Montpeliers deal is nothing to wine about

Patrons of Tigerlily, Opal Lounge and six other Edinburgh style bars may notice some changes to the wine lists after leisure group Montpeliers struck a new seven-figure supply deal.

The bar and restaurant operator, which was founded almost 20 years ago, will get its wines from Ayrshire-based importer and distributor Alliance Wine.

Alliance described the contract win as a "major coup" and said it was expected to be worth in excess of 1 million over three years. The Beith-based firm has had to invest in a new vehicle fleet to facilitate deliveries.

Alliance, which runs its own production company in Adelaide, has also created a one-off brand - the Pimpernel ros wine from Coonawarra, Australia - for Tigerlily.

Giles Cooke, buying and marketing director at Alliance, said: "Montpeliers is one of the big names in the licensed trade in Scotland, with a superb portfolio of bars and restaurants and a huge customer base who love their wine."