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.

Bottle Apostle does so many things so well, it's a wonder that people don't flock in from all…read morepoints west to take advantage of something here. Firstly, as a wine shop, it's terrific. They provide a good sampling of various types and regions (from complex Bordeaux to sakes), and everyone there is able to speak with some knowledge about any of the offerings (inc a limited selection of spirits and liqueurs as well). The manager of the shop is so well-spoken and knowledgeable about the offerings, you can't help but to wonder where he finds the time to do anything else with himself! The shop also offers a series of supper clubs in the downstairs area, and these events are terrific. We just attended a 5-course vegetarian meal with wine pairings by an up-and-coming chef who'd done time in some of London's best kitchens--and it was such a great experience. The wine was well-paired and explained, and the food was sensational. Plus the friendly ambiance and setting just made for a perfect evening. This shop just adds to the embarrassment of riches in this area, and especially on cold winter's days, I'm very grateful for its proximity to home!

This is one of the newest additions to Victoria Park Village - a boutique independent wine shop on…read morethe site of one of the original reasons to visit this area - Frocks restaurant, which closed earlier this year. The transformation is remarkable and this new store is well laid out and full of hard-to-find and specialist wines, many of which you can try using their novel Enomatics machines - self-service wine machines. You buy a top-up card and start sampling. I went in on a whim and found myself asking for a very specific NZ Riesling - and came away with a bottle of Pikes 2008 Riesling from the Clare Valley in Australia, a great companion to Vietnamese food from Namo, around the corner. There are wine tastings and events on the way.

I concur with the previous reviewer entirely - a relaxed shop on Chiswick High Road with a huge…read morevariety of almost exclusively French wines (yes, you guessed it, it's a French chain). On the two occasions I've been in, service and knowledge really has been excellent - one example being when I went in and wanted an excellent bottle of Bordeaux for a special anniversary. Not really knowing what was good and what wasn't - I specified a price of up to about £40. The assistant's eyes lit up: not because it was a guaranteed £40 sale, but because I was trusting her judgement and knowledge - the one she recommended was actually £26, but she indicated it was better than the other, more expensive ones. She also gave advice on decanting it to get the best possible flavours and for how many years it would keep. I also left with it beautifully wrapped and ready to give to the intended person. Highly recommended and in my experience, certainly better than Oddbins.

My favourite game - go into any branch of Nicolas and ask them to recommend a good bottle of…read moreItalian wine. You'll get a withering Gallic look and the response "But, sir, there is no such thing". That's because Nicolas is a specialist wine merchant that stocks virtually only French wine, although other regions do feature in modest quantities. They also stock spirits, whiskies and champagnes. Their knowledge is excellent and you'll never come away disappointed with their recommendations. Great for picking up oddities, for example Rose Liqueur (which by the way makes an excellent aperitif with Champagne)

Lea & Sandeman has three locations in London (in addition to this one just around the corner from…read morenotting hill gate station there is one in Fulham and one in Barnes) but this one is the one that I tend to visit due to it being fairly handy to reach. Lea & Sandeman carry a wide variety of wines from around the world but they do carry a good selection from France but also very good selection from Italy and Spain. The focus actually appear to shifting to less France and more Spain and Italy. The staff are usually very friendly, knowledgeable and service-minded, the selection is not always the super-exciting small producers but they do carry a good mix of bigger brands and smaller producers. I have been very happy to find for example Egly-Ouriet here (one of few places in the UK). What is also impressive is the in general competitive prices and sometimes one can find real bargains here so look for what they have on offer. One of my favorite wine shops in London. For further information on wine shops in London and wine reviews check out http://thewinecurious.wordpress.com

This seems to be one of those smaller, quaint, neighborhood wine shops crowded with boxes and bins…read moreof wine. It is, and it's much more. Looking around, you'll find 2 intimately arranged seating areas (for tastings) and a piano. Either the store manager or owner will introduce themselves assist you with finding that perfect wine for your occasion. The shop stocks a wide variety wines, often from the smallest of producers, and he knows them well. We sat around the table and tasted a selection of delightful and luxurious wines while enjoying a bit of charcuterie ("Sorry, it's January and we haven't stocked our cheeses after the holidays."). My favorites were an Assyrtiko from Santorini and a luxurious Pinot Noir from a small producer in the southern Burgundy region. Whether you are looking for a "drink now" or something for your cellar (they will also cellar your wines for you), I highly recommend this delightful shop.

If you are like me, and are interested to learn about and appreciate good wine, and are willing…read morespend a little extra to do that, then this is absolutely the best place in town. That is not to say the folks here don't sell good value everyday drinkers, they do; what makes this such a great place is if you want to get a nice bottle of wine, whether you are willing to spend £15 or £150, they will have a bottle for you. And rest assured, it will be very, very good. Their selection of New World wines is not vast, but we've never been disappointed with any selection. Of their European wines, they have a typically diverse and unpredictable selection from Italy, and some lovely alternatives from Spain and Portugal. But it is their spread of French wines that is the big selling point. They source from all the main regions, and they have exceptional local expertise, having discovered a number of hidden gems - producers without the big-name recognition but still selling very high quality wine. Whatever it is you want - a one-off special purchase, a mixed case, a selection of keepers, pre-release classics, some everyday wine, they will point you in the right direction. It is guaranteed to keep you going back for more, and it is no less than they deserve for the way they look after their customers.

This place is for proper wine buffs. I dare say it is a real find actually. If you get on the…read moremailing list they let you know when some rare and wonderful bottles of serious plonk are heading their way. Atilla Budda the owner is as characterful as his name and will take pleasure in advising you of exactly the right bottle to suit your needs. They also do wine courses that cost a pretty penny but all wine and canapes are included and if you are serious or at least want to go on your next hot dinner date sounding like you know your stuff, I would imagine that this is an excellent place to start. A truly unique little shop.

Bottoms Up is a place for real wine enthusiasts. I figured from the outside that it was a big shop…read moreand once inside I could see that they made the most of the space. There were hundreds of wines to choose from, all organised by type and country of origin. The gentleman behind the counter was most sociable and was able to speak with authority when giving me advice on which of their wide selection would suit my tastes. He even promised that if I did not like the one he recommended I could bring that bottle back and swap it for something else which made me reassured and that the shop care about customer's wine experience rather than just making sales. For those who don't like wine there are beers, ales and alchopops on offer as well as spirits and mixers. Bottoms Up run promotions and special offers which are displayed in the windows and are always worth checking out if you are on your way to a party.

The Wine Tasting Shop offers a quality wine tasting experience for an affordable price! I was…read morehighly impressed by the tasting experience and recommend it to anyone in the London area. I attended my tasting on a Wednesday afternoon. This particular tasting was a BYOB (bring your own baby)! It was an awesome opportunity for moms to get together with their babies, de stress from motherhood over a couple glasses of wine. I however, did not have a baby (as I was solo traveling) and was welcomed widely by the staff and all the moms. I even got to hold a few babies lol. This tasting was extremely affordable we were offered 4 wines throughout the 3 hours as well as small bites for £25 . The staff were extremely extremely knowledgeable and true experts at their craft. They talked extensively about the wines, their origin, ways to pair, fermentation and more! Their passion really allowed for a good experience. As a solo traveler in London looking for a fun midday midweek activity I was left extremely impressed and happy! Highly recommend.

So far so good. The…read moreWine Tasting Shop emphasizes try before you buy but they do charge 50p a try. I've only been in there once but the wine they recommended for our pasta was rich and the perfect compliment. The staff (I've only met one but she talks very personally and highly of the owner too) really know their wine and are proper extroverts. They'll recite a novel for you on their wine selection so you can find exactly what you're looking for. They really pride themselves on vintage wines. They have done a great job of networking with and seeking out very unique, kind of "indie" wines. One of the coolest things about this shop, and something I have yet to experience, are their wine tasting events. Occasionally they will invite a wine maker to promote his wine and offer free tasting. For a list of their events, visit: http://www.thewinetastingshop.co.uk/calendar I can't wait to attend one and after I do I'll be sure to give an update to this review.