Christopher Piper Wines was established in 1979 by Chris Piper (Chairman) after working in Beaujolais, as a wine-maker in Brouilly. In 1980 he was joined by his old friend John Earle (Managing Director) and the business was incorporated. From those early days when the two friends did virtually everything, from wine buying to selling, packing and delivering their wines, the company has now grown to become one of the West of England's best known independent wine merchants. CPW, as Christopher Piper Wines is often affectionately called, now employs over 20 staff in their sales and administration offices, retail shop and distribution warehousing in the picturesque town of Ottery St. Mary in Devon. Chris still manages to make wine in Brouilly every year at Chateau du Pavé and, yes, they sell it. It is affectionately known as the Chairman's plonk!