Erik Laan, The Vineking, Managing Director
The Vineking started in July 2003. I have over fifteen years experience in the wine trade, working for some of London’s finest wine merchants including Laytons, La Reserve and Charles Taylor Wines/Montrachet which have provided me with a wonderful understanding and passion for great wines from across the world. At some point in everyone’s career the desire to “do it yourself” overcomes you and in 2003 I took the plunge, setting up The Vineking from the kitchen table in Earlsfield, SW18. My aim was to provide my existing private clients with wines at wholesale prices and the first couple of years were a great success since we were one of the first of many new independent merchants who set up in the early noughties.

The Reigate shop opened in 2005 and has since flourished. In 2007 we relaunched The Vineking website and opened a new retail branch in Weybridge. Much of our business comes from a new breed of wine drinker who is bored by the offerings of supermarkets/wine warehouses/big chains and want individuality, an interesting choice and something downright delicious! Through the shops we can of course sell individual bottles, and customers are given the opportunity to try a selection of wines, thanks to the innovative tasting machines in each shop – a free service! We are renowned for providing friendly, expert advice.

Alex Laan, Company Secretary
My wife has a daily input into the business as an unpaid consultant! She put in a great deal of hard work at the start of the business but her time is taken up by a job in the City. Nowadays you’ll meet her at our annual tastings but her biggest input is in the design, overall appearance and presentation of the business.

James Halliday, Director
James joined me when I set up the Reigate shop in November 2005 and has become my righthand man. James is in charge of logistics, stock control, wholesale accounts, and buying. He draws upon his 8 years wine trade experience – this included being Unwins’s youngest ever branch manager and has ably proved himself by providing a level of service that many of the biggest merchants would be proud of. The Dorking branch that James ran was also Surrey’s flagship store for Unwins. You’ll get top advice from this “experienced head on young shoulders”. Any questions about the website and where your order is should be addressed to him.

Matthew Bonner, Reigate Manager
Matthew joined The Vineking as branch manager in October 2007. A safe pair of hands for the Reigate shop, Matthew has a broad knowledge of wines from all over the globe. Matthew entered the wine trade through Oddbins and once completing his wine studies was fast-tracked to the flagship Oddbins store in Battersea as assistant manager. After a brief stint at Sainsbury’s head office as a wine buyer’s assistant, he looked to find a successful wine merchants closer to home that would appreciate his five years trade experience. His passions are wines from the Rhône Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Champagne. Matthew is a member of The Champagne Academy and is therefore an expert on this subject. Having also been a chef he is The Vineking’s food and wine matching guru.