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Thoughts from the vaults: cellaring resolutions

One allure of fine wine is its lifeline. Many of the bottles in Octavian’s vaults have been with us for decades, acquiring depth, nuance and value. No wonder that these wines are opened to celebrate precious milestones. Such transcendent wine experiences are created through diligence and are threatened by…

Thoughts from the vaults: December 2023

Rare bottles hold stories as well as wine. The world at large has been fascinated by tales of long-lost wines and spirits recovered from shipwrecks or found in a forgotten corner of a cellar. One of the most famous (and cringe-inducing) is that of a 1787 Château Margaux alleged to…

DEFRA VI1 – Export markets may continue

As you will be aware that VI1 documents will be mandated to accompany wine imports from the EU from 31 December 2020 in case of No deal Brexit (or deal Brexit for that matter depending on what is agreed). Please find linked below, what we believe to be a very…

Secure, intuitive and user-friendly – welcome to Octavian’s new website

Launched earlier this month as part of a wider brand refresh, octavian.co.uk has been designed to deliver an engaging, more user-friendly and secure online experience. Take a browse through the pages and you will discover what makes ours the perfect storage environment; how our culture of care and insistence upon…

The Case for Wood

In keeping with its culture of impeccable care, Octavian has recently upgraded its wine packaging from cardboard boxes to branded wooden wine crates. It is a move designed to offer collectors peace of mind that their delicate collections are appropriately contained in sturdier, more durable and secure casing. “Over time,…

Taking Stock

Claire Turner, Stock Control Manager reveals why Octavian took the strategic decision to invest heavily in its stock control function and explains why rigorous processes, and the data gathered from them are key to continual improvement. Passionate about Process Overseeing stock integrity within a large, standardised warehouse environment is one…

Where Housing Wine is Different

“You just don’t know the sentimental value attached to each bottle; the history; the story behind each case. What may be stock in a typical warehouse is the customer’s prized possession at Octavian, with huge personal value, so we handle it as if it were our own.” The very nature…

The Best Food Pairings For Rosé Wine

Wine pairing can be tricky old affair, especially when it comes to rosé due to the fact that it is of course a hybrid of red and white grapes. You may be surprised to learn however, that this actually makes it quite easy to match with some fantastic dishes. We…

How to Order From a Restaurant Wine List Like a Pro

Being handed the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting prospect, even for the most seasoned of fine wine experts. Even if you think you have a pretty good grasp of the world’s more sophisticated wines, being expected to pick something absolutely top drawer and to everyone’s taste…

Celebrities Who Actually Make Good Wine

As any seasoned aficionado will tell you, fine wine is reassuringly expensive. From the grapes to the soil and of course the expertise required to make a truly great wine, you simply can’t acquire these things without large amounts of money and even then, this isn’t guaranteed to get you…

The Benefits Of Professional Wine Storage

Professional wine storage is obviously something we take very seriously at Octavian, but not everyone realises the vast potential of keeping your fine wines in optimum conditions. When asking those who are new to the world of fine wine, they often believe that is just a case of space and…