Lancashire connection uncorks exclusive wine partnership for 'Let’s MAD'

A chance meeting through a Lancashire business network has led to an exclusive Italian wine collaboration set to raise funds for Let’s Make A Difference (Let’s MAD).

Tim Mitchell, who works with the Community Foundation for Lancashire alongside his work as a wine importer and artist, first met Let’s MAD founder Stuart Lee through BNCEL (The Business Network Central and East Lancashire).

Their first one-to-one quickly turned to fundraising. Stuart shared the story behind a gin he had created to support the charity and Tim promptly bought a bottle. 

Over the following months, Tim shared some of the wine projects he was working on and the pair began exploring whether they could create an exclusive range for Let’s MAD.

Earlier this year, Tim brought a selection of wines over from Italy for Stuart and Phillipa King-Smith to taste alongside Duncan, owner of Dvino Wines in Preston. The wines impressed, and plans for the collaboration began to take shape.

Then came an unexpected opportunity. A special project Tim was working on with Porsche meant he could combine shipments from Italy, making it much more cost-effective to bring over the wines for Let’s MAD.

Now the wines are on their way to the UK and work is about to begin on the labels.

The range will be exclusive, with the wines only available to the UK public through Stuart and Let’s MAD. The ambition is to create more than a one-off fundraiser, developing a regular source of income for the charity throughout the year.

There is a strong story behind the bottles too.  The Italian vineyard is led by third-generation winemaker Nicola and has a long-standing commitment to organic production.

Tim said: “This all came from a simple one-to-one through BNCEL. Stuart told me about his fundraising gin, I bought a bottle and we started talking about what else might be possible.

“Once we tasted the wines, we knew there was something worth pursuing. They are fantastic wines with a great story behind them, and the opportunity to make them exclusive to Let’s MAD in the UK makes it even more exciting.

“I’m hoping this is just the start and that the range can become a successful, year-round fundraising stream for Stuart and the charity.”

Stuart said: “We’re always looking for creative ways to raise funds and this is a brilliant example of what can happen when people bring different ideas and connections together.

“To have an exclusive range of Italian wines that people can enjoy while supporting Let’s MAD is incredibly exciting. We can’t wait to get the first bottles here and share them.”