CHAMPAGNE corks popped to celebrate the expansion of a flourishing independent wine merchant.
Morgan Edwards, run by friends Morgan Ward and Edward Speakman, opened in Knutsford Market Hall in 2018.
The pair have attracted an increasing number of loyal customers all over the world and now need more room to grow.
The thriving business has moved into the second oldest building in the town, a Grade II listed property dating back to the 16th century, on King Street.
Fellow traders joined guests, the mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Mike Houghton and mayoress wife Kate Houghton for a launch party.
A wine bar, tastefully furnished with antiques, has opened upstairs whilst a shop offers an extensive range of wines and spirits.
Morgan, 30, said: “It is exciting.
“We wanted an old building with plenty of character.
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“We heard about this one through a friend before it went on the market.
“We needed more space because we want to do events.
“We plan to run wine tastings so people can learn about different regions.”
Their first event on September 14, exploring wines from France, has already sold out.
The duo met at Manchester University and say they always preferred drinking a glass of wine to a pint of beer.
Morgan studied business management and followed a career in bar management and investment banking in London.
Edward, who completed a degree in ancient history and archeology, developed an extensive career in wine retail, trade and fine wine and spirits valuation.
They teamed up to launch their own business and now specialise in vintage port and rare whiskeys as well as stocking an extensive wine collection.
Edward, 30, said: “It is a passion for us. We have turned a hobby, something we enjoy into a job.
“We have sold Burgundy in Taiwan and Hong Kong and whiskey in America and Australia.
“We don’t employ anyone, we do it all in-house.”
Their skill and knowledge has already helped them make a name for themselves as expert valuers.
A bottle of port which sat in a cellar for 60 years sold for a record £5,000 at auction in May, last year, the highest price a vintage wine has ever reached in Cheshire.
Edward said: “It was our biggest find.
“A chap in Frodsham had a few boxes of wine in his grandad’s cellar and was on the verge of throwing this one out.
“It had no label and the vintage wasn’t clear but we looked through the glass at the cork and found it was branded a Taylor’s 1900 vintage port.”
The duo’s reputation has earned them many discerning customers.
“We get a lot of calls from people in London asking us for specific wines they can’t get but can,” said Edward.
“We have both tasted ludicrously expensive wines. The best we ever tried was £5,000 bottle of vintage port, Quinta do Noval Nacional 1970.
“The best way to describe how special it was is that Morgan told me he could still taste it an hour and a half after he went home.”
The pair travel all over the country and overseas sourcing wines and offering valuations.
Morgan said: “Every day is different.
“We do everything ourselves, we buy all the stock and select wines.
“We try everything before we put it on the shelf.”
A wine club offers members free home deliveries of red, white or mixed cases, with notes for each bottle.
Morgan Edwards is open until 7pm Monday to Thursday and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
For more details visit morganedwards.co.uk
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