I never realised Nicolas was a chain until recently - and I also didn't realise that in some…read morelocations they even have wine bars, too. It makes sense, really, since they're wine experts. This is the only off licence I know of in the city centre, so it's handy if you're off to a BYO (bring your own) restaurant somewhere near the centre. With supermarkets seeming to take over on sales of wine (and just about every other product!), a lot of off licences seem to have been hit by the recent recession and have disappeared off the high street. Luckily, this one has survived - and still focuses on quality. They stock an excellent range of French wines including well-known regional wines such as Bordeaux and Bergundy, plus sparkling wines and Cremant, and bottles from less well known wine-producing areas of France. If wine's not your drink, they stock plenty of spirits and champagnes, too.

To celebrate 'Us' I wanted to get my lovely a bottle of wine we could both enjoy that wasn't from…read morethe supermarkets. Enter Nicolas, a French wine/champers/liquors etc. If your in anyway a wine etc connoisseur (I am but a mere student at the moment) then whatever your looking for you will probably find here. From just a few pounds to the pricely sum of £500 plus if your in real trouble with the lady. Back to my story, I went in with a vague idea of what McLovely is into and headed for the member of staff there. I explained what she liked and was escorted around the store a little bit, learning about the taste and region the wines were from. It was all very interesting truth be known. Anyway I settled on a beautiful bottle Château Bellegrave 2006, Red. It was exactly as the guy said it was and madam lovely really enjoyed. I got browny points and a decent wine for a reasonable price, I was happy.

With a name like 'Discount Supermarket', one doesn't have particularly high expectations of this…read morebargain store. It occupies a corner position along Whitchurch Road and shouts loudly about its cheap alcohol. You go in expecting White Lightning and Special Brew, yet once you're inside, it's not only fairly cheap and pretty cheerful, but they actually sell some decent Belgian and German bottled beers - plus Welsh and English brands as well. It's not what I was expecting at all, and not quite as cheap as you might think it's going to be from the outside, but since it also has higher quality goods than you'd expect that's fair enough. Apart from the copious amounts of alcohol, it has all the usual corner shop-style food stuff such as bread, milk, biscuits, chocolate, and so on - so you can stock up on those, too, to soak up some of your Belgian beers.

Nothing prepares you for the Aladdin's cave of booze that is barely contained within the four walls…read moreof Discount Supermarket. Seriously this place would have made George Best's liver cower. I'm struggling to type, it's that awe-inspiring slash terrifying. But there's one thing on sale here that you have to make an excursion for. Located, quite sensibly, close to the till, just to the right, on the second shelf you'll find it. An inauspicious place for such a herculean beverage. I am talking about Buckfast Tonic Wine. A hellish potion concocted by Devonshire monks, it is the drink that is destroying Scotland. Not Surrey or Kent but Scotland. It's getting so bad the Scottish Parliament are thinking about banning it (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7768563/MSPs-to-vote-on-Buckfast-ban-in-Scotland.html) That's how crazy 'Ol Buckie (as it is known by legions of toothless teenage jocks) is. And Discount Supermarket is only the only place in Cardiff that I definitely know always stocks it. If you've never had it, it's like a drinking a bottle of port and twenty cans of Red Bull. Try it for £6.99 a bottle. The also stock milk and bread and so forth, but you only come here for the Buckie.

Ballantynes Wine Merchants is a quality family business. It started its life about thirty five…read moreyears ago in the salubrious market town of Cowbridge, (and although it doesn't sound like it, Cowbridge is reputed to be the wealthiest town in South Wales... it's clearly come a long way since very humble beginnings!), but is now located in Pontcanna, the posh end of Cardiff. Having been around for long enough, the second generation of Ballantynes have joined the business. Perhaps this is why they now have an online store as well as the physical outlet? It is often the case when fresh blood comes into the frame, that progressive changes ensue. Not only do they usually possess the technical abilities to achieve this kind of development, but they also have the ambition and drive to want to put their stamp on the business. Ballantynes is the kind of shop that attracts exclusive business. Working with small vintners and supplying the trade with specialty wines, its got exclusivity written all over it. But, as well as catering for the wholesale trade, they wouldn't turn your retail business away... but I'm sure that even their retail clients are apt to buy their wine by the crate!

For lovers of wine, this is a really excellent outlet in the Pontcanna area of Cardiff. They stock…read morea real range of cheaper and top end wines, though you know that you'll always be getting the best within each price range. Ballantynes are quite renowned for their stocking of good French wine, and seemingly specialise in red, but they also sell from many, many other countries, having recently brought over a number of great New Zealand wines. Ranging from a £5.99 bottle of Chardonnay, to a more enticing bottles that will cost you hundreds of pounds each, this is a store that really will have anything for any wine lover. They are also great a giving advice to those people (like me) who like to think that they know more than they really do.

I just found my new favourite wine shop. Arth Wines is a haven for dipsomaniacs, offering a…read morespectacular range of wines, champagnes, cider and beer (even Yankee brews like Sam Adams are sold here, much to my delight). I spent nearly 20 minutes chatting to owner Richard and hearing the refurbishment plans for his shop, which is conveniently positioned just outside the Penarth Railway station. I even got the grand tour, sidestepping the boxes and dust to get a peek at the back room which will soon house the extensive red wine selection. The prices are really reasonable, especially for a specialty wine shop. Richard explained he cuts out the middleman by buying directly from the vineyards, which allows him to keep his prices down. Don't let the minor state of disarray put you off - Arth Wines is undergoing a transformation, which includes extending the back wall, adding a series of doors to the front of the shop, as well as adding extra cooling sections for the wines and champagnes. In the New Year, Arth Wines will boast several taster machines, which will enable customers to stop in and sample a range of 30 or so wines at any time, a try-before-you buy idea that he says is "the exact opposite to the supermarkets". These dispensing machines keep opened bottles fresh by replacing the air with inert gas nitrogen (keeping the wines away from oxygen prevents oxidation and eventual spoilage). He feels people shouldn't have to spend £100 to try 10 types of wine, many of which may not be suited to their tastes. I want to bring a few bottles of wine back for family and friends in the States, so I'm definitely going to stop by when I have my car. I can tell it's going to be a worthwhile, if expensive, excursion, judging from the spectacular ranges to be had here.

A nice spot with more than 300 local and international beers (heavy on the IPA, NEIPA, and Sour…read morevarieties, in a good way) with reasonable prices. Plenty of fresh brews (for the IPA crowd) as well as some nicely aged selections (for the stout and sour crowd). Good spot to check out in Cardiff.

Great selection of international beers, and were particularly helpful in locating an Astra! Great…read moreshop, lovely staff and friendly dog :)

For those of you who have read more of my reviews in general, you will know that I recently…read morediscovered Threshers on Albany Road. Well, I thought that, in the spirit of keeping up with the fresh reviews for all of you lovely Yelpers, I'd try a different supplier of alcohol. There is an immediate problem, though, which is that this place just doesn't look as nice. However, I was willing to look past this for the sake of alcohol attainment.... I was disappointed, though, by the less-than-enthusiastic staff. I guess on it's own it's not too bad a place to pick up a bottle of wine. But Threshers is just down the road. Walk a little bit further and get some better service along with your drink.

The thing about Oddbins is that the name and the outside of the store do not suggest "alcohol" to…read moremy mind. Amidst all the gift shops and boutiques along Wellfield Road, this shop always comes as a surprise to me when I walk past. Something about the name, Oddbins, and the design of the sign just doesn't come across very wine merchant-y. However, the reality is that Oddbins is a pretty decent shop. It's a little more upmarket than Threshers, and definitely geared towards the middle-aged and upwards market who have a lot of dinner parties and judge each other on the type of wine they bring. So, obviously, it's probably not going to be the off-licence of choice for students, who would be much better off heading down Albany Road to Threshers or even Tesco for their cheap booze. To be quite honest though, unless you're looking for something extra-special (and I'm not totally convinced that this store will provide you with it) I would recommend checking out Threshers or a supermarket first. Although if you are someone who goes to dinner parties where a person's worth is judged by the kind of wine they choose, don't forget to leave the Threshers bag at home, and check the back of the bottle for the giveaway "made especially for Tesco" label.

I do like this shop, despite not being quite so enraptured as it as Rachel (sorry Rachel). Arti…read moremanages to offer a good range of products, pretty much everything that you'd ever want from a corner shop, from washing up liquid to onions. But, like so much in the area, it's seen better days, I'm loath to report. Of course, I think it's admirable for any small business in our struggling times to remain afloat when the wolf is constantly knocking at the door, But Arti is still not quite as nice a store as, say, Pontcanna Stores a five minute walk away. I think perhaps I get this impression because this is a shop which is full to bursting at the seams. So it can feel claustrophobic and a bit dark and narrow. Actually, I think this is really my main problem with the place; I can't stand clutter. And this shop is cluttered. But yet, it's cheap and friendly, so worth frequenting if you live down that way or happen to be passing by.

I really appreciate the convenience of Arti Off-licence and General Store, and I also really…read moreappreciate the fact that they have resisted the temptation to become part of the Lifestyle chain, choosing instead to remain an independent. I guess that Arti have managed to stave off offers on the basis that they can afford to carry on without the bulk buying discounts that they would enjoy if the sold out. The main reason for this is that they are pretty much covered in all areas, offering a comprehensive range of products that include; newspapers, groceries, frozen foods, a great range of spices, confection and ice creams, soft drinks and booze. Alcohol is heavily discounted, with all of the offers posted in large print in the window. These of course serve as loss leaders, and also help to keep the regulars happy. Business remains brisk, which I'm really pleased about. The shop is run by a lovely family, who I like a lot.

Wally's deli version 2 is the Arcades Wally's sweeter cousin. Bustling with Easter goodies at the…read moremoment it's hard to tell what is normally carried, but I for one do not give a damn when their is so much scrumptious chocolate on display. Being an upmarket deli, you'll get lots of beautifully decorated food. You pay for it, but your paying for quality that feels deserved. I love the shop as well, floor to ceiling glass and brightly lit, Wally's oozes with metropolitan class. You great great service, with lovely staff. Put all those ingredients in a blender and you've got your self tasty metaphorical pie.

I've been going to the Wallys Delicatessens in the Morgan arcade for years, so was very interested…read moreto see what I would make of their first ever new store in the St David's 2 center. On the whole I was quite satisfied and impressed. The store is not as big as the original, nor does it have as much stock. This is for the better though, as it is ascetically pleasing, and I have often felt that the other store packs far too much in. A further difference is that this new store focuses far more on the sweeter things in life. There is a mouthwatering selection of handmade chocolates, a wide variety of old fashioned sweets, and some simply breathtaking gingerbread houses, which are already on my Christmas list for next year. They do sell some of the more savory products (though if that's what your after I'd head for their other store), including a rather nice selection of oils, which are far superior to anything you get in a supermarket. Finally the great thing about this store, is that it really makes a nice change from all the big brand names that dominate St David's 2. It's so nice to see an independent retailer doing so well, and I would truly encourage anyone to check out Wallys.