West Country
The Cow
Parkstone, Dorset
David Sax says wine has always been one of his passions. In August 2003, he was able to impart that passion to a wider audience when he opened the Cow after buying the freehold of the Parkstone Hotel, as it was known, from Eldridge Pope.
The Cow marks David's introduction to the trade, but in little more than three years he has transformed a pub with a former annual turnover of £75,000 into one that takes more than a million pounds. Wine has played an important in that success.
Three business streams
David has developed the Cow into three business streams: one area remains as a lounge bar, but he has added a 60-cover bistro in one corner of the building and converted a ramshackle upstairs function room into a lavish private dining room.
David also formed a wine society at the Cow and pens a monthly newsletter for members, under the pseudonym of Monsieur Le Glug.
Apart from articles of general interest, he isn't afraid to recommend that month's star-buys in the major supermarket and
off-licence chains. Wine society dinners in the upstairs room, hosted by a wine
expert who tutors guests on the wine
chosen to accompany each course, feature regularly on the Cow's calendar .
The bistro is also used as a platform to build wine sales.
Ten wines are offered by the glass in 175ml and 500ml measures and there are 77 varietals on the wine list. In the early days, David engaged the services of a wine consultant to help prepare the list. Nowadays, he makes most of the choices himself, with input from staff members.
Try before you buy
As well as New and Old World winemakers, David also sources wine from more unusual locations, such as a Bordeaux-style wine from Bangalore in India.
He says: "I think people can be intimidated into buying wines from well-known regions. We encourage them to try wines from lesser-known areas and give them the opportunity to try before they buy."
David says very few people have sent a
bottle back because they don't agree with recommendations made by him or his staff.
