Ever since the last time I visited one of my very favourite European cities Budapest, I was really taken with an idea they have there; a wine shop which doubles as a small wine bar where you can sit down and try something, chat about the wine, and maybe also grab a bite to eat.
Well, turns out London already has such a place called Vinoteca, and I’m so excited to hear they are coming to Chiswick this month.
I gather they have 10 whites and 10 reds open at the bar for you to try at any one time. Timeout says of Vinoteca: “even without the fabulous wines, this would still be a great restaurant”.
PRESS RELEASE BELOW
Vinoteca to open in leafy Chiswick this Autumn
Vinoteca, who have three sites in central London with a strong focus on wines and wine matching, will be opening in Chiswick in late September on one of its foodiest streets – Devonshire Road. Located on the site of the former Oriental Brasserie in a Victorian mid-terrace building, Vinoteca Chiswick will be a wine bar, restaurant & wine shop with an open plan kitchen and seating for around 50 guests, including 20 stools at the long bar for diners who would prefer more casual dining. Around half the seats will be bookable with the rest left for ‘walk-in’ visitors. As always, there will be a ‘dish of the day’ for £10 at lunch – or £12 to include a glass of wine paired to the dish.
This intimate, friendly restaurant will feature a wine list of over 270 wines from around the world. Many are sourced from artisan producers, smaller importers or directly from vineyards. All of the wines are available online or to take away from the wine shop at highly competitive retail prices.
One notable feature of Vinoteca’s wine list is the range of Bag-in-Box wines. These are premium wines imported directly from the producer and bottled on site. The wines are transported in 5 or 10-litre boxes, which keeps them perfectly fresh, and then bottled in refillable bottles on site to be drunk in the bar or taken away. Not only does this make these wines even better value, but since introducing them in 2010 Vinoteca has saved around five tonnes of glass.
The daily changing menu will be Seasonal and largely sourced from British farmers, growers and fishermen. The Modern British menu has strong influences from the wine growing areas of France, Italy and Spain. with carefully sourced specialist produce from these regions running through the menu. Vinoteca’s Head Chef is James Robson ex- River Café , The Wapping Project, Artisan & Vine and the Tabernacle as well as an 18 months as Chef Patron of L’Office in Paris. His background and knowledge will result in a menu full of exceptional dishes to complement the wines served.
Charcuterie will also feature, including bespoke Jabugo hams, salchichones and chorizo rojo and blanco sourced directly from Spain.
Brett Woonton, Charlie Young and Elena Ares, the dynamic team behind the hugely successful and much loved Vinoteca in Farringdon, Marylebone & Soho, said ““After three sites in central London locations, Vinoteca is excited to have been able to secure a fantastic little site in Chiswick. We feel that our emphasis on carefully sourced, high quality & great value wines alongside our daily-changing seasonal menu will complement Chiswick’s diverse range of bars and restaurants. We look forward greatly to being part of the Chiswick scene.”
Sample wines and prices
CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2012, VIGNERONS D’ESTEZARGUS Rhône, South
Drink in – £19.30; Take out – £8.25; 5 lit box – £48.25
IGT VIGNETI DELLE DOLOMITI ‘PRABI’ 2011, CESCONI, Trentino
(Exclusive to Vinoteca)
Drink in – £30; Take out – £14.50
YARRA VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2010, MAC FORBES, Victoria, Australia
Drink in – £46.25; Take out – £26.50
Sample menu
Crown squash & porcini soup, pecorino 6
Cornish mackerel tartare, black rice, blood orange & fennel herb 6.5
Buffalo mozzarella, black figs, Ligurian olives 8
Braised baby octopus, oregano, chorizo, chickpea bruschetta 7
Seared Suffolk venison, beetroot, homemade pickles 9
Spanish cured meats 7.5/11.5
Label Anglaise leg, lemon & sage roast potatoes 10
Charred peppers, Sicilian aubergine, farro & goats cured 11
Weymouth plaice, anchovy, marjoram, crushed potatoes & purslane 14
Grilled, flatted middle white pork, spiny artichokes & pomegranate 15
Pan fried coley fillet, chenin blanc, braised fennel & summer girolles 17
Char-grilled bavette, chips, watercress & fresh horseradish 15.5
Somerset veal chop, Jansson’s temptation & salsa rossa 22
Baked borlotti & spinach 4
Courgette fritti 3.5
Kohrabi, cucumber salad 4
Heritage plum & pistachio tart, crème fraiche 6
Buttermilk, cobnuts & blackberry 7
Chocolate, hazelnut espresso cake 7
Torrone semi-freddo, chestnut honey & pine nuts 6