The Sampler Wine Merchant and my quest for Vin Jaune

All my plans were thrown out of the window last weekend, thanks to Raymond Blanc. Well, his new TV programme that is. I got so caught up in his delicious description of Vin Jaune , that i made it my mission to hunt a bottle down. And i love a challenge! Now, he also said the combination of Vin Jaune and Comte was (to be said in a French Accent) ''ze must evvenly match on urse. Even a five year old boy would enjoy it''. Any wine and cheese combination that appeals to a five year old boy, MUST be good! I was sold! So after a few strategic phone calls, the man and me finally located the prize at The Sampler Wine Merchant, in Highbury and Islington.  

This place is awesome! There are hundreds of wines to choose from, but the best bit is you can try before you buy! The sample is proportionate to the price of the bottle and with prices starting at 30p, you can really get stuck in! It was actually really nice to try wines that i would never normally go for, especially the expensive ones... 

If you need any extra advice, there are loads of wine related books, to sit and peruse at your pleasure, plus the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable.

The vibe was good too. It was rather amusing to see the place slowly fill up with Arsenal fans, who had obviously just made their way, on a high, from the match that afternoon - a subsequent check on the old iphone revealed they had thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7-1! A much more sophisticated celebration than a pint in the pub...maybe that's how they do it in north London!

 Another plus... i love any establishment that has a resident dog! Say hello to Ivy...

Celebrating Cork @ Anthropologie

Have you seen the fab window display at Anthropologie, Regent Street recently? No you say! Well, for those who are yet to see it, then get down there! You will be greeted by an impressive display, made up of no less than 37,953 corks! Oh yes, that’s a lot of wine. The display is not only visually stunning, but also carries a great message in support of the I Love Natural Cork Campaign. We need to support the cork people!

Now, I love a good theme. So when Anthropologie invited me to their wine tasting (cork=wine) event, I just couldn’t say no… although i very rarely say no to wine anyway! The event was great fun. Not only did you get to learn a little as you drank - how to quaff wine like a pro and what to look for in a good bottle -  but you also got free reign on their goooorrrgggeeous store. Which after a few glasses of the good stuff, was even more tempting than usual!

I am now also fully behind the environmentally friendly, super sustainable, down right sexy cork. Where is the pleasure in a screw top anyway? Give me that lovely ‘plonk’ sound when opening a bottle any day! Say no to Screw and yes to Cork!

Fernandez and Wells - Spanish Heaven on Lexington St

This is one of my favourite places... ever. Now, you should know, I am the kind of person who can be enticed into any establishment, if there is Jamon hanging in the window! Even if you are not a fan of the deliciousness that is cured meat, you are bound to fall in love with this place for many more reasons. The food is mouth watering (with only top notch ingredients used), the wine selection delicious and the staff friendly and knowledgeable, but the great thing about this place is the atmosphere. It is so comfortable and relaxing, that inevitably a quick drink easily turns into a bottle with food - not that I'm complaining! A great place to meet friends, enjoy an intimate date or indulge in a cheeky glass of wine on a Wednesday night! Get a feel for the place (and food) here.