Adnams of Southwold
in Suffolk unfortunately have no web site, but do have an excellent
Catalogue. Call to ask for one on 01502 727220, or you can mail them. Ask about
when they'll have a web site!
Adnams are a brewery, founded in 1872 and known nationally for
the quality their beer.
They have been selling wine for about a century, but it has really
taken off since taken over by Simon Loftus about 20 years ago.
Adnams is a founder-member of "The Bunch", a collection
of independent wine merchants who offer good wines and a high
standard of service.
Adnams was the first wine merchant I bought from when I graduated
from supermarket and chain store wines. They do an excellent
annual tasting at Snape Maltings near Aldeburgh, which I always
go to if I can. Most years they hold one in London too.
Adnams have won the Wine Magazine International Wine ChallengeWine Merchant of the Year award three times. In 1998 they
won the International Wine Challenge Wine List of the Year
1997/98 award for their Winter 1997 list. The Summer 1998
list shows that they are not resting on their laurels. I have
always loved Simon's tales of visits to wine makers and his atmospheric
black and white photographs, and this time there seem to be even
more than usual. More wines too, of course: more than 100 new
ones according to the introduction. The 1999 list will probably
be released in April or May; do get on their mailing list for
it!
Lay and Wheeler
also sell by mail order, and have a shop and wine centre in Colchester,
"Britain's oldest town". There's a map on their web
site (which you'll need). Like Adnams' a member of "The
Bunch". I have been buying wine from them for almost as
long as from Adnams.
Corney and Barrow
I also buy wine from C&B and can personally recommend them.
Ask for Andrew Gordon.
A wine merchant in London for over 200 years, they also run a
brokerage service, and own a number of central London wine bars.
I find them very good for 'en priméur' Bordeaux and for
Champagne, but they have frequent lists with a wide range of
good wine, from affordable up to Pétrus
and Domain
de la Romance Conti (for both of which they have the UK exclusivity).
It has articles about the trade and some nice maps too. You used
to be able to buy from their web site, but now all that you can
do is download a catalogue, and parts of the site are getting
out of date. But you'll get a good personal service if you phone
them.
Berry Bros & Rudd
celebrated their 300th birthday in 1998. Run by Simon Berry.
Still selling after all these years; so they must be doing something
right! You can buy off the web page in £, $US or ¥,
or order their full catalogue.
Oddbins Surely everyone
knows Oddbins, with their 240 wine shops, all of which somehow
manage to combine their laid back style with an excellent range
of wines. At the moment their web site has more style than substance
but there's a feedback form to help them get it right next time,
with a prize draw in June 1999 - why not go there and try to
win the Chanpagne!
Gateway Supermarket. I have probably drink more bottles recently
bought from Gateway than any of the above, even if I spend more
at some of them. Mainly because it's the local supermarket, with
good prices on ordinary wine, and occasional special offers on
better ones such as the 1996 Hautes Côtes de Beaune they
had last year at £4.49 a bottle (it sold out immediately).
Do look out for "two for the price of one" offers.
Don't go there expecting any of the great classics though.
I have not dealt with any of the other wine merchants listed
on this page, so can make no personal recommendation about them.
Zinfandel and some vineyards that grow it
Zinfandel is California's unique grape variety and its
most irreplaceable contribution to the world of fine wine
Friarwood
Wines Another London wine merchant that I don't know anything
about, except that they have specialised top quality Bordeaux
and Burgundy since 1967.
ZAP Wine Tasting
That's the Zinfandel Advocates Producers - all you want to know
about Zinfandel, California's unique contribution to great grape
varieties.
Bordeaux Win'Some
The Bordeaux wine lovers' site (run by Château Jardinet)
'Finest' Home Page
- Bienvenue sur Finest, véritable environnement Multimédia
déclinant l'ensemble des acteurs Economiques, Culturels
et Touristiques de la région du Sud-Ouest de la France
(includes lots of info on wine if you can fiind it!)