A vintner is a wine merchant. In some modern use, in particular in American English, the term is also used as a synonym for winemaker. The term started to be used in Middle English, when it superseded the earlier term vinter. Due to the ties of England with Bordeaux, vintners were among the more important people in London during the 14th and early 15th centuries, with four mayors of London being vintners under the reign of Edward II.