Bordeaux Index began with the passion of a few wine and spirit lovers looking to change the way a wine merchant operates and redefine how wine is bought and sold across the globe. With an emphasis on an unparalleled client relationship, transparency and innovative technology, Bordeaux Index became a major disruptor in the trade. The early days saw yellow-page phone books used as temporary desks while wine orders were individually wrapped and shipped by hand. Our staff travelled the major wine regions of the world and created lasting relationships with those producing the finest of beverages. Before long, all the top estates were visiting us for meals in our office where expert wine taster Michael Schuster ran his wine academy. Lasting relationships were cemented. We serve as the connector between you, the customer, and the greatest wines and spirits. This is Bordeaux Index.
Just as a river shapes and changes the landscape through which it flows, Bordeaux Index has continued to carve our own unique path in the wine and spirits trade. 2024 saw the introduction of Bordeaux Index’s new branding and the expansion of LiveTrade, the market transforming trading platform. This expansion supports the ethos of LiveTrade; to provide a level of market access and transparency that stands out from the rest of the fine wine market. Nobody makes the fine wine and spirits market flow quite like we do.
Bordeaux Index started a new chapter by moving into the historic Heal’s building on Tottenham Court Road, placing the team amongst the hustle and bustle of some of London’s top restaurants and bars, and at the centre of the wine industry.
Bollinger Group made the decision to take a minority stake in Bordeaux Index, increasing their investment of May of 2022. The new capital will partly fund the expansion of LiveTrade, our online trading platform. Etienne Bizot CEO and Chairman of Bollinger Group shared that their reasons for investing in Bordeaux Index was due to the company’s consumer access, it’s global reach and award-winning trading platform LiveTrade.
The launch of The Merchant’s Collection provided customers with highly drinkable wines of surprising value, handpicked by our experts. The collection showcases a journey through the world’s classic styles, showing the breadth of expertise at Bordeaux Index.
Launching a brand new website and officially returning to the name Bordeaux Index. The original name was first introduced back in 1997 when Bordeaux Index was founded as a forward-looking operator seeking to shake up the fine wine market. Gary Boom said "Listening to how our clients and partners referred to us, it was unquestionable that to them we are, and always will be, Bordeaux Index. Whilst we have broadened our product offering even further in recent years, the name Bordeaux Index gives both a contemporary and classic identity, which we are embracing".
Societe Jacques Bollinger, the Family Group behind Bollinger Champagne agree on a strategic partnership with a minority investment into Bordeaux Index. The union of two leading wine businesses looking to cement their global reach.
Bordeaux Index makes a splash in the spirits business with the formation of our Spirits Department. Offering distillery exclusives, highly collectible spirits, and cask/whisky investment opportunities. The Bordeaux Index Spirit team continue the run of the best-in-the-industry customer relations our wine clients have come to expect from us for over two decades. Bordeaux Index buys a stake in Westmorland Spirits Limited (owners of the outstanding Gilpin's gin).
With 4 full-time in house developers at Bordeaux Index and a spirit of never resting on our laurels, our beloved online broking list saw an upgrade. BIX allows customers storing wine with Bordeaux Index to list and sell their stocks through our website.
.webp)
With all eyes of the wine market looking East, Bordeaux Index (naturally) goes against the grain, finally fulfilling one of our earliest ambitions, by opening our first office in the US. Located on Hollywood Boulevard no less, a fitting address in which to write the script for our US adventure.
In November 2011, Gary's great friend and former business partner Lord Spencer of Alresford. appointed Chairman of Bordeaux Index's Board of Directors. Former CEO and founder of ICAP and NEX Group, Michael brings invaluable expertise and strategic insight to the business.
On 1st June 2010, our ambitions in Asia were furthered by opening in Singapore. This dynamic city and region have become an incredibly important hub for our business.
Bordeaux Index reaches a milestone of GBP 100m+ turnover in a calendar year, establishing ourselves as one of the world's largest sellers of fine wine.
Founder Gary Boom's vision was to completely shake up the wine trade, improve its efficiency and ultimately improve the experience of the consumer by bringing technology and trading concepts from his former life at ICAP into the wine market. And thus, LiveTrade, the world's first guaranteed two-way trading screen for fine wine was born.
Just 11 years on from being a company of 6 people, sitting on cases of wine, in a small, cramped office in Smithfield, Bordeaux Index had grown to a team of 30 and established itself as one of the UK's top wine merchants. A new home was required and thus 4 spacious floors of 10 Hatton Garden would become our new HQ.
A year before Hong Kong took the bold and visionary step of reducing its import duty on wine to zero, Bordeaux Index opened its first overseas office in this burgeoning wine hub. Today, Bordeaux Index is one of the largest sellers of fine wine in Asia.
Our team has always been at the centre of what makes this business unique. We continued to grow our team with the most knowledgeable people in the industry. In 2004, one of the most respected figures in the wine trade and Bordeaux Index Founder Dylan Paris tragically lost his life and it is in his honour we remember the lasting impact he had on our business.
Always at the forefront of how we would carve our own path in the wine trade, founder Gary Boom and long-time collaborator Andrew Davison (Bordeaux Index's Head of Trading) created the wine market's first two-way (buy/sell) trading screen for Bordeaux's 2000 vintage. This would be the forerunner to a much grander idea, LiveTrade.
That was the name of the game during those formative years, as a boisterous Bordeaux Index, not without some friction, tried to establish itself amongst London's traditional wine merchants. We were quickly becoming, as our slogan said, 'The only fine wine merchant worth calling'.
Founders Gary Boom, Richard Mannell and Dylan Paris, along with future Director Sebastian Rowe quite literally set up Bordeaux Index's first office on St.John's Lane in London. Fax machines, mobile phones and good old fashioned Royal Mail were how wine was bought and sold back then, in between building desks and chairs for our fledgeling office. Creating an unrivalled customer relationship helped Bordeaux Index establish itself in the early days and remains a guiding principle today.
Knowledge
is Everything
