Philglas & Swiggot

A great name for a wine merchant - Philglas and Swiggot. Founded in 1991 the company is unashamedly upmarket with three stores in Richmond-upon-Thames, Marylebone and Battersea. They have been crowned London Wine Merchant of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

When we first started, we believed that there was the need for a good, down to earth, friendly and helpful specialist wine shop offering a range of interesting wines from mostly smaller producers. A sort of antidote to the increasing anonymity and sameness of the big chain stores.

They list a a superb range of wines “cherry-picked from well-known estates and up-and-coming producers”. Australia is their main strength with 160 wines listed. Burgundy, smaller producers only, and Italy, from the approachable to the Super-Tuscans, not far behind in terms of breadth, excitement and interest though.

The Philglas & Swiggot Subscriber Club offers a 12-bottle mixed case with tasting notes (bi-monthly or every 3 months) with prices ranging from £120 up to £250 a case. I have heard some good things about these selections that often include some of the rarer wines from the list.

A good website, although a search facility would be useful, but sadly no online ordering. You can arrange delivery but it would seem they prefer you to pop into one or other of the shops.

A selection of tasting notes on wines stocked by Philglas & Swiggot can be viewed on Spittoon.