London Self-Made Wine Tours

/

It can be dry or sweet. It can taste as citrusy as a lemon, as buttery as cream or as floral as a box of berries. I am talking about wine, isn’t it sublime?

If there is something I’ve noticed on my 8 years living in London, it is the increase of good quality wine bars and wine stores. It used to be rare to find a specialized wine shop that would have a wide enough range of options to try out. It wouldalso would be rare to find a spokesperson at the forefront of said shop that would be willing and knowledgeable enough to talk about these wines. Don’t you remember when warm white wine at the pub was the only thing on offer? Luckily things change and cities evolve.

Now we are here, it’s a #hotgirlsummer and I, for one, have been enjoying the glorious sunshine in London. And I have been enjoying it even more so, because I’ve got not one but at least six wine stores in less than a 2km radium (walking distance) from my lovely flat in Haggerston. If that isn’t paradise, please tell me what is.

Wine lovers out there, you’ll appreciate this. After having many friends ask me around where to go for vino, I thought this was a necessity for many. A little map that shows you all the goodie goodie wine bars across London. Perfect for a little stroll in the city. And trust me, rain or shine, wine you’ll find.

TCB xx

EAST LONDON

  • Female run and female driven wines: Finley’s (Hoxton)

  • Urban winery: Renegade (Bethnal Green)

  • Affordable and cool: Dan’s (Dalston), Hector’s (De Beauvoir), P Franco (Clapton)

  • Upscale: Binch (London Fields), NewComer Wines (Dalston)

NORTH LONDON

  • Cheap and cheerful: YieldN16 (Stoke Newington), The Sampler (Islington)

  • Affordable and cool: Cadet (Stoke Newington), Top Cuvee (Finsbury), Must & Lees (Islington)

  • Frenchie: Authentique Epicerie & Bar (Kentish Town)

CENTRAL LONDON

  • An Institution, Upscale: Noble Rot (Clerkenwell & Soho)

  • An Institution, Affordable: Gordon’s (Embankment)

  • Easy-going: The Drop (King’s Cross)

  • Frenchie, friendly and the most affordable in central: Le Beaujolais (Soho)

WEST LONDON

  • Pretty and affordable: Mother Vine, Brinkley’s (Chelsea), Franklin’s Wine, Love (Notting Hill)

  • Champagne-focused: Amuse Bouche (Fulham)

  • Low-key local (italian): Ombretta & Ante’s Winehouse (Fulham)

SOUTH LONDON

  • Affordable with a rooftop: Tap & Bottle (Borough), Forza Wine (Peckham)

  • Low-lit and upscale: 40 Maltby St (Bermondsey)

  • Wine in an Old WC: WC Wine & Charcuterie (Clapham)

  • Low-key locals, cheap and cheerful: Unwined (Tooting), Peckham Cellars (Peckham), Le Chevalier (Peckham)