

Posted by Steve De Long on
Comments
Thanks for the comments, J E – One interesting thing is that the Masters of Wine started out as a merchant group as opposed to a sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) or an educational group (Society of Wine Educators) and it does seem like the UK wine industry works in favor of itself at the expense of the consumer. At least this consumer! There are some good exceptions (see the map) but overall the level of quality and interest for a wine enthusiast is suprisingly dim.
Hello there,
I have just arrived in London from Canada, I am working in a wine shop and at a wine bar, so it has been been very interesting to see how it all works here. I agree that this buying by the case culture is very bizarre to me. The shop where I am working may be of interest to you. It is called the Laithwaites Wine Tasting Table at 149 Fenchurch Street, it has just opened a few months ago and basically it is a display room for a mail order service, but the best part is that you can taste almost anything before ordering it. So, you come into the shop and taste what you have asked us to get it to try and if you like you can order one bottle or 10 cases. It is a very different concept, but a good one. We have lots of great wine that you wouldn’t expect to be part of Laithwaites. Also, you may like the wine bar that I am working at as well, Vinoteca 7 St.John Street, amazing wine list for on or off trade and great food can’t go wrong really.
In my opinion you nailed the essence of the Brits relationship to wine.
They want - cheap. And the MWs pervert their knowledge of quality, to — fit in, using their prestige to shill a lot of crummy wine. That in fact is what VINOPOLIS is all about. The wineries that are present there have bought their presence, whatever there questionable quality.
Thanks for the hat tip, Steve! Very nice map and commentary.
-Tyler
Hi Caitlin,
Thanks for the note. I have Vinoteca already listed on the map as one of my faves! I’ll ask for you next time we’re in. I’ll add the Laithwaites Wine Tasting Table to the map and will make a point to visit there as well. Sounds like an excellent concept.