Latimer Vintners was founded in 2013 to offer Private and trade clients access to the finest wines at the most competitive prices. Based in London we specialize in the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône valley and Champagne as well as offering a range of the most sought after wines from the rest of the world.
Latimer has developed direct relationships with producers throughout France, meaning we can offer wines en primeur from Burgundy, the Rhône valley and Bordeaux. Alongside this, we have a very active trading department which buys private cellars and collections from throughout Europe.
We offer honest and impartial advice to all our clients whether they are looking for an everyday drinking wine, to start a collection for the future or to develop a wine investment portfolio.
Michael Stobbs – Managing Director
Having been brought up in Newcastle, in a house where Liebfraumilch and Asti Spumante were more common than Burgundy and claret, it may not have been obvious that a career in the wine trade was going to be my calling. However, food was always central to our family and that led to a joy of eating out and trying new tastes and flavours. At University I worked part time at Oddbins and for some reason they allowed me to run the Saturday afternoon tastings. Trying new wines and talking to customers, some far more knowledgeable than I, sparked an interest in the trade which has not changed to this day.
After two years at Majestic I then spent five years with John Armit Wines where the foundation of my knowledge of both wine and the trade was built. I set up my own business in 2003 with little experience of running a company but with the backing and support of some kind hearted, understanding and experienced clients, who taught me a great deal. I am lucky that those initial backers are still friends, clients and shareholders to this day. For me, Latimer Vintners is the embodiment of my 20+ years in the trade; great wine and great producers are the focus and I see our role as introducing as many of these fabulous wines as we can, to our growing family of customers.
Beyond work, time spent with family and children takes up much of my life but I still manage to run, play and watch the occasional game of cricket, and cook and entertain whenever possible.
James Pymont – Buying & Trading Director
Having studied for a career in commercial real estate and then toyed with the idea of commodity trading, it was a temporary job, working for a Royal Warrant holding merchant’s Notting Hill wine shop, that changed everything. That ‘temporary job’ turned into three years sponging as much information as possible, culminating in quite literally running the shop. Fine wine trading/buying followed with Bibendum, followed by six years (and yet more warrants) with Justerini and Brooks, before seeking a new challenge and joining Mike and our fellow shareholders at the latter end of 2013 to help set up Latimer. My role now requires me to wear many hats but running the purchasing and trading for the business is my primary focus, be that direct from Domaine or from our network of private and professional clients.
What first struck me early in my career was that wine is more than what is in the bottle, it’s the people behind it, their passion, stories and differing philosophy(s) that makes it so compelling. This is what still drives me today and what Latimer is built on: introducing great wines from passionate people to a growing group of likeminded individuals, all with a high level of personal service.
Outside of work, time with family takes precedent but, when I find time, I enjoy cycling and running, plus of course opening delicious wines with equally great food and people.
Simon Herriot – Head of Private Client Sales
Most careers in the wine trade are stumbled upon rather than planned; I am no exception. During some time out of university, my 18-year-old self fortuitously found employment in the Michelin stared restaurant of, what was at the time, one of the best Country House hotels in the Lake District. Perfect service, exquisite food, stunning surroundings and, of course, life changing wines (for me at least) got me hooked on the food and beverage industry, however, it was wine that really inspired me.
After reluctantly going back to study and upon graduating, I was encouraged to pursue my burgeoning passion for wine by my mother. Majestic was the springboard, then followed a short stint selling wine to the on-trade before I took a temporary position in Sotheby’s Wine Department. Luckily for me, that short term contract resulted in a 7-year career in the wine auction world which took me deep into the great wine cellars of Europe and then the USA (valuing, inspecting and authenticating wine), where I worked on some of the largest wine auctions held at the time. After leaving Sotheby’s New York in 2017, I worked as a Fine Wine Account Manager at BB&R for 4 years, before being lured to Latimer Vintners and their exciting portfolio of wines in the summer of 2021.
Outside of work, you will generally find me walking the South Downs with my young and growing family; occasionally running, swimming and playing the odd round of golf, but mostly watching cricket and thinking about what bottle of wine I will drink with the food I (or my wife) will be cooking that evening.
Jonny Cuthbert – Private Client Sales
I joined Latimer Vintners in March 2021. Like so many in the wine trade, I started out on the shop floors of Majestic Wine, working in their Battersea, Fulham and Mayfair branches. This was followed by a stint at Charles Taylor Wines / Montrachet Fine Wine Merchants, a French wine importer specialising in Burgundy. As a result, I have a soft spot for Burgundy, both white and red, as well as Bordeaux, Italy and increasingly the Northern Rhône.
Outside of wine, distance running has long been a pursuit of mine. I have competed in dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons, a highlight of which was participating in the 2018 Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert where I achieved a top 50 elite category finish. I am also increasingly becoming a keener cyclist and golfer, and in less active moments try to eat out as much as possible, while also desperately trying to improve my French. Having been born and spent part of my childhood in Hong Kong, I am also a keen traveller, and enjoy returning to the Far East as well as visiting other places around the world.
George Miller – Private Client Sales
Like many, my career in wine started unpacking pallets of wine and loading up the cars of Majestic customers. This experience really gave me an insight into the wonderful world of wine and the opportunities it offered. Latterly, I was fortunate enough to oversee and host the tasting events for the Battersea store. These events further sparked my enthusiasm for both wine and developing customer relationships as clients (hopefully) enjoyed learning about new regions and wines under my tutelage. I joined Latimer in April 2021 and have loved the extensive portfolio we have on offer. I am part of the Private Client Sales team and have been given the role of growing our Cellar Club.
Following on from a recent trip to Burgundy to meet some of our brilliant producers, I have a particular soft spot for this iconic region. I am also thrilled to see an increased focus on wines emerging from the region of Piedmont. I love finding new and exciting producers from across the world and it is one thing that is particularly rewarding about the job as you see clients discover new producers that we love.
Away from wine, I enjoy all sports. I have a slightly disastrous career as a village cricketer, whilst often visiting Lords to watch those who are much more talented. I am also a keen cyclist and rugby fan.