Flinterview: Bert Blaize, North Norfolk Cellars Owner & Sommelier, Wells
Flint Homes would like to introduce you to a charming young entrepreneur with a crisp, bone dry minerality & smooth finish – wine guru, Bert Blaize.
Bert is the talented co-author of ‘Which. Wine. When.’ & ‘A Winemaker’s Guide to Drinking the World’ who’s also the proud owner & gifted Sommelier at the superbly chic North Norfolk Cellars, on the harbour in Wells-Next-The-Sea.
He’s popped his cork in some pretty swanky establishments – La Belle Epoque in Knutsford, Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire & The Clove Club in hipster haven, Shoreditch, before opening the Mandrake Hotel as Head of Wine. No wonder then he’s bagged a few awards, including UK’s Top Young Sommelier by Flint Wines (something in that name!) & has been award nominated at GQ Magazine, Drinks Business & Imbibe as ‘Sommelier of the year.’ Cheers to you sir!
But their loss is Norfolk’s gain…
And now having a sumptuous wine, in a gorgeous glass, with some quality nibbles, in chic surroundings, over-looking the achingly-beautiful salt marshes of Wells-Next-the Sea is just another fab North Norfolk thing…
On a vraiment de la chance!
If you’ve not been yet… make it your mission… you will not regret the decision, as Bert & his team make you feel super welcome, as the fire crackles away & the sun sets over the harbour. Shoulder drop moment…
Have a go at guessing the wine of the day & get it right & you drink the glass for free… (I failed disastrously, although nailed the top notes, so I see that as a win!).
To help you understand why the North Norfolk Cellars & meeting Bert is a must-visit when you’re in Wells, here’s a little Flinterview…
How long have you been in Norfolk?
We moved to Holt in 2022 then moved to Wells-next-the-sea in 2024.
Why did you come here?
My wife was born here, so we were naturally drawn here and had visited lots. We were living in London and the cost of living and quality of life pushed us out.
Tell us about the North Norfolk Cellars wine bar & shop. What’s the experience all about? What’s the vibe & what’s its USP?
I had no intention of opening NNC when I first moved to Norfolk, but got frustrated that I couldn’t go out for a good/interesting glass of wine so I decided to do it myself. I cherry-pick all the best wines and producers from around 15 importers, most others in Norfolk work with just one importer which makes them one-dimensional. We have wines going back to the 1960s and we love to make fine & rare wines fun and accessible. The views are stunning in the day over the marshes. In the evening it’s candlelit, with a record player, and wood burner, we make it really cosy.
What’s life like running such a cool lifestyle business in Wells-Next-The-Sea?
I feel like if I tried to do this in London it wouldn’t work, the market is so saturated there. It’s a lot more refreshing to be here, quality of life is better here, I can take the dog for a walk on the beach before opening up rather than spending all my time commuting on the tube. We’re so lucky to be in Wells, it feels like lots of exciting things happening at the moment and some good change. It’s great to be next to a working port and the abundance of top produce from Wells is fantastic. Local cheese makers, brewers, distillers, winemakers and the incredible seafood, of course, this is reflected on our menu! The other restaurant owners in Wells have been incredibly supportive, we love Flour, Wells Crab House and Bang in Wells especially and we’re so proud to be a part of it.
And being a sommelier?
It’s a bit lonely up here as there isn’t the wine community I experienced working in Manchester and London. I’m working hard to create it and planning events and tastings. I try to be generous with my time and encourage others to join the wine industry.
How did you get into this career?
Like most in hospitality, I fell into the industry and immediately took to it. I had some fantastic mentors who pushed and challenged me. I started as a pot washer when I was 14 and worked my way up to General Manager of a hotel.
Tell us some of the places you would recommend to visit on a wine tour? Budget friendly & money-no-object…
Well you have to visit Burn Valley in North Creake, one of my favourite Norfolk wineries, they do special food events that are worth checking out. The best wine trip I’ve been on was to Georgia, the country that invented wine. There’s a rich and diverse food & drink culture there and there’s history everywhere you look.
What’s hot & what’s not in wine in 25? What should we be drinking now & this Summer?
I drink so much Riesling in the summer and I adore vermouth in a long drink, high acidity wines that leave you wanting more, refreshing and complex.
Tell us some great wines we’ve never heard about & why we should be getting into them?
So many, I encourage all wine drinkers to explore and try something they don’t know every time they drink, don’t stick to one grape or region is incredibly boring and not rewarding. We have wines from countries like Armenia that have a longer history of producing wine than France and Italy.
And some great wine-making regions we have never heard of…
The Kakheti region in Georgia. Wine was invented here 8,000 years ago and they have more indigenous grapes than anywhere else in the world. The wines are expressive and often fermented In traditional qvevri underground.
What should we be buying to drink at home – for £10 a bottle, £20, £50 & £100 plus?
£10 – Blends from the southwest of France with good structure.
£20 – Exciting new producers from Spain making fresher styles of wine.
£50 – Riesling, don’t be scared… vast majority are dry and you get so much wine for your money.
£100 Barolo/Barbaresco – The wines have never been so good here, most exciting fine wine region right now.
What does North Norfolk living mean to you?
You always have a beach and a cosy pub on your doorstep.
And where do you like to go on a day out in Norfolk?
Norwich is good day out for shopping and lunch, lots of new restaurants opening there all the time. It’s nice feeling so remote but still close to major city and airport.
Where do you live & how did you find your home?
We live in Wells and Pointens in Holt helped us.
Did you find it easy settling up here from London?
We had family here which made is easier but yes I adjusted really quickly and can always jump on the train and be in London in a couple of hours.
What do you miss about city life?
I miss a good curry, they’re hard to find in these parts! I also miss going to concerts and having so many good galleries.
And what does living here offer you the city doesn’t?
Clean air, easy to find a quiet spot with plenty of space and so many great walks.
Where do you like to go on holiday?
You’ll normally find me in a vineyard or I love Barcelona for a city break.
What are your plans for the business in 25?
We’re still a new business but growing steadily, my focus this year is to develop the team.
Tell us your favourite NORFOLK…
Wine… Burn Valley Blanc de Blanc 2021 – I was really impressed by the winemaking with this wine, it’s our house pour now.
Pub… The Gunton Arms – food and atmosphere is perfect.
Cafe… Litcham Deli, the owners are always so welcoming.
Beach… It has to be Wells – seal spotting, picnics in the sand dunes, dog walks, swimming or the iconic beach huts all great.
Landmark… I love looking out at the marshes from Wells Harbour.
Market town… Holt – we used to live there and great for shopping, my favourite Fish & Chip shop ‘Alberts’ is there too.
Village… Cley, we got married there, I love the George & Dragon and the smokehouse.
Shop… Punk Office in Holt - one of the best record shops I’ve been in.
Walk… West Runton to Cromer is a great beach walk and the Grey Seal for a coffee is a good stop off.
Estate agent… Pointens in Holt, always really helpful.
Secret Norfolk… The Darkroom chocolate kitchen, it only opens on Saturday between 10 and 2. Truly the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted and you can go for chocolate bakes, coffee or a hot chocolate, the team there are completely obsessive about chocolate. They import and process the beans on site.
Thanks so much for your time Bert. And sharing your encyclopaedic knowledge of wines with us. We are so glad you couldn’t find a decent glass of wine up here, so opened up the NNC. It’s fab. Gaumarjos! (გაუმარჯოს)🍷