The History of direct wine shipments

“DWS’s story is one of gritty survival and gradual transformation from Fifties corner shop to thoroughly modern wine merchant.” Anthony Rose – The Independent

Direct Wine Shipments’ started life as Duncairn Wines Stores.

Edward McAlindon opened an off licence in 1954 after spending most of his working life in the bar business. It was a very proud day for ‘Ned’ as he had achieved his ambition to run his own small business and provide greater security for his large family.

Kevin joined the business after the sad illness and premature death of his father a couple of years later.

Kevin’s horizons were broadened to encompass a new ‘world of wine’ by his travelling brother, Denis, who worked in the Diplomatic Corps and ‘volunteered’ for the unofficial role of the first roving wine taster for DWS.

When ‘The Troubles’ erupted in 1969 DWS was in the ‘wrong end of town’. It was situated at an interface between two waging communities. The ongoing soul destroying violence of the early 1970s was mitigated by Kevin’s fast developing passion and enthusiasm for wine.

In the 1970s visits to well known producers such as Chapoutier, Hugel, Marques de Caceres, Torres and Bollinger etc changed his life and helped pave the way for the development of a growing Northern Ireland retail and wholesale wine business.

Other visits to Laroche, Dr Burklin Wolf, Domaine Faiveley, Domaine Leflaive, Lustau, Warres, Vega Sicilia, Pesquera etc led to even more exciting growers’ wines being distributed throughout many On and Off Trade outlets in Northern Ireland.

The yearning to learn more about viticulture and vinification propelled Kevin to start studying again. He was in the first wave of N.I. graduates to gain the two-year Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma.

The Diploma acted as a stimulus for DWS to concentrate further and develop wine appreciation classes and tutored tastings with top winemakers.

During the mid 1980s and early 1990s Kevin’s two sons, Peter and Neal joined DWS. They both attained their Diplomas and helped make further efforts to keep the DWS portfolio evolving. Growers such as Caymus, Pascal Jolivet, Domaine Comtes Georges de Vogue, Jim Barry, Castellare di Castellina, Inama became firm favourites in Belfast.

A more rigorous series of tastings in the 1990s witnessed many memorable wine nights with such luminaries as : Jancis Robinson MW, Miguel Torres, Tim Atkin MW, Michel Laroche, Francois Faiveley, Robert Joseph, Michel Chapoutier, Donald Ziraldo, Clive Coates MW, Anthony Rose, Charles Metcalfe….

It’s amazing the way they’ve built up the company and the list from what was basically a corner grocer’s shop. Now it can compete with any wine merchant in the United Kingdom.” Oz Clarke’s Wine Buying Guide

DWS continues to offer a very stimulating set of wines, services, advice and educational courses. In many ways it has become an institution and if travelling to Belfast it is highly recommended to visit the ‘aladdin’s cave of wine’ at Corporation Square.

Anthony Rose eloquently summed up the ‘feel’ of the shop in The Independent. “Inside, atmosphere oozes from the pores of the whitewashed walls and ancient floor planks. There’s a deceptively old-fashioned air about the extensive ground-floor premises. A breezy, pile-it-high informality blends with the cosy feel of a traditional wine cellar.” Regional and National Awards have flowed over the years and recognition has been received by many including; Which?, The Times, The Observer etc

One of the biggest attributes was Kevin’s acceptance into the prestigious ‘Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino’ in 1996. This was a proud moment as the Spanish government acknowledged Kevin’s efforts to promote Spanish wine and culture over nearly 40 years.

Direct Wine Shipments is constantly striving to unearth dynamic new growers from around the wine world. During Spring & Summer 2004, the team at DWS researched and sampled over 350 new wines from France, Italy and Spain. From this, well over one hundred exciting new wines have arrived in Belfast!

Direct Wine Shipments is constantly striving to unearth new growers from around the wine world. During the past 18 months we have carried out the most radical overhaul of our portfolio for at least a decade. Hours of research and tasting has resulted in our most comprehensive and exciting list to date!

Over 220 new wines from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, California, Oregon, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand from producers such as: Ornellaia, Cline Cellars, Torbreck, Domaine de Cristia, Pintia, Chateau de Valcombe, Cusumano, Terradora, Mascarello, Bimbadgen, Prieure de St-Jean de Bebian, Sine Wine Company, Tikalo, Joan d-Anguera and many others now 'rub shoulders' with some great names such as Hugel, Pascal Jolivet, Vega Sicilia, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue, Abadia Retuerta, Laroche, Katnook, Ormanni, Inama, Hunters, Torres, Vilmart, Jaquesson, Lustau, Fonseca. Finally we are delighted to announce the arrival of our first wine 'Capenela' 2004 from Montsant in N-E Spain. Bottled in October 2004, we have waited till now to release it. Only 300 dozen have been produced and half the production has already been sold in Spain!

Made from old Garnacha (Grenache), Syrah and a little Merlot, it was aged in American and French oak for 10 months.It displays aromas and flavours of violets, black cherry, vanilla, blackberry, sweet toffee/caramel and plum. Medium to full bodied, it is elegant and has good length. It is drinking well now and over the next few years. Hope you like our first effort!! Our second wine 'Creu Celta' 2003 from Priorat (also from N-E Spain) has just arrived - release date to be confirmed!

[back to top]