About Us

Award Winning Store

We are delighted to have won the IWC Northern Ireland Wine Merchant of the Year for 2019.  Having been short-listed for this and the IWSC UK Wine Merchant of the Year on many previous occasions against stiff competition, it was wonderful to take home this award for the first time and reflects the progress we have made and the quality of what we do. Further back we won Northern Ireland Off Licence of the Year in 2002 and been short-listed for the same title several times.

Award Winning Staff

At KWM we love learning about our product’s for knowledge we believe is a key element to good service. Over the years we have had many staff members gain WSET certification. If fact while completing the WSET Diploma, Andrew won the prestigious Moet & Chandon scholarship which is one of only a small number of scholarships awarded each year and covers all the students sitting the exam throughout the world. If you have a question we are only too happy to help so please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

History

KWM Wine & Spirits started off life in the early 1980’s at its Greencastle Street location under the name Kilkeel Wine Market as a local off licence under the ownership of Matt & Nora Murphy. In 1994 the business was bought by Arnold & Jean Imrie who invested heavily in the business and property to bring it up to standard with the belief that the market was changing with more and more interest in quality Wines & Spirits and opportunities were to be had.

In early 1996 Arnold & Jean’s son Andrew joined the business direct out of school with the idea of using business as a stop gap until he discovered what it was he wanted to do. Very soon afterwards he discovered the Wine & Spirit business was for him then set about developing himself with relevant qualifications and developing the business by looking at best practice and trying to improve upon it, while all the time focused on the vision to turn the business into one of the best specialist shops not only in Northern Ireland but also the UK. The property was redeveloped in 2003 after a flood to accommodate a state-of-the-art walk in chill room, more office space and improved storage and access facilities. At this point Kilkeel Wine Market became KWM Wine & Spirits.

Currently KWM Wine & Spirits, continues to trade at the original Greencastle Street address, but has incorporated storage facilities within the area and also stores in bonded warehouse when importing from abroad. The emphasis since 2008 has been developing the website and online operation of the business which now accounts for a sizeable proportion of annual turnover. Arnold & Jean Imrie continue to take a keen interest in the business, but both retired in 2013 handing full control to their son Andrew.

Andrew's Story

Having joined the family business almost straight out of school, Andrew quickly realised that the wine and spirit world was for him. Combining a great love of travel and adventure with a keen interest in geography, the wine world was a perfect fit.

Early retail qualifications were followed by a passion for learning about wine. Recognition came soon for Andrew with awards at the WSET Higher level as the leading student in the year 2000 at that level. This led to the Charles Kinahan Award by the NIWSI. At this time Andrew felt he could develop more so enrolled in a Business Degree at UUJ while working full time. On completing this he took time out from the business in 2006 to travel the world and see the wine industry from another angle working with cult winemaker Ben Glaetzer at his cellar in the Barossa Valley learning the wine-making processes first hand during the 2006 vintage. A stint in the Hunter Valley looking at viticulture followed with Hope Estate then the Australian adventure was completed by working in a leading wine specialist King & Godfree in the Italian District of Melbourne to see wine retailing from another international perspective.

On returning home Andrew set about taking himself to the next stage with the WSET Diploma. A difficult qualification for many this was completed inside half the usual time and it was during this that he achieved the prestigious Moet & Chandon Champagne Scholarship as one of the leading students in the academic year 2007/2008.

On returning from travelling alongside studying for the WSET Diploma, Andrew setup what was the very first web site for the business, as this was where the future lay and still lies for the business, providing the high-quality products we have access to, to a worldwide discerning clientele.