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Wine List Confidential: Vinoteca
Farringdon is home to the first ever Vinoteca, created in 2005 by friends Brett Woonton and Charlie Young, with subsequent branches, each with their own personality and menu, mushrooming at Marylebone, Soho, King’s Cross and Chiswick.
Of nearly 300 wines available to drink in or take away, 25 are served by the glass. Each dish on the menu helpfully features a recommended wine alongside, such as starter of Hampshire pigeon breast with girolles, partnered with South African Pinotage from Scali, followed by signature char-grilled bavette with pink peppercorn and lemon butter, dovetailed with Crozes Hermitage Rouge (David Reynaud).
Each kitchen bakes their own bread, and imports cured Spanish Jabugo charcuterie.
Overall, this is a ‘Champions League’ qualifier of a wine bar, paying respects to both well-known and esoteric wines (anyone for Austrian Rotgipfler or Greek Agiorgitiko?) in the top tier.
Importantly, it bridges the gap between the wine trade and the general public.
CURRENT POSITION ON WINE LIST CONFIDENTIAL: 46
CURRENT WINE LIST CONFIDENTIAL OVERALL SCORE: 91.2
Expert wine picks
• Bolney Estate, NV, Bolney Bubbly, West Sussex – England – Sparkling – £45.50
• Johanneshof Reinisch, 2015, Rotgipfler, Thermenregion – Austria – White – £36.50
• Adega de Moncao, 2016, Vinho Verde – Portugal – White – £21
• Dagon Clan, 2016, ‘Har’ Rosé, Dealu Mare – Romania – Rosé – £30.50
• Columbia Valley, 2013, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grace Lane – USA – Red – £37
• Leduc-Piedimonte, 2010, Ice Cider, Québec – Canada – Sweet – £49
Wine List Confidential, brought to you by the drinks business, is the first platform to rank London’s restaurants on the strength of their wine list alone, providing a comprehensive guide to the best restaurants in the capital for wine lovers.
Restaurants are graded on a 100-point scale based on five criteria: size, value, service, range and originality. For a full guide to London’s best wine lists visit winelistconfidential.com