Chefs serve up new wine venture

Fields, Morris & Verdin has announced the launch of a new wine called Tonnix, the result of an intriguing venture between restaurateurs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix.

The 2007 white, produced by Quinta de la Rosa in the Douro Valley, was unveiled last week at the opening of Hix’s second London restaurant on Brewer Street in Soho.

The wine was specially selected for its compatibility with seafood, a particular passion of both chefs. The project stems from a visit to Quinta de la Rosa in May by the chefs, accompanied by John Hutton, managing director of FMV. Here they met with Sophia Bergvist, whose family owns the property and, over the course of a few bottles, the group developed the idea for this own label wine.

Thanks to Hix’s connection with the art world, the Tonnix label has been designed by the renowned artist Tracy Emin. Both chefs are also keen sailors with links to the RNLI, who have received an upfront sum of 50p per bottle imported.

Damian Carrington, sales & marketing director for FMV, raised the possibility of a Tonnix red and rosé being added to the range at a later date. “There may be other wines in due course, but we’ll see how it goes”, he said, noting that these potential additions could come from other corners of the world.

Tonnix is also available at the Hix Oyster & Chop House in Smithfield, London and the Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis, Dorset, as well as Tonks’ two restaurants, The Sea Horse in Dartmouth and Rockfish Grill in Bristol.

The wine will also be listed at Brown’s Hotel in London, where Hix acts as consultant.

Gabriel Savage, 13.10.09