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. New wines and growers are regularly being added to our portfolio, so a visit to our warehouse is a rewarding experience for any wine enthusiast. Alternatively email us and we will forward our full current listings.

One of the most interesting projects for the team at DWS has been the purchase in 2003 of 2 vineyards, one in Montsant and the other in Priorat in N.E. Spain. Our first wine Capenela 2003 from Montsant (a Garnacha based medium bodied red) was released in Spain and Northern Ireland in November 2005. It was well received and sold out rather quickly.

Our second wine Creu Celta 2003 from Priorat (a mainly Garnacha and Carinena full bodied red) was released in California and Northern Ireland in November 2006. Exceeding our expectations we were delighted with its reception and the great reviews received from Jo Wadsack, Oz Clarke and Decanter Magazine.  We have 3 new wines to be released late 2007 / early 2008. Capenela 2005 and Luna Roja 2004 from Montsant and Creu Celta 2005 from Priorat. We are very pleased with the quality of these new wines and feel that they may even be a 'step up' from our first releases!

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