Oct 30, 2023 5 min read Vinjoyment Diary

What makes a wine bar ‘great’?

Our bottle at The Winemakers Club in Farringdon, London

There’s nothing like enjoying a glass of wine at a place that not only satisfies your palate, but which also lifts your mood and - without exaggeration - makes you feel good about humanity again.

If you’ve been following us on social media, you might have seen that every now and then we feature some of our favourite wine bars. Some of these are our local favourites in London, where we’re based, or gems that we’ve discovered as part of our travels, and it is part of our mission to highlight these places that make the world of wine a more exciting one.

Whether we love a wine bar because of the memories created there (even if a bit blurry!) or due to the wines they’ve introduced us to, we have compiled a list of what we believe are the key components of a great wine bar:

1. A varied wine list

This is not about having every existing bottle on the planet in stock - but rather about offering a wide range of options in terms of price, style and winemaking philosophy. While some days we just want to stick to the ‘classics’ and a Burgundy Pinot Noir will do the trick, more often than not we’re keen to try something new. We particularly appreciate wine menus that feature natural and/or biodynamic wines, as this shows that those curating the list are willing to explore less conventional routes. And of course, price is key. Drinking a good, enjoyable wine does not need to imply splurging. It is always a good sign to find a wine list with bottles for around £20 even if they also have some of the priciest options.

Try: Sager & Wilde or N’Ombra de Vin

2. ‘By-the-glass’ is an appealing option

One of the main excitements of going to a wine bar is that of discovering wines you haven’t tried before - and you might not necessarily want to get a bottle. However, it is not rare to feel stuck with the 3-4 mediocre options on the menu; or even worse, realising that a glass will end up costing you half the price of the bottle! Some of the wine bars we love are either willing to let you have options by the glass at a reasonable price, even if they’re not listed on the menu, or already have a considerable by-the-glass list, which often rotates depending on what is open.

Try: Ducksoup or Newcomer wines

*Image: Lady of the Grapes (Time Out London)*

This is the one element in common between all the wine bars we love, no matter where in the world they are located. We find so much joy in having a conversation with the staff at wine bars. Very often, these are curious, interesting and fun individuals who are very passionate about their field and who share some of the most exciting stories about what’s in your glass. With just a few hints, they might be able to give you some ideas for what you might want to try. There hasn’t been one time where we didn’t enjoy a glass recommended by the staff. And believe us, working at a bar (or in hospitality altogether) is not an easy task at all! So, huge respect for these amazing humans.

Try: Lady of the Grapes or Fáfiuché

4. A cool atmosphere

Now that you are part of the Vinjoyment community, you know we’re on a mission to demystify the world of wine as being something pretentious. Thankfully, many wine bars are the best evidence of how drinking wine can be a fun, relaxed and creative activity. If you’re a music lover like us, there’s something special about a wine bar that has a good record collection. Extra points for neat design and lighting.

Try: Noble Rot or Cantine Isola

5. Foodies don’t go hungry

Although our focus is on wine, let’s face it: those of us who enjoy wine tend to be big foodies as well. Wine bars don’t need to have an extensive food list (it’s not a restaurant after all!), but as we know, pairing options can help enhance the experience of wine. Whether that is something as simple as a toastie (Sager & Wilde we’re looking at you!) or something more elaborate, good food completes the hedonistic experience for your palate.

Try: Authentique Epicerie London or Gordon’s Wine Bar

We will continue to share our favourite wine bars from London and around the world. Stay tuned and send us any recommendations you would like to see featured!

Our wine recommendation of the month

We will always only feature wines we have tried ourselves and will always provide our honest opinion.

Name: Dry Riesling "vom Roten Schiefer"
Producer: Gunderloch
Grape variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2020
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Where we had it: We bought this from Noble Green Wines and served it as part of a wine tasting we recently hosted in Mexico!

As much as we enjoy trying funky, different, ‘out there’ wines, sometimes there is much comfort in a classic wine done well. This is a very clear, crisp and easy-drinking Riesling from the Rheinhessen region, by the Rhine river, south of the city of Mainz.

This estate was founded in 1890 and is well known for producing top Rieslings - both dry and sweet. Johannes Hasslebach, Carl Gunderloch’s descendant, is a sixth-generation family producer, combining deep tradition with innovation. In his own words, each wine is ‘an expression of the family’s own dedication to the Rothenberg’ (the steep slopes in Rheinhessen where the winery is based).

This dry (‘trocken’) Riesling is well structured, with strong minerality, very clear citrus aromas and very nicely integrated acidity. We recommend enjoying this wine with some white meat or fish dishes – think of a grilled seabass with just a hint of olive oil, rather than the creamy sauce types….

Please get in touch contact@vinjoyment.com if you’d like to explore some ideas for a wine tasting or any collaborations.

And don’t forget to share this article with anyone who would enjoy a glass of wine - it really helps us when you spread the word :)

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