Welcome to the Vintners Company

A Great Twelve City of London Livery Company

Coat of arms featuring a ship, swans holding grapes, barrels, and a ribbon with Latin text "Vinum Exhilarat Animum."

The Company received its first Royal Charter in 1363 and is known as the Spiritual Home of the International Wine Trade

Close-up of a framed ancient document with wax seals

The Company received its first Royal Charter in 1363 and is known as the Spiritual Home of the International Wine Trade

Emblem with a shield featuring a black chevron, three barrels, flanked by swans holding grapevines, topped with a ship, scroll with Latin text "Vinum Exhilarat Animum"

Historical engraving of a formal gathering in an elaborately decorated room with portraits and sculptures.

History

Urban bridge scene at night with pedestrians and illuminated buildings, featuring a person sitting on the ground.

Charity

Close-up of Chateau Latour wine bottle label with another wine bottle in the background.

Trade

Elegant dining table setting with a large ornate gold trophy, surrounded by wine glasses, plates, and name cards.

Venue Hire

A swan with a cygnet in a wooden boat, surrounded by people in white clothing.

Swans !

Our History

Historical engraving showing a group of people in a grand room with ornate decorations, a chandelier, and several portraits on the walls. People are dressed in period clothing, indicating a formal gathering or meeting.

With its origins steeped in the history of the City of London and the import, regulation and sale of wine, the Company maintains strong links with the wine industry.

Its current trade, social, charitable and educational interests, means the Company continues to play an important role in the 21st century.

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City of London coat of arms with dragons, shield, and motto.

Night scene on a modern bridge with buildings and blurred pedestrians, showing a homeless person sleeping on the walkway.

Charity

The heart of the Company

through the work of the

Vintners’ Foundation

The Company’s principal charitable vehicle is the Vintners’ Foundation, which provides assistance to charities concerned with the relief of the poor, destitute and homeless in Greater London; charities treating the social effects of alcohol abuse or misuse, and support to young people, youth projects and designated educational establishments in London.

Read about our charity work here.

Vintners’ Hall

A spectacular event venue in

the City of London

Elegant dinner table setting with ornate gold trophy and glasses

Ornate wooden staircase with portraits in a historic interior setting, featuring a chest of drawers and potted plant beside a stained-glass window.

Gourmet dish with beef steak, carrots, asparagus, and garnish on a white plate.

Elegant dining room with long wooden tables set for a formal banquet, featuring red chairs, neatly arranged glassware, white napkins, and ornate chandeliers. The walls are adorned with classic paintings and intricate wood paneling.

Interior atrium with a chandelier, statues, potted plants, and natural light.

The magnificent Vintners’ Hall and its ancillary rooms are available for your special event, be that corporate or private.

Whatever the occasion, you can be assured of our excellent quality of service and hospitality.

Read more.

Elegant banquet table setting with glass centerpiece, wine glasses, folded napkins, plates, and silverware on a white tablecloth.

Our Trade

The Vintners' Company boasts a rich tapestry of historical connections with the wine trade, spanning centuries as one of London's oldest and most influential livery companies. Its origins as a guild dedicated to regulating wine quality and trade in medieval times have evolved into a contemporary institution that continues to uphold and celebrate the traditions of the wine industry

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The Vintners' Company is a Founder of the Institute of Masters of Wine

The Vintners' Company is a Founder of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Swan Upping

Swan and cygnet in a wooden boat surrounded by people wearing white clothing.

The Vintners’ Company’s ancient right to own swans dates back over 900 years and the annual event of ‘Swan Upping’ takes place in the third week of July. Originally this was a way of allocating ownership of swans, a prized bird eaten at many feasts.

Ownership was a sign of status and importance, but now Swan Upping is about counting and checking the health of the birds as well as educating people about the importance of Swan Upping and swan conservation.

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