your guide to online independent wine and drink merchants in the UK.

Master of Wine Rose Murray Brown (www.rosemurraybrown.com) is once again organising the UK’s largest charity wine tasting in central Edinburgh to raise awareness of Wine Relief and funds for Comic Relief.

26 companies will be exhibiting including major supermarkets, high street retailers and independent merchants with their 2009 Wine Relief selections– with over 100 wines to taste. There will also be competitions and a grand raffle to raise extra funds.

Rose Murray Brown is one of only 270 Masters of Wine worldwide. She is the only female Master of Wine working in Scotland. She passed this rigorous practical and theoretical examination, the highest qualification achievable in the drinks trade, in 1998.

For more info see www.rosemurraybrown.com

Something to warm the bleak winter days is a Whisky Tasting course in the Cotswolds at Farncombe Estate Centre, near Broadway on 17 January 2009. This all day course run by Barry King of For the Love of Whisky will be

…structured to take in some of the important milestones in the history of whisky. It will go on to explain the bewildering nomenclature shown on the labels on the bottle of whisky, the various types of whisky, the regions and the influences on taste. Barry will explain and demonstrate how to nose and taste whisky in order to identify its various characteristics. Some time will be spent on helping you to develop your sense of smell and taste. The manufacturing process will be described, as will the ingredients of whisky and how they influence smell and taste, together with the effect the cask has on whisky during its maturation. There will be 5 different whiskies which you will be experiencing. You will be encouraged to let your senses explore these in order to identify their various characteristics. Throughout the day, Barry will share with you lots of anecdotes and humorous tales.

Farncombe Estate Centre, near Broadway Worcs WR12 7LJ  T: 01386 854100
Barry King runs a specialist Whisky experience company offering tutored tastings such as this and other events for corporate, charity and other groups - see www.fortheloveofwhisky.co.uk/

With Christmas almost upon us thoughts move ahead to New Year, a celebration which the Scots dominate.
So a timely discovery is Cadenheads, a wonderfully atmospheric, old-style emporium on Canongate, part of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Cadenhead claims to be Scotland’s oldest independent bottler -

William Cadenhead has a well established pedigree and the experience of over one and a half centuries ensure that our customers can truly rely on what we put in a bottle. We guarantee that we never chill-filter or chemically alter the products that we bottle nor do we add colouring agents. Each of our bottlings of whisky, and indeed of our rums and cognacs, comes from an individually selected cask.

Hence they offer an impressive range of whiskies (and rum) which are bottled from a single cask - each cask can be quite different even from the same year - factors such as the oak and storage conditions can make a difference to the spirit - not necessarily a uniform product, which the bigger international brands will aim for. This adds a whole new dimension to whisky selection - most consumers now understand the difference between single malt and blended whisky, between Scottish Whisky and Irish Whiskey, and between Highland, Lowland, Islay areas etc. So now you can also choose between different bottlings! This could be a fascinating (if expensive) journey of exploration.

Although seriously Scottish in their history and focus, Cadenhead also bottle rum and are expanding their range into World Whiskies - Single Malt from New Zealand, bourbon from America, whisky from Canada as well as single grain whisky from Scotland. Future bottlings will include Japanese and Australian malts.

Yes, Australian Malt Whisky - which comes from Tasmania, where the climate is rather more temperate than most of Mainland Australia - e.g. www.tasmanianwhisky.com.au/ where the Small Concern Distillery produces Cradle Mountain Malt: ”
Pure rainwater from the isolated craggy peaks of the Tasmanian Highlands helps to produce the unique, smooth taste of Cradle Mountain Single Malt Whisky.
Triple distilled for extra smoothness, Cradle Mountain Malt is made using the world’s finest Franklin barley and one of the purest sources of water on the earth. Cradle Mountain Malt has a pale straw colour with a faintly honeyish nose. It has a smooth palate and is clean tasting with a lingering afterglow.”
William Cadenhead , 172 Canongate Edinburgh EH8 8BN
T: 0131 556 5864 F: 0131 556 2527 E: chws@wmcadenhead.com
also at Campbeltown, Argyll and at Cadenheads 26 Chiltern Street, London W1U 7QF

Well the last posting date for Royal Mail cards is Thursday 18 Dec 2008 for 2nd class and Saturday 20 December for 1st class - but wine merchants such as Nick Dobson will accept orders for Christmas delivery up until Sunday 21 December (to UK mainland addresses).

We have pretty much everything you could possibly need for a perfect Christmas day at www.nickdobsonwines.co.uk but here is a handful of ideas for some top wines to grace your table over the Christmas period…… these also make great gifts.

Joseph Barnes Wines of Saffron Walden’s last online order date is Friday 19 December - but you can also call at the shop right up until 6.30pm on Christmas Eve - but that really is leaving it a little late!

Leon Stolarski will also accept orders for Christmas delivery as late as Sunday 21 December and they are featuring some exciting new arrivals from Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France includng seldom-seen wines such as Collioure and Banyuls.

If your delivery address is London or the Midlands, Sunday 21 December is also the deadline for Vineyards Direct orders for their selection of fine Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Champagne and Tuscany.
Waitrose Wine Direct have an online deadline of 3pm Friday 19 December - but then again you can always go to the local store (although the wine selection is not always as wide as online) and Oddbins is Wednesday 17 December online.

A surprising number of merchants do not specify a last order date for pre-Christmas delivery (or if they do it is not easily found) - at this stage customers want to be sure that they will get their wine on time and hence a phone call may be advised to ensure your chosen wines are in stock and that they can get them out to you before Christmas Eve. And given that most delivery services require a signature, you need to be sure that someone will be at home to take the delivery. It certainly seems as though the small independent wine merchants have the edge in being able to accept late online orders, presumably because they can get their orders together more quickly and use a courier service which offers next day delivery.

However, the latest I have found is Devigne Wines and Confit Direct who quote 3pm Monday 22 December as their order deadline - and as a bonus you can add some French food specialties to your order to add to the Christmas feasting!

An up and coming Scottish indpendent wine merchant has opened a new branch in Edinbugh. Woodwinters was established in Bridge of Allen (just north of Stirling) by husband and wife team Cara Winters and Douglas Wood three years ago and in the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards were voted as runner-up for the Best Indpendent Wine Shop category and the only Scottish merchant in the running - “WoodWinters came close … it is the kind of local wine merchant everyone should have: a friendly presence, terrific selection of wines, and great personal service, delivered with infectious enthusiasm”

We believe that drinking wine is about pleasure and should be fun whether you’re buying party wine sub £5 or you’re a canny claret collector. Our shop is … small; compact and bijou. This helps us to focus on our main objective to only list the best. There is simply no room for shelf fillers. The main shop floor (arranged by style) covers the price range up to £25 and for those who love it and have a wallet to match their vinous passion, step upstairs into the Aladdin’s cave that is a roll call of many of the best producers from around the world.

We promote wines we love with a passion every day. We have never and will never (strong words we know) sell wines on price promotion. We don’t sell baked beans either

The website at www.woodwinters.com/
reflects that enthusiasm and is well-presented with some good features.
Wine, Whisky and Cuban cigars are featured. The wine list looks exciting with few predictable inclusions, and good info on each wine - e.g. Californian Cline Zinfandel 2006 “Meticulous farming. Mature fruit. Handmade wines. Severe selection. Master blending. From repeated tasting of the fruit in the vineyard to seeing the grapes come through the hopper, we still do it the old-fashioned way. We think it shows in the bottle, the only thing that matters.” Dark berry flavours with just enough spice. Lovely!” (£9.50)
With a regular Friday Tasting Club on the last Friday of every month, the themes in 2008 included “Fizz and Chips” and “Bling Bling” - a chance to taste 8 of the most expensive wines in the shop! The 2009 schedule has wine and food themes such as cheese, Spring Lamb and Seafood. (Bridge of Allen).
Being Scotish, they also major on Malt Whiskies, but not at the expense of a great selection of other spirits including some rare Cognacs and Grappa!

www.woodwinters.com/

16 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4HP
91 Newington Road, Edinburgh EH9 1QW
T: 01786 834 894 E: feedback@woodwinters.com

Well, they say it is back by popular demand - the 40% off offer on all wines and champagnes in participating Threshers & Wine Rack stores is available again from 13th - 31st December 2008 just 10 days after the last 40% off campaign closed.

There will obviously be some bargains at this level of discount - but it may be worth a bit of research first just to ensure you are getting a good deal.

As for the cynic - either it was a huge success last time round - or they did not shift as much as they hoped so have to try again - its your call!

You’ll need to download and print out the voucher here or text WINE to 60040

Down in elegant Cheltenham is a wine merchant who also offers the opportunity to try a glass of wine, a coffer and a bite to eat - an ideal combination, esepcially in a town where they take local food produce seriously.

When we are not selling wines and spirits you may find us also serving glasses or wine and coffee. We also have a ‘lite bites’ menu for you to enjoy with your drinks. Catch us on the weekends and you may also enjoy music from one of the musicians that come and play here. Seating in the shop, downstairs in the bistro or outside in the covered courtyard.

So a little detour to this Regency town (and/or for the racing or its literary or other festivals) may be well worthwhile. As for the website at www.johngordons.org.uk, this appears to be a “work in progress” with several links not working - most importantly for the wine list! There is also a Wine Club (but no links) and a regular series of events and tastings.

At John Gordons we specialise in selling beautifully made, high quality wines at affordable prices to the wholesale and general public. You will find selected wines from both the Old and New world. These are not big brand producers, but relatively small individual vineyards, who, along with meticulous wine making, produce wines full of terroir and individuality. The wines we sell are of exceptional quality and in most cases, wines that you will not find elsewhere in the county.

John Gordon Wines, 11 Montpellier Arcade (in Montpellier Walk), Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1SU

T:01242 245985  E:johngordons@gmail.com

Self-confessed Burgundy fans Jason Haynes and Sam Clarke set up Flint Wines (named after a dog!) in 2006 since when they have expanded their offerings to include other regions of France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Their aim is to encourage an honest and informal approach towards wine. They have no intention of compromising on the quality of the wines they buy and sell but they are anxious to make the whole process as accessible and unpretentious as possible. Wines are there to be drunk and enjoyed and whilst certain bottles inspire a degree of deserved reverence, it’s important to remember that wine, like food, is just part of what contributes to great social occasions.

The website is good, with a “Tasting Bench” where they share some extensive tasting notes from recent tastings - written to inform rather than promote sales - and written with passion!

But it is clearly Burgundy which drives them:

“It is very difficult to précis what Burgundy is all about; there’s so much to say and words generally fail to convey its complex appeal. However, one can but try!
The region of Burgundy runs north to south, stretching from Chablis all the way down to Mâcon. Its epicentre, which envelops the beautiful town of Beaune, is descriptively termed the Côte d’Or, the Hill of Gold, and incorporates a series of small villages that play host to hundreds of different vineyards. These vineyards coat the hillside and provide a continually evolving backdrop to the landscape as they ebb and flow during the changing seasons. Burgundy in February looks very different to Burgundy in September.
It is a wondrous region that the captures the heart of anyone who visits it. It is not just the magnificent wines that delight but the people, the food and the way of life.
The best way to understand Burgundy is to go there. See the famous vineyards and spend time in some of the region’s fabulous restaurants, eating the food and drinking the wines. The complex system of vineyards and classifications will suddenly all make sense, hopefully!

Flint Wines
38 De Laune Street, Kennington, London SE17 3UR
E: info@flintwines.com

Manchester Wine Merchant Hanging Ditch opens for their Bin End Wine Sale on Boxing Day, Friday 26 December 2008.

Named after a natural ditch where textiles used to hang to dry in the middle ages, Hanging Ditch wine merchants was established by Ben Stephenson and Mark Dent who “aim to provide “carefully chosen dependable wines alongside attentive and professional advice.”

Wine is served by the glass as well as coffee to drink in or take out.

Unfortunately their website is a little minimalistic, but if you join their mailing list you can download their 30-page wine list which offers an exciting range of wines, but without any tasting notes. So really you’ll have to visit the shop and taste!  or go to one of their regular Masterclasses - or go to the Boxing Day Bin End Sale which starts at 10am!

At Hanging Ditch we champion esoteric & high quality wines at all different price-points. We constantly search for the best wines we can find, with quality being our driving focus.
Our wines come from small quality conscious producers, as consequence of this we cannot guarantee year long availability of our products, however due to our diverse selection we will always be able to recommend something similar in style, or something new & exciting!

hanging ditch wine merchants

Brittania Buildings, 42-44 Victoria Street. Manchester M3 1ST

T:0161 832 2222

Corks of Cotham, a suburb of Bristol,is an innovative independent wine merchant with a wide range of wines fro Argentina, Austria, England, Germany, Lebanon, Hungary and all the usual sources.

As an independent wine and spirit merchant, we stock a hugely varied and highly sought after range of wines. We source all of our wines ourselves to ensure that, from the most humble table wine to the finest vintage, each bottle represents the best quality money can buy. We also stock hundreds of English Ales and Foreign Beers plus a staggering array of spirits!

Our friendly and approachable staff are qualified in general wine and spirit knowledge. We all have our particular areas of interest and, between us, we can advise you on most booze related matters! Our Website will introduce you to many drinks you have not heard of and a few that you had forgotten about. We hope it will ease the task of choosing what to buy when you visit us.

Amongst the range is a rare Marcillac from SW France - Domaine du Cros ‘Lo Sang del Pais’ 2006: “Distinct it certainly is with juicy raspberry fruits, provocative acidity and firm yet fine tannins. Not so easy on its own but with the right food, a winner! Superb with duck confit, pork rillettes, cepes and local charcuterie” From New Zealand there is the Isabel Pinot Gris 2006 - “the best pinot gris from New Zealand we have tried. A truly gorgeous wine that is a must buy”.

The website has a reassuringly personal feel to it - rather than just some corporate front end. With regular tastings, special offers and regular attendance at the Bristol Slow Food market this looks to be a must, especially if you are in Bristol and the South West.

Corks of Cotham

54 Cotham Hill, Cotham, Bristol BS6 6JX
T:0117 973 1620
E:dominic@corksof.com

The Theatre of Wined describes itself as a “Purveyor of fine wines, rare beers and exquisite spirits”

We offer all the traditional services of a wine merchant, including glass loan and free local delivery, as well as a very popular series of tastings and a members wine club

At first glance the website looks appealing - some nice design elements, and their wine list certainly looks interesting with a wide range of quality wines such as Terlano Gewurztraminer Classico 2007 from the Alto Adige in northern Italy “Quite one of the loveliest Gewurz. we have tasted in a long time. … it doesn’t have the richness of many Alsace wines, but has wonderful aromatics and purity” and some quirly choices such as a Swiss soarkling rosé Mauler Brut Rose NV.

However the site does not quite do justice to the wine selection - with no on-line ordering *just download an order form and wine list or phone) and the navigation and wine selection is a bit minimslistic.

Theatre of Wine 75 Trafalgar Road, London SE10 9TS
T:020 8858 6363 E:Wine@TheatreofWine.com

BBC 2 TV is broadcasting a controversial documentary on natural cork on 9 December 2008 at 8.00pm:

The cork oak is the only tree in the world whose bark can be periodically removed without killing it. But this tree is amazing in other ways. It survives in poor soil and searing heat and provides not only nesting places for Booted Eagles but also space for some of Europe’s rarest wildflowers. This exquisitely-filmed portrait of the Montados reveals one of the last places in Europe where a sustainable local economy still dovetails harmoniously with nature.

Parts of the wine trade suspect this is just propoganda on behalf of the cork industry, which is struggling in the face of greater acceptance of screwcaps and/or the use of plastic corks which tend to perform better than natural cork, resulting in fewer spoiled bottles. As much as I appreciate the convenience of the screwcap, it does rob the ritual of opening a bottle of wine of some its romance and ocassion.

For more info see www.bbc.co.uk/

Majestic Wine Warehouses (and online) have some special offers in the run up to Christmas 08:-

Buy any 2 New Zealand still wines and save 20% - includes superb Sauvignon Blancs from Oyster Bay, Montana (”A crisp, lively wine showing all the characteristics that Marlborough Sauvignons have come to be so favoured for”) and Villa Maria (”A zesty wine with fantastic complexity and texture. Elegant elderflower and gooseberry are joined by tropical passion fruit and nectarine”

Buy any 2 Chilean wines and save 20% including exciting wines from Casillero del Diablo, Cono Sur, Errazuriz, Concha Y Toro, Santa Rita and Montes,f

Generally I like the offerings from Majestic - good wines, keen prices and knowledgeable and helpful staff BUT I don’t always want to buy 12 bottles - a requirement which is no longer enforced by licensing laws. Sure, for online orders and free delivery it makes some sense, but in-store it seems a little perverse, even with their generous policy on in-store samples.

For more info see www.majestic.co.uk

Independent wine merchant Nick Dobson always offers something out of the ordinary - and this month he has new arrivals from Portugal and Austria - opposite ends of western Europe and offering a diverse range of wine styles.

Our new range of wines and Port from the Douro Valley in Portugal, a fascinating wine-producing country, which makes some of the best wines in the world. Our selections are all from small family producers, and we have not only some exceptional red wines at all price levels, but also some lovely whiter and some really nice Port.

The Portuguese wines of the Douro valley (beyond Port) deserve to be better known - the reds have a great intensity of flavour - using grape varieties such as Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca for the reds.
At the other end of the range Nick Dobson offers Austrian and German Dessert Wines:-

These world-class wines are truly stunning, and are quite hard to find in the UK, and as such make a really distinctive gift. The cost for a typical 37.5cl bottle is similar to that of a bottle of half-decent Champagne - and whereas the Champagne will usually be gone soon after it’s opened, a sumptuous Trockenbeerenauslese or Ausbruch can give pleasure for many weeks.

Sean and Caroline Feely, proprietors of the organic Bergerac Chateau Haut Garrigue also known as Wild Earth Vineyards (in the Dordogne, SW France/Aquitaine) are offering the chance to purchase their wines direct for delivery in the UK - and in time for Christmas if you order by 9th December 2008. They produce really good red, rosé and dry white Bergerac wines plus a dessert wine (Saussignac) and a sparkler.

‘Its gorgeous’ is what the Irish Times says of our La Source red wine. ….
It’s not just the taste that is superb. When you buy from us you are supporting:
- organic farming giving you a healthy product that does not have herbicide/ pesticide residues
- a very low carbon footprint (we do much of our vineyard work by hand, we favour natural processes rather than intervention and we have an oak forest to offset our CO2 emissions) giving us all a better future.

They offer a service which delivers your wine direct to the door, the prices including excise duty, VAT and delivery - so you can get a real flavour of the Dordogne for your Christmas drinking! And the added bonus is that being Irish and South African, you can chat with then about your choice of wines,

Caroline & Seán Feely, Château Haut Garrigue, 24240 Saussignac France
caroline @ wildearthvineyards.com Tel: +33(0)553 227271