Club People • April 2015
My Club: Tony Laithwaite
Silver Executive Club Member Tony Laithwaite has been travelling the world’s vineyards since 1969, seeking out the best bottles for the customers of Laithwaite’s Wine. Here he tells The Club about his favourite places to enjoy a tipple
What’s the best thing about being a Silver Executive Club Member?
The lounges. As I get older, I find airports increasingly exhausting, so I love to go to the lounge, have a cup of tea and be quiet. It probably helps to keep my blood pressure down, too.
Where do you travel frequently for business?
I visit Bordeaux up to eight times a year. It’s where my business started, back in 1969, and where I still have our main wine base. It almost feels like a commute now, but I still love it.
Which destinations would you recommend for wine drinking?
Porto, because it’s a wine-dominated town. You’re a hop and a skip away from some of the world’s most fabulous wine scenery. Cape Town is brilliant – the airport is in the middle of the wine region, so you’re only 15 minutes from a tasting when you land.
Where have you been that’s inspired you professionally?
Australia was a revelation when I first visited in the 1980s – there hasn’t been a year since that I haven’t gone back to visit.
Watch Tony Laithwaite talk about English wine (01:14)
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Where’s your favourite place in the world to have a glass of wine?
I started my career working in vineyards, and these days I’m enjoying returning to my roots. My wife Barbara has an award-winning vineyard in the Chilterns where she produces Wyfold Vineyard sparkling wine. There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting by the shed after a hard day’s work and watching the sun go down with a bottle of her fizz.
Where’s still on your bucket list?
Iceland or Norway. There’s no wine there, but that’s part of the attraction. Perhaps it’s in the blood, as Laithwaite is a Norse name. There are lots of crowds when you go round the world these days, so I like to visit quieter places.
Tell us about the Laithwaite’s partnership with the BA Executive Club
Members can get great deals on more than 1,000 quality wines and enjoy excellent customer service from Laithwaite’s. We’ve recently extended the partnership to the US. Now it doesn’t matter which way you’re flying, you can have a box of wine waiting for you at the end.
What’s your top tip for collecting Avios?
UK and US Executive Club Members can collect Avios when they buy Laithwaite’s wine. (UK Members click here; US Members click here). You can collect 1,000 Avios with your first case of 12 wines, and 250 Avios for every 12 bottles ordered after that.
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