Founded in Lancashire in 1972 by Pamela and Gerald Moeckell, EWGA Wines began by importing wines from Europe and supplying local hospitality businesses throughout Lancashire and Cumbria. Today, EWGA Wines is the largest Lancashire-based independent wine importer and wholesaler, supplying customers across the UK from its three bonded warehouses. Working directly with producers around the world, the company imports an extensive portfolio of wines to meet the needs of the hospitality, retail, and wholesale sectors.
Today, the business remains family-owned, now led by Adrian Moeckell, son of the founders, who, together with his experienced and dedicated team, remains committed to the traditions and values that have shaped the business for more than 50 years.
The company started trading from the family home in Silverdale – the garage being the warehouse and the front room, the office. At the time, imports came primarily from Germany and France.
Offloading the wine cases from the delivery trucks was a true family operation with everyone lending a helping hand.
The name EWGA originally stood for European Wine Growers Associates. However, as the company expanded its sourcing to include wines from producers around the world, it evolved and rebranded as EWGA Wines.
As the company continued to grow, larger premises were needed. In 1989, operations were relocated to Challan Hall in Silverdale, providing the facilities needed to support the business’s expanding scale and ambitions.
During this period, Gerald’s health deteriorated, and he sadly passed away. His son, Adrian, decided to take over the business and, together with his mother Pam, continued to develop and grow the business.
The company moved to the village of Holme, where a large warehouse was rented to accommodate it’s expanding operations. At this stage, administrative offices and warehouse facilities were still separate, and plans were underway to bring the two together.
During this period, there was also a growing need for a bonded warehouse, where goods could be stored ‘under bond‘.
What does the term ‘under bond‘ mean? Wines that are ‘under bond‘ are held in a warehouse without Duty and VAT having been paid. These wines are typically shipped directly from the winery and stored in bonded conditions until they are released into the UK market.
The solution to the need for a bonded warehouse was the purchase of Hyning Home Farm in Carnforth, where purpose-built facilities were eveloped over the following years. This is where the company resides to this day. Construction took place over several exciting years, between 2003 and 2008.
The warehouse was completed first, in 2006, allowing stock to be held under bond, and allowed for the build-up of the wine agency business. In 2008, the administration offices were completed, establishing the company’s first dedicated head office and bringing operations together in one location.
Another arm of the business is its retail division, WineTime. The first WineTime shop opened in 1999 in the village of Milnthorpe before later relocating to larger premises at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, just a two-minute drive from the company’s head office.
The retail side of the business expanded further in 2013 with the acquisition of Scatchards wine shop, now operating as WineTime Liverpool. Similarly, in May of 2014, a traditional waterfront pub in Arnside called The Albion was acquired.
In 2016, a new tasting and conference building was constructed to accommodate meetings, events, and tastings.
The development of wine brands in-house has also been central to EWGA Wines’ ability to offer a competitive and diverse portfolio, supporting its “grape to glass” philosophy.
In the latter part of the decade, EWGA Wines began sourcing a growing number of key wines in bulk shipments directly from wineries around the world for bottling in the UK.
Going into the 2020s, the company made significant investments in its infrastructure and systems. Warehouse layouts were improved, new forklift trucks were introduced, and modern shutter gates were installed to streamline logistics. These upgrades, combined with the implementation of a new ERP system, led to marked improvements in operational efficiency.
In 2023, EWGA achieved carbon-neutral status following a review of its sustainability policies. This milestone was supported by investment in greener vehicles and the installation of solar panels.
The company also developed a fully integrated B2B ordering platform linked directly to its ERP system, alongside the launch of an online wine training platform for customers.
In 2024, EWGA’s progress was recognised with a win at the prestigious Lancashire Business Awards and a nomination for a BIBAs award.
