Category — Gift Packs

Cooden Cellars is an independent wine merchant established by Colin Barnes and Ian Jarman in 1997. In May 2001 we opened our retail shop in the Grand Hotel Buildings, Compton Street, Eastbourne. They were awarded Independent Merchant of the Year 2007 as well as Regional Wine Merchant of the Year in the IWC Awards for the last three years, in 2003 and 2004 as runner-up and in 2005 outright.

For those not lucky enough to live within the bounds of Eastbourne they maintain a very functional and informative website. Registered users can login and leave their own tasting notes. The only thing that is lacking are images of the wine bottles (perhaps they should engage this budding photographer?)

The range is excellent across the board - lots of interesting wines from Argentina and Australia, New Zealand and Portugal are particularly interesting with several wines we are yet to discover. Regular offers, a regularly updated blog section and a decent range of spirits plus a regular payment wine club complete the picture. Perhaps the perfect wine merchant?

Had enough of wrestling with the sellotape, wrapping paper and ribbon?

Why not think outside the box this Christmas with a selection of beautiful gift cartons from Graham’s and Warre’s ports?

Graham’s LBV is ideal for whiling away an evening with friends. This blend of wood matured wine from a single vintage has been matured in a wooden barrel for four to six years before filtering and bottling. It’s the only wood matured LBV to have won a gold medal in the world’s most prestigious wine competition: the International Wine Challenge, so you can be sure it’s a real crowd pleaser too.

If it’s versatility you’re after, Warre’s Otima 10 year old is perfect for serving with all sorts of seasonal goodies – particularly when served chilled. This finely crafted award-winning tawny has a light delicate palate, notes of dried fruits on the nose and subtle caramel finish. What’s more, the elegant bottle looks great on the dinner table too.

For really special occasions, Warre’s bottle matured LBV is the next best thing to vintage port. Having won six gold medals at the International Wine Challenge and seven at the International Wine and Sprit Competition; it’s broken all the records. Plus, because it’s been bottled unfiltered, it has unique aging potential. The flavours and aromas will improve over time in the bottle.

Warre’s Otima 10 year old. RRP £10.99, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose
Graham’s LBV, RRP £11.99, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison, Asda, Waitrose
Warre’s Traditional LBV, RRP £16.49 Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Oddbins

Superb Italian wine specialist Bat and Bottle have linked up with Italian food retailer Delizioso to create a new of hampers designed for the Christmas market.

An easy gift for many, perhaps lacking in originality for some, these hampers look a little more interesting than the norm. They actually contain items people would use rather than stuff in the back of the cupboard.

The hamper features our wines and Delizioso’s immaculate food selections, it will be packed and distributed by the Delizioso team and deliveries will be from the first week of December.

The hampers range in price from £23.50 to £144. Order your catalogue via email Bat and Bottle or
Delizioso.

H and H Bancroft have updated their website.

A nice clean feel, stylishly laid out. A good search facility and basic wine information that leads on to fuller details. Purchases have to be by the unmixed case though. Registered users get a wish list facility which may be useful for some, or just wishful thinking for others.

“Our wine portfolio at H&H Bancroft changes each year but the ethos behind it remains constant. From the classic regions of France to the furthest stretches of the New World our Buying Director, David Round MW has succeeded in bringing in the well-established names and also the hottest new wineries to ensure that our customers can explore the world of wine with the greatest of ease. If re-assurance were needed that we are working closely with the best growers in the world, we need only look at the awards and critical acclaim that roll in every month as their latest vintages are reviewed.”

The range is strong on France, Italy and Spain. Argentina puts in a good range too but South Africa, New Zealand, Portugal and Chile are rather poorly represented.

Sympathies to the guys at Le Bon Vin; this Sheffield based web and premises wine merchant has suffered badly during the recent floods. The warehouse and shop suffered an estimated £250,000 of damage.

Web-sales though have been unaffected.

We have just launched our all new website with new features and even more wines than before. Please take the time to have a look at www.lebonvin.co.uk We have some excellent prices for branded champagne as always and a massive selection of wines that are top quality. As our main business is to the trade we pass on big saving to retail customers who want to buy the wines without the restaurant mark-up. We specialise in French wines but we also have decent offerings from around the world.

They have created a great little website. Fully search-able they have plenty of special offers, pre-mixed cases and a wine range that encompasses the world. Champagne is a big feature with 40 wines listed but Australia, France, Spain and Italy are all well covered.

There is a reliance on stocking the full range from a single estate (New Zealand for example) and a tendency to the lower end of the price scale but you are sure to find plenty of interest. A few spirits - around 110 different products - pop up in the search results to complete the offering.

Le Bon Vin
340 Brightside Lane
Sheffield
S9 2SB

Operational since 1988 Surf4Wine was one of the pioneers of the internet-based mail order wine merchant scene in the UK.

It’s a dynamic little operation and while they admit that the website has lacked in the update department recently a chat with Andrew Chapman indicates that things are about to improve. Not only is an expansion of the Oxfordshire warehouse and offices about to begin a new ‘backend’ of the website is soon to be launched. Coupled with a new staff and a range of new wines things are going from strength to strength for Surf4Wine.

The wine range is world encompassing with a slight slant of favouritism to the new world. There are many gems on the list ranging from Brokenwood, Bremerton and Qupe through to Kim Crawford and Vergelegen. Plenty of gift packs - such as a seasonal six pack rosé case (£36) and gift packs for Father’s Day, a smattering of spirits and some unusual beers completes the range.

Delivery is £7.50 per order regardless of size (up to a case) which is pretty much standard (and at cost). Personal service is vital to the success of the company shown through Chapman’s professional staff and attention to detail. Buy with confidence.

Surf4Wine/Andrew Chapman Fine Wines
Unit T2-27 & 28,
Milton Park,
Near Abingdon,
Oxfordshire OX14 4TA
United Kingdom

While the Wine Cave does list a smattering of wines from around the world and most regions of France it is Burgundy were this merchants specialism lies.

Burgundy Wine - Once you’ve tried it you can’t go back!

Once you’ve got a taste for Burgundy wine you can’t really go back. Burgundy wines offer structure, complexity, charm and a smoothness, that no other red wine anywhere in the world can compete with.

The Burgundian wines are imported direct mostly from small concerns with several being exclusive to the Wine Cave. Plenty to explore in the red and white wine listings but there are various pre-mixed cases for those in a hurry or wishing for a sample mix. There is a Chablis tasting case for £68, a Nudent Burgundy case at £130 and a selection of wines from Domaine Leflaive for £79.50.

Each wine is listed with a brief tasting note and provided with a bottle picture (it is important to me to see exactly what I am buying!) while the background copy is punctuated with atmospheric vineyard images.

Minimum purchase is six bottles (a half case) unmixed. I couldn’t find details of delivery charges.

The Wine Cave
The Angel Inn
Hetton
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 6LT

Based in Matlock in Derbyshire, The French Wine People are importers of wines from across the regions of France.

What sets The French Wine People apart from the dozens of other smaller French specialists, apart from a nicely designed website?

Some of the more eclectic wines include a Savagnin from the Jura, a good range of aged Armagnac’s and Cognacs and I notice, of all things, a Cave amongst the sparkling/Champagne listings. The dessert wine section has a few non-French infiltrators - the Brown Brothers range from Australia and stickies from Germany and California.

Nice to see a pink Sancerre and unusual blends from Cabardes too.

Prices range from £4.50 right up to £100 plus for the top Clarets but generally sit below the £15 mark. The range is not huge but does appear to be very selective and personally chosen.

Postage is ‘at cost’ working out at £9.95 per parcel fro most of the UK but is free within 20 miles of Matlock.

The French Wine People
Hopton Courtyard
7 Snitterton Road
Matlock
Derbyshire DE4 3LZ

Based in Manchester are Smithfield Wines; and generously offer free delivery within 25 miles of the centre of the city. Us poor things further afield have to pay £7.50 per case.

Plenty to chose from - the list spans the globe with particular emphasis on Vegetarian wines. Who would have realised there were so many vegan/vegetarian wines available! Kosher and Organic wines are also highlighted in the main list. While the whole world is represented Spain seems to be a particular passion with good representation from across the country.

Prices are, with just a couple of exceptions, firmly in the sub £15 range with a vast majority in the £6-£8 range.

Slightly confusingly the site is spilt into three ’shops’. There is the ‘normal’ general wine shop, a sub-shop dedicated to the large number of vegetarian wines and a third covering gift packs and hampers.

Smithfield Wine
3 Longacre Street
Manchester
M1 2WN

From their Eastbourne base the Sussex Wine Company are rather active on the tasting/gourmet dinner front. Their calendar brims with delights, that quickly sell out by all accounts.

We’re an Independent Wine Merchant based in Eastbourne supplying quality wines from boutique producers around the world. We have a comprehensive selection of whisky, spirits, Champagne, organic wines, and luxury goods such as caviar, foie gras and handmade East Sussex organic chocolates. We deliver to the UK and now the EU, offer free (UK) delivery over £100 and feature many discounted mixed cases. We also produce a monthly newsletter with further subscriber offers.

The range is strong on France, Italy and Australia. Other areas are a bit light but offer ’selected quality’ - Millton Opu Riesling an organic wine from New Zealand or Quinta da Boavista Espiga Tinto from Portugal for example.

For the gourmet the deli section holds many, mostly French, delicacies plus a wide range of caviar for those with deep pockets. Glasses, gift packs and gift certificates complete a good, broad range. Nothing wrong with the website either - easily navigable, clear and with just the right level of details on the products.

Delivery for orders under £100 is charged at £6.95.

The Sussex Wine Company
47 South Street
Little Chelsea
Eastbourne BN21 4UT
Tel/Fax: 01323 431143

Not just 15o wines on the list but a fine looking range of deli items too - pasta sauces, olive oils, balsamic vinegars and the like. Italy Abroad is a member of the ASDW (Association of Small Direct Wine Merchants) about which you can read in the Telegraph.

The plethora of unusual grape varieties alone makes Italy a fascinating and exciting country to explore wine wise. One way to sample the delights of Italy and the range of wines Italy Abroad offers would be via one of their pre-mixed cases. These range in price from £70 up to £150 or so. There are five different cases to select from.

Red, white and sparkling wines are all listed and available to order by the bottle if the pre-mixed cases do not appeal. A range of organic wines is also available. For a regular two bottle shipment over a year (?) the wine club will be of interest. Cost is £185.

… “Il giro d’Italia con il vino”- was formed, in order to bring to a wider public some of the outstanding small and medium-sized Italian wine makers who, in our opinion, make Italy one of the most interesting wine producing country in the world.”

Every shipment also includes detailed information about the wine’s producers, tasting notes, and food pairing suggestions from Italyabroad.com online recipes. In addition, you’ll receive special offers for more Italian wines at discounted prices, available exclusively to Club members.”

My only complaint is the lack of delivery charge details in the small print. Oh and the fact that the online newsletter hasn’t been updated since December 2005!

It is a bit old-fashioned looking and really the preserve of the ale-geek but the Oxford Bottled Beer Database is a treasure. As the name suggests it is full of beer tasting notes and ratings mostly submitted by users.

Spot a brew you haven’t supped before? Then head to the OBBD for details.

What is also rather decent of the young fellows who run the site is the occassional discounts they negociate with various beer retailers in the UK. The lastest such offer is 5% off the Christmas Selection Box from Living Beer.com.

This is a mixed case of 12 different ales with a seasonal theme. All the ales are bottle conditioned and from the UK, many from small microbreweries that might otherwise be difficult to get hold of. You can claim your 5% discount by going to www.livingbeer.com, purchasing the case and quoting the promotional code OBBDCSB-5 when you get to the checkout.

The box contains such delights as A Lump Of Coal, Reindeer’s Delight and Good King Senseless. An excellent gift.