About Us

Simply Spanish Wine was created by Matthew Desoutter and Ben Giddings to connect international residents in Spain with the amazing selection of wines that Spain has to offer.

On the one hand, it’s a learning resource. Through a series of articles, videos and more, Simply Spanish Wine aims to simplify the world of wine and help its followers gain a better understanding of Spain's wine sector so they can make more informed choices about which wines to buy and enjoy.

But Simply Spanish Wine also offers a carefully curated list of wines for sale which represent the different styles and regions discussed in our learning resources, and which give expats in Spain access to affordable, high-quality wines produced by small, family-run vineyards across Spain.

Matthew Desoutter

Matthew Desoutter - Co-Owner of Simply Spanish WineMatthew first entered the wine world more than 30 years ago, working at Stephen Spurrier’s wonderful Les Caves de la Madeleine wine shop in Paris. He then headed south to Madrid where he spent twenty years at the British Embassy focused on agriculture, environment and economic issues.
During that time, he developed a broad network of friends and contacts across the Spanish wine sector, as well as a deep understanding of the economic links between the UK and Spain. He also continued to develop his love and knowledge of wine through study and regular interaction with Spanish wineries.

In 2016, Matthew decided to leave the embassy and dedicate himself full-time to the wine world. Combining his network of contacts in Spain, his knowledge of the bilateral trade environment, and his wine qualifications, Matthew set up Desoutter & James SL to export wine to the UK, particularly distributors to the UK on-trade.

Simply Spanish Wine is an extension of that project, focused on bringing the best of Spanish wine to expat residents in Spain. Here Matthew spends his time hunting down great value, craft wines from small producers across Spain, and helping those who call Spain their second home to understand and enjoy a broader range of excellent Spanish wines.

Ben Giddings

Ben Giddings - Co-Owner of Simply Spanish Wine

Ben has spent the last 20 years immersed in the world of websites, ecommerce and communications. Over that time, he has built up an in-depth knowledge of both online and offline marketing and communications.

He has been passionate about wine since his 18th birthday when he was given a bottle of St Émilion as a present and began to realise wine could be much more than just a drink to go with Sunday lunch.

But it wasn’t until he arrived in Spain nearly 20 years ago that he discovered the enormous variety of styles that could be found within a bottle – and the exceptional value for money that Spanish wine represented. Since then, he has spent his free time travelling and tasting his way around Spain.

When Matthew launched Desoutter & James, Ben acted as his adviser on all things digital. He is now dedicated full-time to Simply Spanish Wine where he is responsible for all aspects of the company’s digital presence and its marketing strategy – as well as helping to share his knowledge of Spanish wine in an accessible and easy-to-understand way.

Watch our introductory video

 

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