We are a small family business run by Michael Jobling and his niece, Torie Jackson.  Based in the North East but with a national distribution, we began in 1988 with a modest 45 wines and a hopeful list of friends and acquaintances.  Michael had previously worked as a management accountant in the motor trade but  -  either because of or despite this  -  developed an all-absorbing interest in wines.  Throwing caution to the wind, he gave up the day job to concentrate on what he realised he liked best; discovering wines of interest, value and originality.  We have now grown our wine stock to a carefully chosen but eclectic list of around 300.Torie joined the growing business in 1996, having previously worked for the National Trust.  She has worked her way through all ‘sectors’ of the company  -  sales, deliveries, office administration, accounts, sourcing and buying  -  developing her wine palate under Michael’s tutelage along the way.  Today, although the division of work is fairly fluid, Torie is more often to be found in the office and dealing with customers (a role she combines with bringing up three children and a farmer husband) while Michael is more often out on the road, in charge of wine ordering, deliveries, restaurant customers, and talks and tastings.  Wine selection is a team effort.We specialise in finding interesting wines from smaller growers as well as sourcing good value wines from the larger producers.

A combination of youth and experience seems to work well, with many reliable fine wines on the list interspersed with some interesting and keenly-priced wines from smaller producers and less-familiar regions. The whole approach seems very unstuffy, and I particularly liked the “why use us section” – a good mantra for good independent wine merchants everywhere!:

We like to keep things simple
We don’t sell wines that we would not drink ourselves.
We don’t stock wines that you would find in big multiples or supermarkets.  Ours are often from small producers  -  interesting, different, good value, unexpected.
We don’t expect you to be a wine expert (that’s our job) but we don’t mind if you are.
We don’t sell you a more expensive wine if a cheaper one fits your brief.
We don’t expect you to invite us in for a glass of wine, but we don’t mind if you do (only joking!).

Michael Jobling Wines Limited, PO Box 90, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0WZ
t: 01913 784 554
e: info@michaeljoblingwines.com

Established in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1970, we are an independent firm of wine merchants supplying top quality wines and providing a first class service to the UK mainland via an efficient 2 working day delivery service. Local deliveries are usually carried out within 24 hours by our own delivery vans.
Our small but highly professional team is fronted by Alastair Stewart & Mark Rennie who between them have more than 65 years experience in the drinks’ industry.

The wine list runs to over 600 wines from both small independent winemakers to some of the bigger names in the business = the prices look reasonable, and they have a real shop so deal with real customers as well as an on-line presence.
Richard Granger, West Jesmond Station, Lyndhurst Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3HH
t : 0191 2815000
e : sales@richardgrangerwines.co.uk

Each lost merchant dimishes choice and variety for consumers, but with the recession, a poor exchange rate and aggressive pricing from supermarkets etc., it is not surprising that some merchants will struggle,

The only good news is that you may be able to pick up some bargains!

A massive thank you to all the customers of The Bristol Wine Company for all your business over the past decade. You are all doubtless aware by now that we did not survive the recession. However there is one final opportunity to purchase wines, beers and spirits from the liquidated stocks. Prices are rock bottom and a minimum purchase of 12 bottles (9Litres) is required although this can be mixed. Stock will have to be collected from Wrington and must be paid for by either cheque or cash. Cheques must be accompanied by a cheque guarantee card and are payable to The Bristol Wine Company. If you would like a list of available stock then forward your name, email address and evening telephone number to E:jon.king@tbwc.co.uk

The Bristol Wine Company
Transom House, Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6AH.    Tel: 0117 373 0288
www.thebristolwinecompany.co.uk

Opening times
Monday to Friday 10.00am to 7.00pm   Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm   Sunday closed
Stocks are limited and are on a first come first served basis. Regretably the website looks to have closed already!

This does not claim to be comprehensive, and some merchants are on-line only – so you may not be able to visit, but might benefit from cheaper local delivery arrangements – we always suggest a phone call before making a special journey to check what arrangements or opening times may be.

Many also offer tastings, either at their base or in other venues. We would always recommend merchants who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic – a tasting or a chat with the merchant will usually help to make the right choices.

The map features specialist wine merchants, although some have cleverly included gourmet foods or delicatessen or even a café or wine bar.

If you know of a good local independent specialist wine merchant or a good wine bar let us know and we will try to include them, which might help other wine lovers to discover them, support their business and help to stem the tide of big brands and big supermarkets and chains which dominate the market. SUGGEST A WINE MERCHANT/WINE BAR

View the map

Having craftily bagged the web address of  www.thewinecompany.co.uk/, the people at Colchester Wine Company in Essex have developed an attractive and easy-to-navigate online wine merchant site. With a wide range of wines on offer, especially from France and Australia, Italy, Spain and New Zealand – there is bound to be something of interest to most palates.

We are a family owned wine merchants with over 150 years of wine industry experience. As such, our dedicated and knowledgeable staff are happy to provide answers to all your questions about wine purchase, enjoyment and storage. We are possibly one of the most diverse wine merchants offering a wide range of wine related services including wines for weddings, corporate events and advice on gift buying, investment and cellar management.

Delivery is offered nationwide (£7.99 for orders below £200) prepared by their grandly-named “specialist in-house fulfilment team”, but for locals (and visitors from further away) there is also a real shop – “Our retail premises at Gosbecks Park, Colchester is arguably the greatest wine shop in the country” – an abitious claim but you can take a virtual tour of the shop online to verify the statement – it looks very atmospheric and well-stocked.  Definitely worth a visit and/or a detour I suspect.

Regular tastings are also on offer, such as the Colchester Wine Challenge : France v The New World on 30 July 2010.

The Colchester Wine Company, Gosbecks Park, Colchester, Essex CO2 9JT

t:01206 713560 E: sales@thewinecompany.co.uk

we stock some of the good, the great and the truly awesome wines available;  we hope we have created a simple, sleek, easy to use website for you; wehave a great selection of gifts for you and can decorate each gift pack to make them extra special; we have dozens of fantastic case offers available every month.; a variety of wines from a variety of countries – you choose!;we offer you great competitions, discovery cases, and the opportunity to enjoy winery holidays.

The range of wines looks to be extensive acrosss both New and Old Worlds, but there does not appear to be a specific specialisation or rationale behind the choice of bottles. Many big, familiar reliable names will be found. The site looks easy to navigate – but personally I would prefer to know who is beind this site and what their “passions” are. For independent wine merchants to prosper they need to differentiat themselves from the supermarkets andhigh-street chains – I wish wearewines.co.uk well – their facebook, twitter feeds and competitions should help

wearewines.co.uk

Unit D, Fauld Ind estate, Fauld, Tutbury Burton on trent

enquiries@wearewines.co.uk

Adnams, the respected East Anglian brewer, hotel keeper and independent wine merchant hosts a free tasting weekend on 11/12 June 2010 – AND is also offering a chance to win a superb holiday on a South African vineyard estate (after the World Cup)

Win a wine lover’s dream holiday to South Africa
Buy any 12 bottles of South African wine
to be entered into a draw to win a five-night stay for two people at the beautiful Seidelberg Estate
vineyard in Paarl.

For more info see Adnams Cellar & Kitchen

4 Drayman Square,Victoria Street, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6G

Other branches in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Essex and in Richmond, West London.

Buy any 12 bottles of South African wine
to be entered into a draw to win a five-night stay for two people at the beautiful Seidelberg Estate
vineyard in Paarl.

The shop will have a tasting bar for customers to try before they buy and regular promotions and customer tastings will take place on the premises. Our full and extensive range of wines and spirits will be stocked and the shop will also feature a Fine Wine section where one can peruse classic wines from around the world.

The shop will be at 165 Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0PB – near to PC World and Currys and just off the Western/Southern Bypass and the A34.

It is surprising that a city such as Oxford, with its many colleges and an outwardly prosperous population does not support more independent wine merchants. Stevens Garnier, who are predominantly a wine importing agency, does have a retail shop also in Botley (47 West Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 0JF) – and to my mind that still qualifies them as an independent, in that they are not owned or controlled by another company which would restrict its choice of wines or suppliers.

Oxford Wine Company, Standlake, Witney, Oxon OX29 7PR
T: 01865 301144 E:john@oxfordwine.co.uk

The easy-to-navigate website will showcase Union Market’s 60-plus selection of Rothschild family wines; new world wines from California, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa as well as a strong showing of old world wines from France in particular, but also with original newcomers from Romania and Hungary.

Tony Bromovsky, founder and commercial director of Union Market said: “When it came to sourcing our wine range, we knew we required a mix of classic old world and contemporary new world wines. No other winemaking family manages to span these two areas as seamlessly as the Rothschilds.”

Union Market’s proposition is about traceable, natural, regional, high quality, best practice British food. We want to deconstruct the old drab supermarket model and replace it with the fun of shopping and eating in a beautiful food hall that reflects timeless rural values and practices. We will have farmers, chefs, suppliers and trained staff on hand to enthuse and explain about the various links in our food chain. The store will champion British food in a setting created by British craftsmen past and present, using natural materials like wood, brick, slate and zinc, with a focus on functionality.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild wines was established in Pauillac in the Médoc in 1933. motivated by a constant ambition: to make the world’s finest wines, each in its own category, whether the châteaux wines for which it is responsible – the renowned Château Mouton Rothschild, a First Growth, and its distinguished lieutenants, Château Clerc Milon and Château d’Armailhac – or branded wines, like the famous Mouton Cadet.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA has also exported its know-how beyond Bordeaux: to the Pays d’Oc, with a range of varietal wines and, more recently, Domaine de Baron’arques; to California, with Opus One; and to Chile, with Almaviva.

Union Market, 472 Fulham Broadway, London, SW6 1BY

E: info@unionmarket.co.uk T: 020 72215651

WIltshire-based independent Yapp Brothers throws open the doors at their Mere premises for Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June 2010 for their Summer Sale – always something interesting here – Rhone, Loire are especially strong.

Yapp Brothers, Mere, Wiltshire, BA12 6DY

T: 01747 860423 E: sales@yapp.co.uk

New Welsh vineyard Ancre Hill Estate in Monmouthshire won a Silver Medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2010 and Bronze in the International Wine & Spirit Competitiion (IWSC) 2010 for the same still wine – their White Welsh Regional Wine 2008 – showing the ongoing developments and success from the Welsh wine industry.

Somehat uninspiringly titled White Welsh Regional Wine 2008 this is a great achievement, because vines normally need a good few years to get established and for their roots to draw up the minerals and nutirients which make good wine interesting, and also because you would expect that there would need to be many years of trial and error to get the right vines in the right place for soil, exposure, drainage etc before quality wines can be made – with all those generations of knowledge and tradition, love and superstitiion that many French and other established winemakers insist add something to the resulting nectar!
Between April and September you can visit and buy from the vineyard Wednesdays to Sundays – and there are vineyard tours and an adopt-a-vine scheme if you want to know more. Online ordering is planned for 2011 – getting good wine made is the first priority!
Situated just off the A40 on the way to the Brecon Beacons, or on the road between the Midlands and South Wales – this could be a detour worth making!
http://www.ancrehillestates.co.uk/

I confess!  I am a great fan of Californian wines, especially good Zinfandels! A good red Zinfandel can be a superb marriage of huge depth of flavour, balanced tannins and buckets of ripe fruit – and to my mind California produces the best – but avoid the pink, blush Zins which to my mind are insipid.

My hunt for a good Zin led me some years ago to Frogs Leap winery – and I recall an excellent trade tasting some years ago in Manchester – friendly people and great wines. Hence I would be so tempted to attend Robersons tasting in West London on 9 June 2010:

Since its inception in 1981, Frog’s Leap has established itself as one of California’s leading wineries, making superb white and red wines that are among the Napa Valley’s best. We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jonah Beer from Frog’s Leap, who will talk us through a selection of their potfolio, including the iconic Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.

The guys at Frog’s are some of the best in the business and this promises to be a fabulous tasting for anyone that is interested in New World wines and California inparticular. Having met Jonah before we can promise you that this will be an evening full of laughs and great wine.

And Frogs Leap do produce equally good Sauvingon Blanc. Chardonnay, Merlot etc. And they have a great website – entertaining but also really informative.

For more about Frogs Leap winery – see www.frogsleap.com

For details of the tasting at Robersons see www.robersonwinemerchant.co.uk/

Robersons, 348 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS
T:020 7371 2121 E: enquiries@roberson.co.uk

Noel Young Wines already have a good reputation for offering interesting and great quality wines.
On 27 May 2010, they are hosting a tutored tasting with Matt Thomson, famed winemaker from New Zealand, showcasing a number of wines from the multi-award winning Saint Clair estate from Marlborough.

This superb winery has been receiving tremendous press over the last 10 years, culminating in International Wine Challenge Trophy awards for their 2007 Strip Block Pinot Noir, numerous accolades in the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards, and Matt Thomson being voted White Winemaker of the Year at the 2008 International Wine Challenge. This promises to be a superb tasting from a fabulous estate and supreme winemaker

For more on St Clair see www.saintclair.co.nz
Noel Young Wines, 56 High Street Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9LST:
01223 566744 or E:admin@nywines.co.uk to book tickets

Devon Wine Week runs in parallel with English Wine Week from 29 May – 6 June 2010.
Devon is one of the UK’s wine areas which has got its act together in terms of getting consumers involved – made easier by having a recognisable geographical area and already well-established marketing and tourism experience.
So during this week there are a wide range of events – tastings, vineyard tours, music, art and importantly a focus on wine and local food.

One event which took my eye was “Making a Living from a Vineyard:” a practical talk at 11am from Yearlstone owner Roger White – covering costs of planting, returns per acre, varietal selection, and the business models which work! – on 2 June at Yearlstone Vineyard, Bickleigh, nr Exeter, EX16 8RL
T: 01884 855700 E: roger@yearlstone.co.uk
See www.devonwineweek.co.uk

English Wine Week runs from May 29-June 6 2010. There will be free tastings and events at many Enlgish wineries.

You can find a vineyard by ordering a free map from English Wine Producers

A new, fully-revised map of English and Welsh vineyards has been produced by the UK wine industry.  An ideal accompaniment for the wine enthusiast, the map shows the lcoation of 163 vineyards throughout England and Wales, with cross referenced listings by county, full contact details (with postcodes for easy location), websites and a brief description.

The back of the map contains valuable at-a-glance background information such as wine styles and grape varieties, and colourful advertisement from a selection of the featured vineyards outlining the many facilities that are now available. For a free copy, please contact English Wine Producers. (T: 01536 772264).

The week’s events include Devon Wine Week and the Suffolk Show (2-3 June 2010) and other open days and events in the South and South East, Midlands and Yorkshire!

There have been some reports that the recent run of poor summers may have caused problems for some vineyards and grape varieities which need longer warmer weather for maturity – but English dry sparkling wine is getting a seriously good reputation amongst wine lovers.