About South Downs Cellars

South Downs Cellars opened its doors in 2003, on the premise to buy quality wines at a variety of price points, that were not mass-produced or widely available on the High Street. Run only by enthused and knowledgeable staff. We have built a fabulous business, which comprises of two shops and a thriving wholesale business. However, despite our rapid growth we have stuck to our original principles of only selling high-quality wines from the smaller, family-owned vineyards around the world along with a broad range of craft beers and spirits, and are now dealing directly with multiple small and privately owned vineyards and breweries around Europe.

Meet the team, and see their answers to the following questions:

Favourite wine?
Favourite food?
Holiday of choice?
Treasured passtime?
Pet hate?

	Lucy – Title: Owner/Founder/Buyer Wine: White Burgundy, and if forced to select one, then Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots, S Magnien – what’s not to love about a fresh yet rounded, rich white wine – full-bodied enough to go with a wide variety of food, yet elegant enough to enjoy on its own Food: Raspberries or anything Italian Holiday: Italy – mountains, beaches, culture, amazing food & wine, beautiful architecture, lovely people……. Passtime: spending time with my horse Tilly – escaping in to the Sussex countryside for hours on end Pet hate: BANANAS…..food of the devil!
	Giles - Title: Wholesale Director Wine: Finca Villacreces Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo at its best Food: Canard avec gratin dauphinoise Holiday: The Douro Valley followed by a few nights in Porto Passtime: Roland Garros, anything tennis related Pet hate: Politicians
	Matt – Title: Retail Sales Manager Wine: Anything from Rioja or Ribera del Duero for the red, and Californian Chardonnays for the white Food: Being a Midland-er, I should say orange chips! Alternatively, Paella - a big plate of saffron-based goodness! Holiday: Italy is a great destination for both good food and breathtaking wine, so it has to be the Amalfi Coast for me Passtime: I'm an avid football fan, so try and get to see my beloved West Bromich Albion as much as possible. Otherwise I have a young family to keep me on my toes! Pet hate: Unwarranted arrogance from people who haven't done anything to deserve it.
	Andrew – Title: Wholesale and Retail Executive Wine: Anything from the Aussie producer, First Drop. Love their big, full bodied, unabashedly drinkable wines Food: Can't beat a melt-in-the-mouth steak or a perfect pork belly Holiday: I've been to Lake Garda a few times, a lip-smackingly beautiful place Passtime: Making massive, pretty, geometric shapes out of dirt, then jumping a bicycle over said shapes Pet hate: The fetishisation of wealth at the expense of everything else
	Richard – Title: Warehouse Manager Wine: Baron de Badassiere Picpoul de Pinet, just a really limey, citrusy flavour that tastes really smooth. Ticks all the boxes for me Food: Pan-fried Chorizo & Chicken with anything. Veg, Salad, chips etc Holiday: South Carolina. Fishing and golf Passtime: Golf and photography Pet hate: Arrogance, lateness.
	Steve – Title: Logistics / Delivery Driver Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon and Guiness. I don't really like drinking alcohol but I enjoy an occasional glass with a meal. Food: Greek food and BBQs Holiday: Antigua Passtime: Motorcycling Pet hate: Spiders.
	Matthew – Title: Wholesale & Retail Executive Wine: Anything with Grenache in it (red, white or rose) Food: Anything with seafood in it Holiday: Portugal (and Lisbon is my favourite city) Passtime: Breadmaking and playing board games (proper ones - if you ask to play Monopoly, we can't be friends) Pet hate: Show-offs and being too hot.
	Euan – Title: Retail Assistant Manager / Social Media Executive Wine: You can’t go wrong with a good Provence, however, the Chardonnay I recently had at our Delaire Graff wine tasting may be my new favourite Food: It has to be Pasta with pretty much anything, but I do think I have perfected the art of Pasta & Tuna over the years if I do say so myself Holiday: Salcombe, Devon. Used to go there as a kid and went back there last year for the first time in about 15 years, which brought back lots of wonderful memories Passtime: Rugby, I've played since 7 years old for Haywards Heath RFC and I can’t imagine my life without it. Partial to a bit of ‘pub’ cricket in the summer for my local The Royal Oak, Wineham too Pet hate: Vegetables!!
	Ed – Title: Assistant Retail Manager Wine: I LOVE Riesling in all its beautifully crafted forms. It is a grape that is capable of such a wide range of expressions, from the light, refreshing Mosel Kabinett to full-bodied, dry Alsatian offerings. It can craft stunning sweet wines capable of ageing for decades or easy breezy bubbles meant for quaffing Food: My favourite food to make at home is noodle soup but you can't beat my Mum's roast beef with all the trimmings Holiday: Dorset. We used to holiday there every year as kids so visits are filled with joyful nostalgia, and if I am lucky a little sailing too Passtime: Running Table Top Role Playing Games for friends. Think Dungeons & Dragons only not that game. I enjoy playing a wide range of games. Variety is the spice of life after all Pet hate: Kidney Stones. I didn't want them, you don't want them, nobody wants them. Trust me on this one.