Category Archives: Wine Merchants

Butlers Wine Cellar – The Evolving Nature of Wine Retail in Brighton

A lot of you read my “interview” with Feral Art & Vin in Bordeaux last month. I think I mentioned that it was the first in a short series on wine shops which rock my wine world, and for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Californian Wine, English Wine, Portuguese wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Heroes, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rewilding Bordeaux – Feral Art & Vin Three Years On (Natural Wine in that Bastion of Conservative Taste)

Back in March 2021 Russell Faulkner and his wife, Sema, opened Feral Art & Vin in the heart of the old city of Bordeaux. To open a shop selling natural wines, alongside art exhibitions, and indeed to stock around 50% … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, German Wine, Mosel, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Heroes, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wine Prices – A Bit of a Moan

Over the period since Brexit and the Covid pandemic the prices of individual bottles of wine I have bought for years have unquestionably gone up…and considerably. I can think of wines which perhaps cost in the low £30s back in … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Fine Wine, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Hobby, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Review of the Year 2023

My Review of the Year 2023 marks a new phase in my life. I can’t really say career, because as far as wine goes, it isn’t a conventional one (and I think, to many working in wine in my new … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Review of the Year, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Books, Wine Festivals, Wine Heroes, Wine Merchants, Wine Science, Wine Tastings, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Basket Press – New Vintages in Edinburgh

The last of the Edinburgh tastings for November featured some new wines from Basket Press Wines, actually tasted outdoors on a lovely mid-November lunchtime. It doesn’t always rain here, contrary to the myths put about down south. You will doubtless … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Czech Wine, German Wine, Hungarian Wine, Natural Wine, Slovakian Wine, Slovenian Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Modal Wines Edinburgh Tasting at Spry, November 2023

Modal Wines held their Edinburgh Trade Tasting on 6 November at Spry Wines which, at 1 Haddington Place, is at the top of Leith Walk. For anyone who doesn’t know Spry, it is a natural wine-focused bar and restaurant which … Continue reading →

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Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair 2023 (Part 3): Vine Trail, Southern Spain and Arran Whisky

Parts 1 and 2 of my selections from the Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair contained wines from six small independent importers. Part 3 Shows some wines from Vine Trail, along with some delicious gems from Southern Spain poured on … Continue reading →

Posted in Natural Wine, Sherry, Spanish Wine, Whisky, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair 2023 (Part 2): Roland Wines, Element Wines and Modal Wines

Part 1 from the Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair covered wines from Indigo Wines, Keeling Andrew and Dynamic Vines. Part 2 here follows the same path, with a selection from the wines poured by Roland Wines, Element Wines and … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Austrian Wine, German Wine, Italian Wine, Natural Wine, Portuguese wine, Slovakian Wine, Spanish Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair 2023 (Part 1): Indigo Wine, Keeling Andrew and Dynamic Vines

November is tasting time, and my November kicked off with the Cork & Cask Winter Wine Fair, organised by one of Edinburgh’s most successful indie wine shops. The great thing about this tasting is that their suppliers tend to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Shrine, The Club and the10 Cases

I’ve been down in London for a few days, the main event being to have lunch at The 10 Cases in Covent Garden with Zainab and Jiri of Basket Press Wines, including a tasting of a few of the wines … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Czech Wine, Dining, Natural Wine, Slovakian Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Bars, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments