Hungary’s climate is ideal for growing vines; it is esentially a continental climate, with hot summers, long mild autumns, and cold winters, with temperature extremes moderated by the influence of the Carpatheans. Wine has been made in Hungary since antiquity.It is only now, in the early years of the 21st century, that we are beginning to see the renaissance of Hungary as a wine producing country. Our initial range is small, but contains some cracking good wines. Our selections are very much quality-oriented.

One of the problems, of course, is that the language (and labels) is different, so that you need to decipher the local grape names into something more familiar, so Fehérburgundi is the Hungarian name for Pinot Blanc and Kékburgundi is the Hungarian name for Pinot Noir.
That’s where a knowledgeable and reliable independent wine merchant is so important – to guide, advise and answer your questions.

For more info see Nick Dobson Wines

You are bound to find something different and interesting here, although there is no indication of any tastings to sample any of their offerings before you buy. There are also some West Country ciders and ales on offer.

Our aim is to offer a friendly and prompt wine delivery service for one of the widest range of competitively priced wines on the net, to offer a touch of old fashioned wine merchant service in an on line wine merchant world!
New to Pinot Grigio? or thoroughly bored with it, come to us! Fifty years of professional sniffing-tasting-spit…should have given us just that little bit of extra experience. Getting soft with age, quality comes first for us, value for money follows. Having always been free to do so, we strive to buy as individually as possible. We like the classics of the Old World but we are also responsive to developments in the New – after all in the early 80s we were the first in the UK to import a comprehensive range of Australian wines from Penfold’s – sadly now such a shadow of their former selves.

WineDrop.co.uk, 3 Alphin Centre, Exeter,  Devon, EX2 8RG
T: 0139 220 3019 E: orderdrop@winedrop.co.uk

http://www.winedrop.co.uk/contact.asp

The Birmingham Wine School will be at the Taste of Birmingham 2009 event from 9-12 July 2009.

Imagine a summer’s day picnic in a beautiful city park. Now multiply it by lots of friends. Invite the best restaurants in the West Midlands to contribute the food, and discerning wine merchants to bring the wine… Welcome to Taste of Birmingham 2009.

Birmingham Wine School will be on Stand 4 in the small producers market where you can enter a free competition to win a bottle of vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne – plus learn more about BWS and the extensive range of courses it offers this summer and autumn.

The Taste of Birmingham is predominantly a celebration of food, although there are a number of smaller and large wine, beer and spirit purveyors attending.

More info on Taste of Birmingham

More info on Birmigham Wine School

The DO (denomination of origin) for Uiiel-Requina is a new one to many new to quality Spanish winesand is best known for a blending process called ‘doble pasta’, which helps to produce very intense wines. The initial pressings are left in the tank after the juice has been run off, then another batch of grapes is placed on top of the original skins and the whole process starts again. This juice is, not surprisingly, high in extract and contributes to the intensity of the final product.

Utiel-Requena lies to the west of Valencia and takes its name from the two towns – Utiel and Requena – which lie 15km apart within the DO. The largest and most inland of the Valencia region’s three DOs, the vineyards of Utiel-Requena rise to between 600-900m above sea level, on an undulating plain surrounded by mountains.
Utiel-Requena produces the most robust and powerful reds of Valencia’s three DOs, predominantly using the Bobal, grape. This variety lends itself perfectly to making fresh, fruity rosés, and growers from this region claim they produce Spain’s best rosados.

Also on offer are some serious old Spanish brandy, and brandy and balsamic brandy.

Good website at www.decanterwines.co.uk, packed with good information on Spanish wine and food, with good tasting notes from a couple who clearly know a lot about Spain and Spanish wines.

Decanter Wines Limited, Little Porch, Yarm Way, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8RQ

T:01372 376127 E: info@decanterwines.co.uk

The Butlers Wine Cellar is hosting a tasting of Portuguese and Spanish Wines in Brighton on 24 July 2009, including some more unusual grape varieties.

Portugal is…..One of my (Henry) favourite wine making countries at the moment. It doesn’t always get it right or produce wine of excellence, but I think there is a lot of honesty here and wines that are very representative of the area they priginate from. We feel we have been very selective with our range, honing it down to some very good examples.. PRICE: £17.50

As for Spain, the list is also expanding with some of the more unfashionable areas such as Utiel Requiel and Jumilla!

The Butlers Wine Cellar, 247 Queen’s Park Road, Brighton, BN2 9XJ

T: 01273 698724  E:henry@butlers-winecellar.co.uk

Sanglier Wines specialises in wines from the Languedoc region of the South of France. We deal direct with individual growers who supply high quality, distinctive wines that bring out the true capabilities of the terroir….
There is a real buzz around the vineyards of the Languedoc now with the production of many low yielding, fantastically high quality wines made to both traditional and innovative, modern methods

Clearly they know the region well, and have sought out some distinctive, but little-known (in the UK) producers, except of course for the globally recognised Mas De Daumas Gassac, although worthy of inclusion as the one estate which established the Languedoc as an innovative and quality wine region. (Less certain why there is Champagne on the list though), They also include an excellent sparkling Cremant de Limoux from Antech.
The core of the list though are the rich wines of appellations such as Fitou AC, Minervois AC and St Chinian AC where they stock the wines of Chateau Viranel.

You can order online, but it seems you can only buy a whole case (unmixed) and you cannot order direct from the wine detail page.

However, one extra which is on offer is the opportunity to stay in their house – more details on their website at

Sanglier Wines

134 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2AY

T: 07846 688922 E: franceskeane@sanglier-wines.co.uk

Despite its title, Harrogate Medical Wine Society is not just for doctors, which is welcome news if you are interested in tasting some of the top New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on 16 July 2009.

The Society was founded and run by Dr Bernard Dias

The aim of the society is to further the understanding and appreciation of fine wine through regular tutored wine tastings and visits to vineyards in many parts of the winegrowing world.Membership of the Harrogate Medical Wine Society is not restricted to members of the medical profession and the Society welcomes wine lovers from all walks of life.

Dr Dias is an extraordinarily knowledgeable and enthusiastic wine lover, who was the guiding light behind the annual Harrogate Wine Fair (sadly no longer running) and organises and guides some excellent wine tours to all parts of the wine world through Serendib Promotions.

Harrogate Medical Wine Society

21, St. Leonards Road, Harrogate, N Yorks HG2 8NX

T: 01423 884426  E :info @ harrogatemedicalwinesociety.co.uk

ough Serendib Promotions.

Exhibiting at Bristol’s Wine Festival (10-12 July 2009) will be Domaine Treloar, a small vineyard in the Roussillon region of southern France.

We are a small, high-quality vineyard and winery in the Roussillon, France’s most exciting wine region.Owned and operated by Jonathan Hesford and Rachel Treloar.
As Vignerons Indépendants, we grow all the grapes, make the wine and bottle it at the domaine. We do not buy in fruit or wine from other sources.
We also do all the work in the vineyards and winery ourselves and only employ outside help for pruning and picking.

There are a significant number of British winemakers in France and this domaine is run by ” a bloke from Yorkshire and a girl from New Zealand” , producing Cotes de Roussillon AC, Muscat de Rivesaltes and Vins de Pays d’Oc wines at Trouillas (66 Pyrenees Orientales) south of Perpignan. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for informal visitors, they also offer a “How wine is made” tour. A friendly, informative and thoroughly enjoyable guided tour of the vineyards and winery followed by a tutored tasting of our wines. .

If you cannot get to southern France you can visit their stand at the Bristol Wine Festival (10-12 July 2009) or purchase in the UK from Leon Stolarski Fine Wines or HC Wines.

For more info on the Britsol Wine & Food Festival see www.bristolwineandfoodfair.co.uk – worth a visit to see a number of French and UK Vineyards, major importers and wine merchants plus a wealth of food products.

For more info on Domaine Treloar see www.domainetreloar.com

The wines produced in the South of France offer a lot to the consumer: they have a great tradition and history of making wine; but they are also capture the spirit of innovation so widespread in Languedoc. Today the wines of the region are very diverse, from character full dry whites to quaffable fruit-packed rosé, and from some superb sweet wines to complex, intriguing and world beating reds.

The two things that link all of the producers we list are the high quality of the wines they produce and the great value for money they offer the UK consumer.

Although the best advice is always to follow the advice of a knowledgeable wine merchant, consumers often choose by the attractiveness of the label, or the seductiveness of the name – hence amongst the offerings from Aldeby are “Le Chemin des Reves” (the road of dreams) and Domaine des 1000 Roses (Domaine of the 1000 roses)!

Certainly one of the star appellations of the region is Pic St Loup – here they offer L’Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup Guilhem Gaucelm 2005 “One of the great icon wines of Languedoc, the Guilhem Gaucelm is made from roughly equal proportions of old vines Grenache and Syrah grown on the southern flank of the Pic Saint Loup mountain. The wine is wonderfully complex with red and dark berry fruits, black olive, black cherry and spice to the fore. This is a superbly balanced masterpiece.

Aldeby Wines appears only to have an online presence – no details of any tastings on the site to provide an opportunity to sample any of the lesser-known wines. Delivery is £6.00 for a case.

Aldeby Wines Limited T: 0116 2742980- contact

Also trading as Nidderdale Fine Wines, SouthAustralia Wines.co.uk offers a wide selection of wines from this, one of the best of Australian wine regions:-

By choosing well made wines our choices of small parcel wines are often of very limited availability. This provides an exciting experience for our customers as, although the range is changing all the time, we are able to guarantee the consistent good quality of our imports.

South Australia is home to some of the best-known wine regions in the world including Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. Although the simplistic assumption is that Australia’s climate is consistently hot and sunny,  there is a wide variation  of climates and “terroirs” both between and within the Australian states:-

In addition to being host to some of the world’s oldest vines, the State also has a diversity of regions ranging from the relatively warm temperate climate of the Barossa Valley through to the maritime precincts of the McLaren Vale, Southern Fleurieu, Currency Creek and Langhorne Creek regions on the Fleurieu Peninsula and across the cooler Adelaide Hills region to the hotter Riverland region on the Murray River.

The south-eastern part of the State includes the Limestone Coast zone and the “terra rossa” soils overlying limestone which give rise to distinct elegant reds of the Coonawarra region.  The “Limestone Coast” zone – which also includes the Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Mount Benson regions – is building its own reputation for wines that are not only influenced by the region’s eponymous limestone but the tempering breezes of the nearby Southern Ocean.

SouthAustralia Wines.co.uk also offer a Boomerang  Wine Club, special offers and tastings. UK mainland delivery is just £5.00 per case. One of the current  “Wines of the Month” is an unusual white  Cabernet Sauvignon – Clegget Vineyard’s Shalistin, White Cabernet Sauvignon from Langhorne Creek (£9.99)

This luxuriously mouth-filling wine reflects the development of our new white grape variety Shalistin. This variety has been developed from a sport of Cabernet Sauvignon and is unique to the Cleggett Family Vineyards. Styled with savoury characteristics the wine is smooth but weighty, and has a well balanced, persistent finish. The full fruit flavours are complimented by peppery spice with just a hint of perfumed musk. Best served lightly chilled. Lovely rich white wine with tropical fruits and floral notes, a delight to drink and enjoy.

For more information on Australian Wines see www.wineaustralia.com

SouthAustralia Wines.co.uk at Nidderdale Fine Wines, High Street, Pateley Bridge HG3 5AW

T: 01423 711703

Constantine Stores in Falmouth, Cornwall is hosted a tasting of wines for summer together with an opportunity to view some works from a local artist on 23 June 2009 at the the Great Atlantic Gallery in Arwennack Street, Falmouth.

A tasting of wines suitable for summer drinking. Fresh zingy whites, seriously good roses and delicious summer reds.
Guests at the wine tasting will get a special pre-view of an exhibition of new work by Neil Davies, a leading landscape painter based in St Ives. Davies’ 2009 collection, which doesn’t formally open to the public until 4 days after the tasting, features 40 paintings and drawings from a small area of West Penwith. Entitled “Bosporthenis – an enduring presence”, the collection focuses on a small, inaccessible valley north of Penzance, just off the coast road between St Ives and St Just.

There will be 10 wines on taste, served with canapés – advanced booking required.

Constantine Stores Ltd, 30 Fore Street, Constantine, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5AB

T:01326 250259  E: andrew@constantinestores.fsnet.co.uk

A London wine bar has adopted an innovative approach which specialises in natural (i.e. organic or biodynamic) wines and wines which are local (i.e. within a 2-hour drive of Battersea in London. Offering a great range of 120+ wines, from all corners of the world, many of which are unfamiliar – and a great chance to sample some excellent wines from southern England.

artisan&vine opened on 21 July, 2008, and was soon after ranked within the Top Ten Wine Bars in London.

In addition to our relaxed late license bar, we also have an off-license shop where we sell all of our wines at reduced “take home” prices. We host a variety of events, wine tastings and vineyard day trips, all designed to showcase the absolute best in boutique wine making. Whenever we’re open, we’ll have a ‘flight’ of three sample wines available for you to discover – allowing you to try something new, without committing to a bottle.

To accompany our wines, we offer a range of cheese and charcuterie platters as well as a new full food menu.

artisan&vine 126 St John’s Hill, Clapham, SW11 1SL
E: welcome@artisanandvine.com T: 0207 228 4997

Tucked away in Ongar in Essex is Wine of Course, an independent wine merchant with some interesting quirks including Bulgarian wines and a great selection of Armagnacs and a great by-line of “Every Sip Counts”

Our goal is to source top quality wines from around the world from producers who are individualistic, small (but perfectly formed), and who represent the best that their respective regions have to offer.
Beyond merely selling the stuff, we’re firm (and fervent) believers in educating the world at large about the life-affirming joys of wine. To these ends we work tirelessly at informal, educational, and enjoyable wine courses and expert-led tastings.
Founders of Wines from Bulgaria we are proud of our huge range of top Bulgarian wines and projects with Bulgarian wineries.
Every Sip Counts.

The Bulgarian wines offered look interesting with both familiar and local traditional grape varieties on offer -.e.g. the 2005 ZELAS Cabernet Franc (Strouma Valley, Bulgaria)“Full and robust with wild black cherries, bitter chocolate and spice mingling on the tightly knit palate. Long and firm finish. It’s a beast on the open. Be warned!”

One of Bulgaria’s strengths is the mix of indigenous and international grape varieties that are currently under cultivation. While far from an exhaustive list, we’ve included some of the most important ones in our opinion for quality wines.

International varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay) are doing well, creating wines that are both recognizable on the global market and able to deliver the flavours that many traditional wine drinkers around the world are looking for, all at good value and quality for the price.

Many local grape varieties have also been retained, some more suited to quality wines than others, but the best capable of outstanding wines of distinction and personality.

Gamza, Mavrud, Melnik, Misket, Dimiat. The Georgian-originating white grape, Rkatsiteli, is also common.

Well-designed website with good navigation, tasting notes, search options, online ordering – supplemented by a real shop and wine club and tasting courses. Also goes under the name of Ongar Wines and  Highgate Wines

Wine of Course (Essex), 153 High Road, Ongar, Essex CM5 9JD, T: 01277 365 116 E: ongar@wineofcourse.com

Kent independent wine merchant secret cellar is holding a FREE SUMMER GRAND TASTING on 27 June 2009:

the first of our huge free Grand Tastings with 25+ wines on show at all price points. No need to book a ticket just turn up, grab a glass and enjoy. We may even try to cook a few sausages if we can find someone to man the barbie.

There is also an interesting and well-written ocassional magazine available online – see www.thesecretcellar.co.uk

The Secret Cellar 43-45 Church Road, Tunbridge Wells,Kent TN1 1JT.
T: 01892 537981   E:sales@thesecretcellar.co.uk

More than just a wine merchant – we offer you much more than wine alone!
Bath’s specialist independent wine merchant, sourcing and importing from family run domains,
getting the best quality at the right price and buying years or generations of expertise.

You don’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy wine tasting. Whether you want a relaxed, fun evening tasting wine with friends or just to try before you buy, Tasting Room can organise the right tasting session for you.
Wine tasting can be a great idea for a night out, an alternative idea for a hen or stag starting point, a birthday celebrationor for getting together with work colleagues.

Offering from the Bath shop a comprehensive range of rare whiskies, Armagnac, Cognac, Port, Calvados & Rums.

The Tasting Room 4 St Saviours Road, Larkhill, Bath BA1 6Rt

T: 01225 463392