Recent Awards
Best Regional Multi-Store
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2022
Best National Wine Retailer
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2021
Best National Wine Shops
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2021
Best National Wine Shops
Decanter Retailer Awards
2018
Subscription Wine Club
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2018
Large Independent of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2017
Outstanding Retailer Of The Year
Decanter World Wine Awards
2016
Large Independent Wine Retailer of the Year
Decanter World Wine Awards
2016
Large Independent of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2015
Large Independent Wine Retailer of the Year
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2015
Regional Wine Merchant of the Year
Decanter Retailer Awards
(Runner Up) 2013
Top Merchant of the Year
Harpers Top Merchants Awards
(over 3 stores) 2012
Mary Portas Best Small Shops in Britain
'Best for wine' Telegraph Magazine
(Runner Up) 2012
Wine List of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2010
Austria Specialist of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2009
Germany Specialist of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2009
Large Independent Merchant of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2008
Direct Merchant of the Year
International Wine Challenge
2008
Press Reviews
Here's a small selection of what journalists have to say about Tanners
To read what they say about our wines, View our Press Reviews page.
‘Wyle Cop, a street lined with 16th- and 17th-century timber-framed buildings, is believed to be the longest run of independent shops in the UK (across Shrewsbury, indies outnumber chains by 50%). They include Wyle Blue World, a global homewares shop with a “secret” walled garden housing the BlueBar, and Tanners, a wine merchant that runs guided tours of its 14th-century building (next tour 12 October).’
Rachel Dixon, The Guardian, 28th August 2023
‘Shropshire-based Tanners Wines continues its impressive trajectory, having bolstered the team with younger talent and focused on sustainability.’
Decanter Retailer Awards Judges, September 2022
‘The long-established, Shrewsbury-based Tanners Wines is another excellent source of half bottles.
Susy Atkins, January 2022
‘However, I also want to celebrate, in the last of this run of columns, the unique and magnificent British wine trade, the importers, wholesalers and retailers who scour the wine world to bring its glories to our tables… to splendid regional merchants such as Tanners of Shrewsbury. Let’s enjoy and make use of it while it continues to thrive.’
Harry Eyres, October 2020
‘Tanners Wines who seem some of the keenest UK merchants on en primeur this year'
Jancis Robinson MW, May 2020
‘Another wine merchant I would trust with my life (almost) is Tanners of Shrewsbury.’
Harry Eyres, December 2019
‘…intriguing and satisfying wines and proper, old-fashioned service.’
Harry Eyres, October 2019
"Tanners of Shropshire is one of the best wine merchants in the country, with a stellar, still somewhat under-the-radar range."
Jane MacQuitty, January 2019
"While the Tanners HQ in Shrewsbury is part wine museum and part Aladdin’s cave, the palates who make the big decisions are youthful, dynamic and well-travelled! They manage to track down wines whose flavours are rooted in the historic soils of the most famous vineyards of Europe, but the energy and delivery of these wine is as modern and fruit-focused as it gets!"
Matthew Jukes, March 2019
"James Tanner is the fourth generation to head up the seven-strong chain of wine merchants called Tanners, which has been family-run since it started in 1842. The company, recently described by wine columnist Jane MacQuitty as “a Shropshire gem”, has continued to increase the diversity of its wine ranges as well as investing in expansion . Its most recent outlet is a converted cinema in Chester, while it also increased its warehouse space in Welshpool last year and made improvements to its website."
100 most influential people in wine - James Tanner #62, May 2017
"Tanners of Shrewsbury (DWWA Large Independent of the Year) have also moved with the times, with vast fine wine stocks mingling with good value own labels."
David Williams, September 2019
"With its latest accounts filed ahead of the Brexit vote, the strong pound boosted sales at family wine merchants Tanners Wines. Greater range diversity helped too, as did success as its new outlet at a converted cinema in Chester. It has increase its warehousing space in Welshpool and upgraded its website."
Top 50 Independent Retailers – Placed 43rd, March 2017
'The Perfect Country Wine Merchant'
Decanter Awards Judging Panel, September 2016
“Tanners, whose range was the best I have seen from them for quite a while. This long-standing, family-run Shropshire wine merchant has always taken more trouble with its German range than most of its peers.”
November 2016
“It’s good to see that after nearly 150 years, Tanner in Shrewsbury remains a Shropshire gem under James Tanner.”
Jane MacQuitty, August 2016