I chart my relationship with wine alongside growing up, the two strands finally in step with one another.
-
Some Press and Journal online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as “Partnership” on the site and on social media channels.
This can take two different forms.
“Presented by”
This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser.
“In partnership with”
This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team.
There were those Lambrini-fueled adolescent years, followed by university where booze tasted good as long as it was cheap.
My early twenties courted cocktail pitches and the boom in prosecco, before I arrived at 30 feeling a touch disenchanted with alcohol in general.
Call me boring, but a boozy night just isn’t my thing, and I know I’m not alone in this.
Give me good food and good wine, even go one step further and pair them beautifully.
But where do you find high-quality wine, sourced from authentic vineyards around the world?
Step forward Fat Pigeon, founded by the lovely Kenny Coutts.
This blossoming company was kind enough to come on board for our sponsors and finalist reception, as part of The Society Awards 2022.
From the finest of red wine to some classic bubbles, it’s safe to say that the tipple got everyone talking on the night. The drink was of course paired up with gorgeous cheese served by local company, Platter.
Society caught up with Kenny, and found out why good quality wine is finally having a moment.
Founding Fat Pigeon
“I was looking down the periscope of semi-retirement in a few years, I was working in the energy sector,” said Kenny.
“I spent more than 20 years in the energy industry, and there was a lot of socialising and entertainment with the client base.”
Kenny became accustomed to sampling wines from all over the world, including Australia, the US and California.
He also spent a decade living and working in France, but upon returning to Scotland he realised there was a gap in the market to say the least.
“My good lady was cooking steak that evening,” said Kenny.
“I told her I was off out to find a nice bottle of wine to go with it, to which she said, ‘good luck.’
“I got as far as Co-op and Spar, which didn’t really cut it.”
“There wasn’t really a niche place for fine wines.
“I knew that opening a shop wasn’t the way to go however, with the general trend and costs.
“So I set up an online wine business with a view to servicing the hospitality industry and the general public.”
Fat Pigeon tentatively launched in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was still in full swing and the hospitality industry was faced with some major challenges.
So Kenny switched course ever so slightly, and decided to focus first on your average Joe in search of a good glass.
Finding a fine bottle of wine…
But what makes a fine bottle in the first place?
“There is a demand for nice quality wines,” said Kenny.
“A £5 bottle of wine is about 30 pence out of a vineyard, the rest is duty and tax.
“But if you go up just a few quid, you’re actually getting a much better quality of wine.
“That’s the price point I went for.
“I’ve sourced some really nice wines from my time spent in Asia, New Zealand and across Europe.
“Old world traditional wines, so Italian, French, Portuguese, are still under-rated in my opinion.
“Fat Pigeon offers a cross-section of what people look for.
“So Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Malbec, Rose, Merlot, prosecco and champagne.”
Aside from price point, what goes into the perfect bottle in the first place?
“It’s the way it’s made,” said Kenny.
“The quality of the vineyard, where it comes from, the way it’s processed and its consistency.”
So there you have it, but Kenny has gone one step further in his mission to keep everyone’s glass topped up.
It can be easy to feel intimidated by the world of wine, or mistake a discerning palette for snobbery.
For Kenny, choosing a good bottle shouldn’t be complicated.
“People both want and look for good quality wines, without all the hassle associated in choosing it,” he said.
“Some people can feel quite intimidated and don’t want to ask questions about wine.
“The foundation to Fat Pigeon was to make choosing wine as simplistic and as hassle free as possible.
“The selection of wine is never ending, we’re here to help people cut to the chase.”
Fat Pigeon ships nationwide – but personality can’t be bottled
Kenny currently ships UK-wide, but his personal presence is also very much in demand.
“We can’t keep up with the demand for wine tasting, ” he said.
“From local wine clubs through to hotels and golf clubs, we’ve got a wine tasting coming up at a driving range in Turriff.
“Everybody likes to get that exposure. I would like to think we have that niche, we’re not trying to be too clever or create this mystique.”
“We’re here to find the right wine for you based on what you like.
“It’s amazing the amount of people who come back from holiday, say they’ve been to Greece.
“And they just can’t find this bottle of wine that they really enjoyed out there.
“We can always find something similar to help you relive that moment.”
Next on the agenda for Kenny is finding a warehouse for his stock, and becoming more involved with the hospitality industry as it gets back on its feet.
Fat Pigeon may have started up at a leisurely pace, but it is now becoming more focused.
It is not a race, it is important to do it right in order to get repeat business,” said Kenny.
“I certainly didn’t expect that demand would be so rapid.”
Which wine is the expert’s favourite?
The question you may still be wondering: what is Kenny’s go-to bottle?
“I am a sucker for French because I have spent so much time there, and they produce some great wines,” he said.
“Portugal also punch above their weight, but they don’t have the gravitas that both the French and Italians command.”
With Christmas approaching, Kenny is preparing to get even busier, and that’s just the way he likes it.
“I never stop learning, I’ve done courses and visited many vineyards over the years,” he said.
“There’s always something new to learn because wine is such a vast subject.
“It’s such a passion of mine because it’s a fascinating subject in a fascinating industry.
“I want to please people the way I wanted to be pleased when I moved back to Scotland.
“You want a nice bottle at the table, not a bottle of vinegar.”
A round of questions with Kenny Coutts
Best food and drink pairing?
The best food and wine pairing are the ones that complement the flavours. If you have a curry with a sweet Riesling it reduces the sweetness of the wine but also takes the sting out of the spiciness. Searing scallops highlights their natural sweetness and this goes very well with a light chardonnay with a touch of oak.
Secret of the trade?
I feel the industry needs to simplify the mystique synonymous with the history of wine making and close the gap and align with our technology era, as it can be very intimidating especially for people who are new to wine.
While wine is a complex subject, it should be what you like and not over complicated .
Most common misconception about wine?
People who ‘don’t like wine’ are convinced they don’t like any wines, and very often because its been too complicated for them, I’ve converted many over the years by simplifying the experience and their preference
Don’t be fooled into spending an excessive amount on wine or an attractive label as a pre-requisite for guaranteed quality.
How much should you spend on a good bottle?
A good bottle of wine is one you enjoy, and it could be any price at all…no rules.
My personal recommendation is around £8-£15 bottle.
What would you serve a famous people, and who would it be?
Gabby Logan, whatever she wanted.
Three things you’d take to a desert island?
My fishing rod, my dogs and water.
For more on Fat Pigeon Wine, be sure to visit their website.
