About us

Stefan and Emma are the owners and operators of High Peak Wine & Beer Co. With a background rooted firmly in independent drinks retail, their approach is built on experience, relationships, and a genuine love of well-made wine, beer, and whisky.

Before founding High Peak Wine & Beer Co, Stefan managed sites for Oddbins and later for a respected independent multi-site wine merchant in Cheshire, developing a strong grounding in wine and beer buying, retail, and customer service. It was during their time at Oddbins that Stefan and Emma met, sharing a belief that the best drinks businesses are built on knowledge, accessibility, and trust.

 

High Peak Wine & Beer Co was founded in 2016, originally as a mobile bar business launched just two days after the birth of their first child. From the outset, the aim was clear: to create a business with full creative freedom, direct relationships with local suppliers, and a focus on quality rather than trend.

That ambition led to the opening of the company’s first retail shop in Chapel-en-le-Frith in October 2020, with a strong emphasis on local producers, independent importers, and a carefully curated range, particularly whisky.

In April 2023, the business moved to Castleton, placing High Peak Wine & Beer Co firmly at the heart of the Peak District community.

As the business has evolved, so too have Stefan’s personal interests, with an increasing focus on whisky. This has shaped the direction of the Castleton shop, which now stocks an extensive specialist whisky range. Much of the selection is made up of limited-edition bottlings and small-batch releases, many of which are unavailable to the mass market, reflecting a continued commitment to quality, character, and independent producers.

Today, Stefan and Emma continue to champion local, independent, and collaborative producers, offering thoughtful advice, honest recommendations, and a range built on quality and value. High Peak Wine & Beer Co remains proudly independent and shaped by the people, producers, and place that surround it.