australian wineries joined Fells, giving the company greater scale and an unrivalled position in the premium sector of the UK wine market.

In addition to these producers, Fells also represents an unrivalled portfolio of fine wines from some of the world’s other leading family-owned owned producers, including such names as E Guigal, Ricasoli, Jackson Family Wines, Tyrrells, Vasse Felix, Te Mata and Vilafonté. Today Fells sets the benchmark in the field of Fine Wine by continuing to develop our producer’s wines in all sectors of the UK Trade and providing an unparalleled level of service for both our customers and the producers we represent.