Best Wine Shops in London
Recommended by Wine Confidante
BERRY BROs AND RUDD or BBR - founded in 1698
3, St James’s Street, London – Flagship shop
63 Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HZ - London Shop
By Appointment to H.M. The Queen
By Appointment to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
Also in: Warehouse shop in Basingstoke
Sales Offices in: Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Ireland
Pros: employs five Masters of Wine; over 4000 wines for sale; famous for its En Primeur campaigns; offers Cellar Plan; wine storage facilities; runs WSET courses, different classes and many luxurious wine and dine events.
Cons: some storage problems may still occur
HARRODS Wine Shop (lower ground floor) – founded in 1834
87-135 Brompton Road Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL
Revamped in March 2018
www.harrods.com
Pros: a good selection of traditional classic styles of wine; good service; constant room temperature; facilities for smelling wine aromas.
Cons: modern and new styles of wine are in limited supply; a mark-up can be considerable
HEDONISM WINES, on two floors – Established in 2012
3-7 Davies Street, London, W1K 3LD
HIDE - a new restaurant open in April 2018 in conjunction with the shop
Pros: 6500 wines & 3000 spirits – “crème de la crème from each region of the world”; a good selection of rare wines and wines for vertical tastings
Cons: a considerable mark-up on some wines
FORTNUM & MASON Wine Shop (Lower Ground floor) – founded in 1707
181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
Pros: Good selection of classic styles of wine, champagne and sparkling wines
Cons: Modern and new styles of wine are in limited supply; a considerable mark-up on some wines
WHOLE FOODS MARKET – opened in 2007
63-97 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SE
Pros: an exciting choice of wines from many countries and wine regions in the world, including California, Washington and Canada
Cons: no website for wine
WINE SOCIETY – Co-operative, founded in 1874
Registered Address: Cunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2BT
Online, by post or telephone subscription for membership www.thewinesociety.com
Pros: “Puts members before profit”; sells only to members; no minimum order quantity; good prices
Cons: mainly traditional styles of wine
JUSTERINI AND BROOKS – established in 1749, First Royal Warrant by King George III in 1761 – currently owned by Diageo
61 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LZ
Sales offices also in: India, New York, Hong Kong & Singapore
Trading online and by phone
Pros: Over 3000 wines in portfolio; offers a good selection of fine wines from Burgundy, Barolo, Germany, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire and Champagne; provides storage services
Cons: there is no shop
GREAT WESTERN WINE – established 1983 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AP
Good online and telephone services www.greatwesternwine.co.uk
Pros: Competitive prices; a choice of over 800 wines; 350 premium spirits
Cons: there is no shop in London
SELFRIDGES Wine Shop – expanded in 2012
400 Oxford Street, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB
www.selfridges.com
Pros: good selection of wines: countries and wine regions are well represented
Cons: very high mark-up
ARMIT WINES – online services and by phone
5 Royalty Studios, 105 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QF
Pros: famous for its Italian portfolio
Cons: there is no shop
THE SAMPLER – established in 2006
266 Upper Street London N1 2UQ
Also: in Wimbledon
Pros: good wine selection; opportunity to taste 80 wines in the shop ranging from inexpensive wines to the world’s finest wines
Cons: fine wines sometimes stay in enomatic machines for too long
HARVEY NICHOLS
109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ
Pros: good services, knowledgeable staff, good selection of wines;
Cons: a very small department and can get very crowded
MARKS AND SPENCER, Oxford Street and Marble Arch – also online
Pros: always on the lookout for new delicious styles of wine; offers are often available
Cons: only stock wines specially selected by Marks and Spencer
FOOD HALL at JOHN LEWIS, Oxford Street – also online
Pros: good reliable service; offers 25% off all the wines a few times a year
Cons: classic traditional styles, slow to introduce new styles and producers
THE WHISKY EXCHANGE (TWE), World of Fine Spirits (also online) - family business, founded in 1999
2 Bedford Street Covent Garden, London WC2E 9HH
Pros: established leader in the spirits world; offers 3500 whiskies, 500 rums, 400 vodkas, over 550 Cognacs/Armagnacs, 400 gins, 150 Tequilas and nearly 1000 liqueurs – always check online; runs many spirits events; received many awards
Cons: can get very busy at times