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After more than 10 years working at sea as a superyacht captain, Josh Sebire was ready for a career change.
He returned home this year to open Black Sabre Fine Wine Merchants on the Bridge.
This is the latest in our series celebrating the value of Guernsey's small businesses, where Express has sat down with the owners of the many places that make the island a unique place to live, work, and shop to find out: What makes a small business tick? What issues do they face, and why do entrepreneurs choose to launch in Guernsey?
Today we catch up with Josh Sebire…
I have been travelling the world from a young age and returned home this year to open Black Sabre Fine Wine Merchants on the Bridge.
I worked at sea for more than a decade as a superyacht captain, which meant I had the opportunity to travel across the world.
Whilst working on yachts, I was responsible for the procurement and purchasing of wine, which included some of the world’s most exclusive labels and vintages. It was during this period that my love changed from purely an interest and hobby into a passion and new career path.
I have been studying for my Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications for the past five years and am currently midway through the level 4 Diploma.
During my travels, I have been lucky enough to visit many vineyards and wineries in Europe and the USA and look forward to experiencing many more in the future.
Black Sabre Fine Wine Merchants stocks an ever-changing range of high quality wines from around the globe. We represent some of the best small and family producers, whose passion for wine is reflected in the quality they produce.
Our selection is hand curated, tested and researched before being sold in store and aims to let the wine tell the story of its production.
We are also a fully licensed hybrid wine shop, the first of its kind in this part of the Island. Customers can enjoy a glass or bottle of wine in the shop or in our forward lounge with amazing views towards Herm.
Our onsite tastings cater for groups of up to 14 people and are available after the shop closes in the evenings. Packages start at £40 per person but can be tailored to suit all budgets and group requirements.
Tastings are fully customisable and all levels catered for, from an introduction to wine to a comparison tasting of First Growth Bordeaux. For large groups, we can provide a tasting or any of our other services at their house or office.
Other services include helping customers locate, purchase and transport fine or rare wines.
If a customer has wines to sell, we can confidentially offer products to other customers or look for buyers.
Black Sabre can also assist with customers looking to start a fine wine selection, selecting the right wines, guidance on how and where to store and most importantly, when to enjoy them.
After years of working at sea and my partner Sarah about to give birth to our daughter, it was time to be hang up my captain’s hat full time, which always meant a change of career.
I had been planning a new direction for a few years and realised that working with wine is my new life. Spotting the advertisement of No. 9, The Bridge on Facebook that really started everything for me and it was the view across the harbour that sealed the deal.
I started from scratch and I enjoy all the challenges of running a business and meeting new customers.
My favourite part is the tastings, as they offer the opportunity to introduce people to new wines or to try something they might never do on their own.
There are not enough hours in the day to fit everything in with work, study and family but it is important to find a balance.
I would say a passion for the chosen subject along with customer service.
We do not just want to sell wine; we want to sell the right wine for the right occasion and introduce customers to new wines. Each has its own back story and the end product reflects so much about where a wine is from and how it was made.
Wine is so much more than just a drink and we want to show that to our customers.
We have ambitious plans going forward outside the sale of wine and our wine tastings.
These will include creating a wine club for those wishing to learn more about wine on a regular basis along with education and certification training. Once the business is established we want to contribute towards the local community, particularly on the Bridge that has been so welcoming to us.
Having amazing beaches on our doorstep and being able to leave work and be swimming just a few minutes.
I love being back home, exploring the island and still managing to discover new things I have not come across before. Many people comment how small Guernsey is but I see this as all relative.
I don’t get much time to unwind but when I do it is motorcycles, working out and getting out and about with the family.
Find Black Sabre at 9, The Bridge. You can call them on 07781 451188 or email Blacksabregsy@outlook.com. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram @blacksabregsy.
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