Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Patrick Sandeman: a message from Charles Lea

'Many of you have heard of the terrible news from the weekend. Many have written and emailed and we and Patrick’s family are grateful for it.

For those who have not yet heard, it is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Patrick Sandeman died in a skydiving accident on Saturday.

We are all devastated by this news and of course all our thoughts are with Patrick’s wife Katie (who has always been an important member of the L&S team) and her family.

All of us at Lea & Sandeman are committed to redoubling our efforts and continue to build on the solid foundations of the company, certain that this what Patrick would have wanted.

Please do not feel you have to leave us in peace or tread gently around us. The routine of business is the easy part of this difficult time.

If you would like to write personally to Katie please do so to the Fulham Road address simply marked ‘personal’. There are also books of condolence in the Fulham Road and Barnes shops.

Patrick’s family have requested that no flowers be sent to the house.

The whole Company will be closed for the day on Thursday the 4th of October.

In memory of Patrick, his family have chosen the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust as the most suitable charity to channel donations. They will provide funds for spinally injured people to improve their lives generally and enable them to achieve their dreams. For donations please go to this site http://www.justgiving.com/patrick-sandeman-funding-extraordinary-journeys or you can donate by post to: Patrick Sandeman, Funding Extraordinary Journeys, c/o Southern Spinal Injuries Trust, 21 Chipper Lane, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1BG. Cheques made payable to SSIT.

It is too soon for me to write coherently about Patrick, friend and partner for twenty-five years and more. We have been through so much together. Many of you will have your own memories. The articles linked to below, and more that will no doubt appear in the next few days, will give some idea of how great is his loss to us all.







Yours in great sorrow, on behalf of all at Lea & Sandeman

Charles Lea'



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