Christmas is a time for breaking the budget and enjoying yourself, even in London. If you’re like me, getting the right bottle of wine is as important as any part of the Christmas meal. This year I wanted something nice, something from home (Australia) and something that would help me stand up to the cold.
I have found the biggest problem with buying wine in London is that the market is flooded with the heavy weights of both the new and the old world. I guess that is what happens when you have such a big market, where anything from anywhere goes.
Finally I found Philglas & Swiggot. It’s a gem of a wine shop that has a great selection from all over the world. It’s was great to find a small wine merchant that has no preference for any particular country or blend – just good wine. The best thing about the selection is that they are sourced primarily from small vineyards, something that really requires a lot of research and planning. The French guy who ran the shop was super helpful and he really knew his wines, which is just so important.
These guys will match any of the top-end wine cellars like Fortnum and Mason, Harrods etc and you will be avoiding the snobby waistcoat ‘Hoowww, dear sir, can I hheellpp you’ service.
Far and away the best wine shop I’ve been to in London - I have my special bottle and I can’t wait to drink it