About GNW

We are independent shippers and suppliers of quality wines with over 700 classic and new world wines available.

At GNW we are passionate about wine and bringing the joy of wine to our customers.  Wine is firstly a drink, but it is so, so much more than that.  It is about passion, about love, and about the soul.  We believe that great wines are the product of all these factors; not the product of formulaic mass-production methods, or the arbitrary use of oak, and especially not about clever branding or witty labels!  We believe that as well as offering something different, you will also find our prices quite competitive.  Our approach, our knowledge, and our relationship with you, we believe, will earn your custom again and again.

Do take the time to come and visit us, our shop says so much more about us than a website ever can.  We are confident that we can provide you with greater knowledge and information about our products than most high street retailers, and we genuinely enjoy talking to people about our wines.

Our History

GNW started life as The Great Northern Wine Company,  based in The Dark Arches in Leeds.  We moved to our current premises in Blossomgate, Ripon, in 1990.  GNW has been in its current ownership since 2003, with significant recent investment in developing the wine bar and first floor lounge, which we hope will encourage people to browse around and enjoy new wines.

The proprietors of GNW are Mark Ryan and David Cole.  Mark took over the business in 2003, and has since concentrated on turning GNW into a retail-focused business, with a clear focus on quality rather than quantity.  Mark’s love of wine stems from his time working for Porters, then one of the leading specialist food suppliers in the UK.   Having lived in Ripon for 35 years, Mark is beginning to feel like a Riponian!  David has been involved with GNW since 2007, and together with Mark has been involved in developing the wine bar and lounge, which we feel will enhance the wine experience of new and existing customers alike.

Both Mark & David are responsible for identifying and sourcing new wines for the enjoyment of our customers.  We have developed particular relationships with small producers in a number of countries, and are planning talks and tastings by some of these producers later in the year.