The aim of Joseph Barnes Wines is to introduce interesting and unusual handcrafted wines from…read moresmall, independent producers and constantly seek out new and exciting wines that are rarely available elsewhere but still represent great value for money. Strike a good relationship with them and the road to better drinking begins.

I'm no wine connoisseur, in fact I'd be more likely to choose a £5 bottle of California white from…read moreTesco but I can't recommend this shop highly enough! Located on one of the tiny side streets of Saffron Walden its a bit of a hidden gem. They've made the most of the space they've got with floor to ceiling wine racks, but it feels well organised and cosy rather than crowded. The wines come in at a variety of price points, starting at around £6 and going up to £50+, so there's something for everyone, but what really makes this a great place to shop is the owner, Charles. If you visit on a week day you're likely to get him to yourself, which may sound a little daunting to those who don't know their Chardonnay from their Savignon Blanc, but there's nothing to worry about. He's helpful, informative and not at all pushy, whether you're spending £10 or £100. He will advise not only on the wine itself, but also which meals it compliments, so you can get the most out of your purchase. If you frequent the shop on a Saturday you can look forward to a free wine taster while you browse and when I visited just before Christmas there was even a butler (in full outfit) serving the wine. Even if the shop is busy you wont be ignored and you never feel rushed. But my absolute favourite thing about Joseph Barnes Wines is the story behind each bottle, which Charles will tell you while he wraps it up. Maybe he's making it up as he goes along, but I get the impression that he really does know what he's talking about and it makes the whole thing feel more like an experience than popping into the supermarket for a bottle of plonk. The only think that could make this better would be if he had some cards to include with wine bought as a gift, so that the recipient could learn the story behind their wine too.

My wine knowledge is laughable. I really try very hard to remember names and grapes but in the end…read moreI'm sorry to say, I base a lot of my wine purchases on the label. Although the words 'don't judge a book by its cover' ring in my ears, I am the kind of person that panic buys a bottle on the basis of a pretty picture rather than bothers herself to ask the staff for help. I always find conversations with sales assistants in wine shops impossible because I know that two questions in I will sound like a complete moron. One attempt at conversation in a wine shop left the staff so confused, they asked for ID to make sure I was even allowed to drink the stuff! However, in my discovery of The Sampler, I think I may just have solved these wine dilemmas. The Sampler offers a unique opportunity to try a large selection of their stock whilst choosing which bottle to buy. This experience is in itself quite fun- buy a card from the till and pop it in to the machine to have a taste of whatever you fancy. Think of this as a boozy Oyster card- you pay more for the fancier wines, much like a longer journey but you can always take the bus route if you fancy getting sloshed on the cheap stuff! Samples start at 30 and the most expensive I saw was £3. For real winos, this is a great opportunity to try very expensive bottles you would never usually buy. For those like me, who still need a little more instruction, the Sampler also hosts regular wine tastings. The Sampler truly is a local business at its best, offering services you would never find in the big supermarkets and going above and beyond to spark your interest in the grapes. A great wine shop and well worth a visit!

I used to love this place (it once warranted a 5 star review) but I think that it is on the slide…read moreat the moment. The format is still the same - either you can use the shop as a normal wine shop and buy from the good selection of wine (organised by grape variety rather than country) or taste the wine from the various tasting booths. In relation to the former, the selection of older vintages which are kept is special storage cabinets at the back of the shop are particularly interesting. In relation to the later, you buy a card from the counter which can then be used to purchase tastes of the wines in the cabinets. The wines rangs from everyday £7-8 bottles up to what The Sampler describes as 'Icon Wines' which are in the £100-£500 bracket. Consequntly, sometimes even the taste measure of these Icon Wines can be in the £10-£15 range. So, why is this not an automatic 5 star shop - it sounds great, no? Well, the overall wine selection is not vast. Consequently, the range available for sampling does not turn over as frequently as one might hope and if you come here regularly you will start to see the same wines over and over again (arguably no bad thing as the wines are in the main excellent). Second, my sense is that the focus of the business is on its new South Ken store. It is still a really good wine shop. However, it is no longer the absolute winner it once was.

I've never had a bad bottle of wine from Borough Wines. They listen to want you ask for and they…read moreabsolutely love what they do. If you wish you knew more about wine but tend to stare blanky in the supermarket until a bottle under a tenner with a nice label jumps out at you then this is the wine shop for you. I'm willing to spend more here because I know it's worthwhile. I just wish I could remember the next time what it was that I'd bought.

They are a truly independent and traditional wine merchant. They sell exciting wines from across…read morethe world but specialize in Bordeaux and bottle-aged Grand Cru Classé with reasonably prices. They are based in the heart of Kensington, just south of Notting Hill Gate . Originally they were a small family-owned antiques shop run by Tuggy who started The Huntsworth Wine Company back in 1990.

Have been getting wine here for over a decade. Like most things in food and drink you want expert…read moreadvice with amazing quality. I have always found that here be it red wine by the crate or white wine by the bottle. They have always have something that suits my pallet and budget.

This wine merchants has very little going for it except being the off-licence closest to my home…read more They also recently installed an ATM which may come in handy (despite the hefty charge). They stock a predictable range of wine, beer and spirits and usually have a special offer going - definitely catering for quantity in favour of quality.

Buying wine at Clissold Wines is far more cost efficient than buying it next door at Church Street…read moreSupermarket. Though I love the 24 hour store, their wine selection is poor and generally more expensive. Clissold Wines is a friendly family-run store which has an excellent selection of low-mid price wines, spirits and beers. They always run a few cheap offers in big wooden crates next to the door- I went in last night and they had 3 different 3 for 10 pound white wine offers. As well as inexpensive offerings, they also have an excellent range of riojas and sancerres from about 12 pounds upwards. The staff are friendly and helpful and have two beautiful cats who sit behind the till.

Clissold Wines is great because although it stocks a decent selection, the prices are good and it…read morecaters for a range of budgets. There is not a great deal of top end wines, but as long as you are not after something very special, I'm sure you will find something. There is always a bargain to be had, which is why I keep going back. The specials are often at give-away prices. I also keep going back because I love the people who run the store. There are a few rather posh wine shops in the area, and I am grateful that Clissold is not one of them. Church street can get a it carried away with its prices sometimes, and Clissold keeps it down to earth.

Spectacularly limited fine wine selection. You'd think it being in Mayfair there would be a decent…read moreselection over £80 a bottle but not here. Major let down - don't come here for fine wines

Fantastic place a block away from the JW Grosvenor House Marriott London. Incredible selection on…read morewines from low to high in price. We briefed Harry on what we liked and our price range and on three visits we were not disappointed with his suggestions. The first two times we tasted several wines but on our third visit we just went with his suggestion. Highly recommended

Consider one of the "10 Best Online Wine Shops in England"!!!…read more You can buy wine online, you can browse by type, country, region or grape and the recommendation section is very handy. If you're up north London way, it's worth visiting their award winning wine shop in Islington, London - Over 1000 wines to choose from. This shop can be found on 71 Highbury Park with the closest stations Arsenal and Highbury & Islington only a short walk away.

A great off licence/wine shop. My focus is usually on the wine. In this respect it stocks a good…read morevariety of wine from around the world - including a particularly good selection from the New World. The staff are on hand for a recommendation and I have never got the sense that they were seeking to push a dud bottle onto me. Quite the contrary in fact - all the bottles I have bought here have been excellent. In addition to the wine, a good selection of spirits and beer is on offer. The beer isn't just your run of the mill stella. Instead it is a selection of bottled beers from both the UK and overseas which are more unusual. I haven't worked my way through them all (yet) but there are no doubt lots of enjoyment to be had doing so. Of those sampled so far the beer brewed by the Redchurch Brewary has been particularly good, if a little pricey.