F&M! WoW for the year

Photos courtesy Sophie Kidman

Minus the surly waitress, F&M's 1707 Wine Bar is a top spot. It may be better suited for a date or a smaller party as they didn't seem to handle our larger group.... at least when we were standing up at the bar. We had to be seated at all times. Perhaps it was for the wine flights, which I thought were brilliant - tasty, great way to sample, not too big, well-priced... give them a try - the Spanish, Italian and Bordeaux flights were most popular last week with us.

They cut Spanish Jamon off the bone for those of us who were hungry. The late menu actually has a number of tasty treats (e.g., wasabi salmon). Cheese too.

Thanks to all those who came last week. Special mention must go to the boys from LBS for joining us. AJW and Anthony Davis, thanks for getting along. Hope to see you back again soon.

Season's Greetings all. A big thank you to everyone for your wonderful support of Wine on Wednesday in 2009. I trust it's been fun. Look forward to being back next year, bringing more with it. In the meantime, happy holidays and enjoy your wines.

Anto

Festive Fortnum Flights

Just a reminder that this week's Wine on Wednesday (16 Dec 09) is at Fortnum & Mason's 1707 Wine Bar. It's on Picadilly (no. 181), between Green Park and Picadilly Circus tube stations.

If you enter F&M through the doors from Picadilly, straight ahead (you may not be able to see it for all the Christmas shoppers, but I assure it's there) is a spiral staircase which will take you down to the lower ground floor where 1707 is nestled.

They offer wine flights (3 smaller glasses of wine) so you can choose an assortment of wines to sample for between £10 and £20, which I think will be a fun way to explore some grape varieties, wine regions and styles.

Besides F&M alone being worth the visit, there's every reason to come this week as it's the Christmas and last official WoW for 2009. As well, Anthony Watson will be making a guest appearance - all the way from Ireland. So, do come along from 7pm (until 10:30pm when they close). I look forward to seeing you.

Compliments of the season

Anto

Perry Bros. at Berry Bros.

Just headed in to Berry Bros. & Rudd on St James Street near Pall Mall with my brother Charlie to stock up on wine supplies for Christmas. These guys are old school - they were established in XVII Century, so it's more than reasonable that they call themselves Fine Wine & Spirit Merchants. They know their stuff, and the range is fun to navigate. Can recommend a visit to this English institution who supplies the Royal Family.

http://www.bbr.com/GB/about/who-we-are

Seasons greetings

A Wine at the Barrel with Maddog

Grapeshots is a great little establishment. The laneways and passageways around it add to its charm. I wouldn't go overboard about the wine list. Nice enough. I learnt that it's one of Davy's numerous winebars. Davy's are "purveyors of fine wine" founded in 1870 by Francis Edwin Davy. So, there's a bit of history there, but it seems more commercial, the wine feels more mass produced, nowadays.

The wine on Wednesday was Spain - Tempranillo and Rioja - Davy's label. Red. Nice enough.

Enjoyable Wine on Wednesday. Cheers to Kel.

No Cigar... change to this week's venue

Enoteca Da Luca is not ready for us this week. I saw the owner today, happily hanging some legs of prosciutto in the bar (like I said putting the finishing touches on the fit-out), but unfortunately he won't have it ready until Friday evening at the earliest when he is now hoping to open the doors properly..... one for the new year.

So, for tomorrow night (9 Dec 09), WoW will instead be at the nearby Grapeshots. This quaint old English wine bar is tucked away in Artillery Passage, near Liverpool Street tube station. Postcode is E1 7LJ. If you find it a little tricky to locate, please call, it's worth the adventure through the little laneways to the wine barrel in the bar where we'll meet and enjoy some December wines as the year comes to a close. Yes, it's the penultimate WoW for the year. With the busy-ness of silly season in swing and people going away on holidays, make sure you come along tomorrow night or on 16 December for a last WoW of 2009.

A space is reserved from 7:15pm. Look forward to it.

Slight Gamble

There's a new wine bar opening up just near Liverpool Street Station. It's called Enoteca Da Luca. It's in Devonshire Square. The final touches are being put on the fit out. Looks a cracker. I saw the owner the other day and he said the bar will be ready next week. It's not possible to make a booking yet though, so we'll be taking a slight punt. However, if we turn up and hit any worries (i.e., find that there's been a delay in opening), we'll head to one of two other wine bars I know near there. Give me or Charlie Perry a call in this case. Will be fun. Come along from 7-7:30pm.

Look forward to it.