Two Scots, based in the Cotswolds, selling Vintage Port – this was [...]]]> An attractive, informative website welcomes visitors to independent wine merchant The Cotswold Port Company, who sell Vintage Port, White Port, Ruby Port, Crusted Port, Late Bottled Vintage or LBV Port, Aged Tawny Port, Colheita Port, even Pink Port. Madeira wine

 

Two Scots, based in the Cotswolds, selling Vintage Port – this was not the basis of an obvious business plan by any means.

We already loved Port wine and Moscatel and Madeira and the other dessert wines and when we started taking holidays in Portugal we could not help but notice that the wine shops there offer a much better range of Port wines and shippers than we get in our local supermarket, or even independent wine merchant. We thought it might be a bit like the French keeping the good wines for themselves…

Then in 2004 we moved to the Cotswolds and came over all inspired by the area’s outstanding natural beauty, the superb local meat and cheese and, above all, by the local’s passion for freshness, quality and diversity in their food – demonstrated by the areas’ abundance of delicatessens, cheese shops and restaurants.

The only thing that was missing was a source of the kind of Vintage Port that can turn great meals into fantastic occasions – so we thought we had better do it ourselves. The Cotswold Port Co. was born.

Even as a small company we have a mission statement “to offer people a choice of vintage port they just can’t get anywhere else and make getting a port gift from us feel like your birthday”.

Offering experienced advice on port and glassware, online and mail order ordering this website would be a must to visit for lovers of Port (and Madeira) and fine glassware , whether for drinking or as gifts for anniversaries or retirements?

No tasting dates.

UK Delivery = £4.95

Cotswold Port Co. Ltd, Forge Folly, Aston Magna, Moreton in Marsh  GL56 9QQ t: 01608 650 56

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 [...]]]> 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

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 [...]]]> 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.

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 [...]]]> H and H Bancroft have updated their website and are now known as Bancroft Wines

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.
UK Delivery = £9.95

Tastings offered

Bancroft Wines, Woolyard, 54 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UD  t:020 7232 54404

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 [...]]]> 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

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, [...]]]> 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

We have been sourcing and selling wine online for 11 years and have an extensive knowledge base from which to offer advice and assistance – making your search for quality wine [...]]]> Based in Manchester are online wine merchant Smithfield Wines; who generously offer free delivery within 25 miles of the centre of the city.

We have been sourcing and selling wine online for 11 years and have an extensive knowledge base from which to offer advice and assistance – making your search for quality wine as easy and pain free as possible. We cater for the more discerning and adventurous wine lover and as such, you are unlikely to find our wines on the supermarket shelves. That doesn’t mean they have to be expensive though – just a bit different and representing great value for money in their respective price bracket.

We can also help you find the right wines for that favourite recipe or for that important dinner party. Email us with the details or call us and we will do our best to come up with suggestions, taking into account your tastes your menu and your budget.

We also select the best in vegetarian, vegan and Kosher wines. We were pioneers in the identification of wines suitable for vegetarians and vegans 11 years ago – when the ‘big guys’ hadn’t even considered it!

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.

Website recently updated (March 2011) and offering clear navigation and online ordering

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.

UK Delivery = £7.80

Tastings offered

Smithfield Wine, 3 Longacre Street, Manchester M1 2WN t: 0161 273 6070

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, [...]]]> 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.

UK Delivery = £9.95

Tastings offered

The Sussex Wine Company 47 South Street,Little Chelsea, Eastbourne BN21 4UT    t:01323 431143

The plethora of unusual [...]]]> 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!

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