About us

Tillman Wine Merchants was born from a moment of discovery. During a trip to Portugal, founder Sam tasted Portuguese wine for the first time and was immediately captivated. After many conversations with his father and co-founder, Simon, the pair realized that despite Portugal’s rich winemaking heritage, its wines were underrepresented in New Zealand. Convinced that these world-class wines, celebrated for their quality, character, and lack of pretension, deserved a larger place on New Zealand tables, they decided to take action.

Soon after, Sam’s brother Nick and sister-in-law Emma joined the venture. Together, the family traveled to Lisbon to attend a wine trade fair, where they were met with enthusiasm from Portuguese producers eager to share their craft with New Zealand. Within months, the first shipments were on their way.

At its core, Tillman Wine Merchants is a family business dedicated to connecting people with the beauty and authenticity of Portuguese wines. Our mission is simple: to share the passion, tradition, and artistry of Portugal’s vineyards with New Zealand, and to give these remarkable wines the recognition they so richly deserve.

We’re here to open doors to a wine culture that is world-class yet welcoming, sophisticated yet unpretentious. And above all, to share with you the wines that made us fall in love with Portugal.