THE LONDON Cru WINERY
London Cru opened in 2013 as London’s first urban winery.
Our winery is tucked away down a little alleyway in SW6 and is based in an old Victorian warehouse which was once a gin distillery. Whilst our surroundings are historic, innovation is at our core and we house precision temperature-controlled tanks and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities. We use concrete tanks, stainless tanks, French oak barrels and modern eggs.
In 2023 we purchased Foxhole Vineyard - a 6.5ha vineyard in West Sussex. Just 45 minutes to our winery this vineyard is perfect for us as it is planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Bacchus. This well-established site was planted in 2008/2009 and gives us full control of our goal of making the best still and sparkling wines in the UK.
Cliff Roberson is our founder brings with him a 60-year history of selling wine in London. There is little in the wine industry Cliff hasn’t done and in addition to London Cru Cliff still owns and manages Roberson Wine who imports and sells wines from all over the world.
Since our launch, many of our London Cru wines have won prestigious WineGB and IWC awards and are listed in numerous Michelin-star restaurants in London and beyond.
Check out our harvest video below for an introduction to our personality and vision!
Meet The Team
Cliff the Boss
Cliff is the founder of London Cru and has worked in the Wine trade for almost 60 years. There is very little in the wine industry that Cliff hasn't done. In 1972 he started Buckingham Vintners, importing bulk wine to sell to UK supermarkets and in 2012 he developed London Cru. In 2017 he bought 40 acres of the Kentish Weald in memory of his son Luke. So far he’s planted over 4,000 trees. In 2023 he acquired Foxhole Vineyard in line with London Cru’s growth plans.
Alex the Winemaker
Alex started out as an Exploration Geologist. Originally from Australia, he took the plunge into the wine industry, studying further at University – in Montpellier, France & Turin, Italy to complete his Masters of Enology and Viticulture. His passion for English wine began at Gusbourne in Kent, which he’s carried with him since his move to London Cru.
Ned the Assistant Winemaker
Meet Ned, the beloved fury friend and constant companion of Alex, our Winemaker. Always eager to greet visitors and join Alex in the vineyards, Ned’s boundless energy and enthusiasm remind us everyday of the joy and passion that go into every bottle we produce.
Beth the Events and Education Manager
Beth heads up the events side of things at London Cru, and comes with a wealth of knowledge from throughout her career. After gaining experience with some of London’s most celebrated bars, restaurants and chefs, Beth moved her attention to demystifying wine tasting, and has appeared on Amazon Prime’s ‘The Three Drinkers in Ireland’ as well as her Edinburgh Fringe Festival sell-out show ‘Drag Queen Wine Tasting’.
Ryan the Operations Manager
Ryan’s keen eye helps to oversee the day-to-day activities that keep our winery running smoothly. Born is Zimbabwe, and raised in Malawi, Ryan’s first interest in the wine industry was sparked during his studies in Cape Town, South Africa. After completing his WSET Level 2 in Stellenbosch, he worked two vintage harvests in Berkshire before joining us in London.