Even as he prepares to embark on this third wine-making season in Burgundy, France, early arriving bottles of his debut 2005 vintage are being met with approval on the Island.

Bermudian wine producer David Butterfield has reason to raise a glass or two to the success of Discovery Wines.

His company has carved a niche in the local market, supplying French, Italian and Spanish wines to a restaurants and a number of supermarkets.

Mr. Butterfield's own-label wine is now a fixture on Discovery Wines' list of imports and a bottle of Butterfield Meursault 2005 sells at $40. A Butterfield red wine is soon to be added to the list.

In 2005 he was able to produce around 5,500 bottles of his own wines, split almost equally between red and white, and the same amount in 2006. This year he hopes to increase that output to 8,000 bottles — not bad for someone without a vineyard.

Using his own knowledge of quality grapes he personally selects grapes to buy from French growers in the Burgundy area and then turns them into wine through crushing, fermenting, oak barrel storage and then bottling.

It was in 2001 that Mr. Butterfield, who speaks fluent French, moved to France and studied for a diploma in wine culture and growth of vines under the French Ministry of Agriculture, having earlier gained experience working at vineyards in France.

With further apprenticeship experience in Burgundy and also at a winery in New Zealand, he was ready to move into the wine-making and import/export business in 2005.

Discovery Wines is now entering its third year bringing a selection of fine wines from France and Spain, and a few Italian reds, to the Island.

"We work with different suppliers in Europe and go through a selection of wines and then bring then to Bermuda and market them here," said Mr. Butterfield.

The wines are sold through Discovery Wines wholesale or by the case to smaller buyers. The wine is shipped to the Island in temperature-controlled containers and once in Bermuda is stored in similar climate-controlled environment and allowed to "settle" for up to six months before being sold.

Buyers include The Lido restaurant, Fresco's, Ascots, Harbourfront, Bistro J, Fourways Inn, Primavera, Ten and Seahorse Grill. A selection of the wines are also sold through Miles Market, Lindos and SuperMart.

Earlier this week Discovery Wines held a tasting session for potential wholesale wine buyers, which Mr. Butterfield and Discovery Wines' operations director Valerie Crisson report was well received. Among bottles were a few baring the Butterfield label.

"We're having a great time. We've got some happy followers who are pleased to be on board," said Mr. Butterfield.

Being a wine producer and trader has its own unique challenges and rewards.

"The worst thing would be the uncertainty on the production side when you are waiting for the final product — the wine. It is a two-year process from selecting the grapes to being ready to bottle the wine," said Mr. Butterfield. He can relax once the wine is ready and safely bottled.

As for the best part of the job, Mr. Butterfield said: "Meeting people and customers is a great thing, and the multi-faceted process of winemaking where there are so many things going on."

Discovery Wines has no retail outlet but can be contacted in Bermuda through Valerie Crisson on 333-9463 or valerie@discoverywines.fr or david@discoverywines.fr.