Draft:Noble Grape

Submission declined on 11 June 2025 by Theroadislong (talk).

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Declined by Theroadislong 10 days ago. Last edited by Citation bot 10 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Submission declined on 11 June 2025 by Destinyokhiria (talk).

This draft's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article. In summary, the draft needs multiple published sources that are:

in-depth (not just passing mentions about the subject)
reliable
secondary
independent of the subject

Make sure you add references that meet these criteria before resubmitting. Learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue. If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.

Declined by Destinyokhiria 10 days ago.

Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Starling Inspectr (talk) 14:50, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

Noble Grape is a British wine retailer, e-commerce platform, and content publisher founded in October 2017 by Richard Ballantyne, a Master of Wine. Headquartered in Cowbridge, Wales, the company specialises in fine wines, educational writing, tastings, and events, both in-store and online.

History

Noble Grape was launched by Richard Ballantyne MW, one of only around 354 Masters of Wine globally, having qualified in 2016 with a dissertation on Italian Barolo's Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive.^[1]. Ballantyne worked in the wine trade for three decades and founded Noble Grape to “bring only the best, and best value wines” to customers^[2]. Operating from its Cowbridge shop, the company also offers online retail, tasting events, and an educational blog.

Recognition

Noble Grape has received significant industry recognition:

**Best Newcomer**, Decanter Retailer Awards 2019

**Best Regional Retailer – Wales**, Decanter Retailer Awards 2022 & 2023

**Runner-up**, Best Italian Specialist, Decanter Retailer Awards 2020^[3].

Ballantyne and his business have been profiled by national media:

He’s described as Wales’s only Master of Wine, discussing the rigorous certification process^[1].

He has spoken about Welsh wine’s emergence compared to English counterparts^[4].

Media Coverage

Noble Grape and Richard Ballantyne feature in broader wine discourse:

**The Guardian** highlighted Noble Grape in articles about Welsh wines, situating the shop within regional retail trends^[5]

Services

Noble Grape provides:

Curated online and in-store wine retail with a focus on Italian and volcanic-region selections.

Regular educational content—articles, producer interviews, regional guides—with notable wine-writing credentials (Substack, JancisRobinson collaborations ).

Tasting events, such as grower showcases and masterclasses, held both online and in Cowbridge.

A tiered subscription service for wine discovery, offering themed shipments with tasting notes.

Founder

- Richard Ballantyne MW** (b. ca. 1972) is a UK-born Master of Wine who authored his Research Paper on Barolo’s single‑vineyard system. With a 30‑year career in wine, his passion lies in Italian and volcanic wines.^[2]^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hayward, Will (2016). "This Welshman is now among just 354 people in the world with the title Master of Wine". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
^ ^a ^b Ballantyne, Richard. "About Us – Noble Grape". Noble Grape. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
^ Richard, Peter (2022-09-28). "Decanter Retailer Awards 2022: The Winners". Decanter. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
^ Atkins, Susy (2021-06-20). "Yes, Wales makes wine – and they're some of the best bottles in the country". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
^ Wood, Zoe (2021-07-07). "Welsh red: ex‑postal worker and retired nurse grab gold with a pinot noir". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

External links

Official website

Coverage of awards at Decanter

Guardian article on Welsh wine trends

[WalesOnline-1] Hayward, Will (2016). "This Welshman is now among just 354 people in the world with the title Master of Wine". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

[AboutUs-2] Ballantyne, Richard. "About Us – Noble Grape". Noble Grape. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

[DecanterAwards20222-3] Richard, Peter (2022-09-28). "Decanter Retailer Awards 2022: The Winners". Decanter. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

[TelegraphWales-4] Atkins, Susy (2021-06-20). "Yes, Wales makes wine – and they're some of the best bottles in the country". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

[GuardianWales-5] Wood, Zoe (2021-07-07). "Welsh red: ex‑postal worker and retired nurse grab gold with a pinot noir". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-06-11.

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