In a glitzy ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel in London, the Drinks Retailing Awards 2025 gave the accolade of Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year to the Nailsworth-based Vinotopia Wines.
The awards celebrate outstanding achievements within the thriving drinks sector in the UK — and Vinotopia beat out competitors from London, Manchester, Oxford and more.
Judges commended Vinotopia's commitment to offering 'enriching experiences for both customers and the local community' referencing the catalogue of events it holds at its Wine Barn, which includes games nights, paint-and-sips, tastings and seasonal events.
The merchants moved into its Wine Barn on the Nailsworth Garden Centre estate in 2023, which resulted in a surge in growth for both sales and customers, and now offers a lounge area for people to visit and sample wines, in order to make a more considered approach to purchasing a bottle to take home.
Taking to Instagram to announce their win, managing director Andy Cole said: 'We’re blown away to have clinched the top spot in this category, particularly when you look at the calibre of other independents that we’re lucky enough to have here in the UK. This truly is testament to the incredible hard work of our close-knit team here at the Barn, as well as the wonderful support we’ve had from our local Cotswold community.
'When we moved from our shipping container unit to the much larger Barn premises 16 months ago, we were taking a risk; yet remained confident in the fact that not only were we offering something unique for local customers to enjoy, but that the larger premises would allow us to grow the online and corporate side to the business.
'We’re extremely proud to say that we’ve done just that, with even more exciting plans up our sleeves for the future. Watch this space.'
