introduction to philosophy on wine

The wine list sits at around 200 wines and features ‘wine on tap’ for some of the by-the-glass pours, with a further selection of wines to buy by the glass and bottle and some fine wines served by coravin.

all of the wines that feature are from small growers or medium-size cooperatives.

there are some ‘low intervention’ wines on the list, but the list is, first and foremost, a selection from producers who make great wine but who also work with consideration to their environment and winemaking process.  

There is a leaning towards italian wine [around 45-50%], and wine made from italian grape varieties in other parts of the world; however, most of the wines we have on the list are made in limited quantities and so will be replaced by something else once it sells out.  

the list favours bright, aromatic, and textural whites with good acidity, and for reds: fresh, on the lighter side – even for ‘big’ reds - with good structure and lifted aromatics.  

wine list structure

The wine list is split into ‘classics’ and ‘down the rabbit hole’. The purpose of this is to provide the guest with a clear demarcation between the different styles of wine on the list.

‘classics’ is just that – wines made in a ‘conventional’ way from regions and grape varieties likely to be familiar to our guests.

‘Down the rabbit hole’ is where wines from lesser-known regions or grape varieties sit, alongside wines from winemakers who have a very hands-off approach to winemaking.

In the classic section, the wines are all great examples of those wines from that region – they’ll enchant the most traditional of wine drinkers, with no nasty surprises. down the rabbit hole is more of a journey, one that may daunt some people but delight others - those who love drinking something new or different or are already devoted drinkers of all that is ‘natty’. The joy of our list is that it can depend on your mood which section you want to drink from; some days classic, some days rabbit hole, and others, both.  

why wine on tap?

The benefits of wine on tap numerous:  

A fresher glass of wine: the last glass is as fresh as the first – the kegs stay fresh for over two months  

speed of service: no corks, no glass, no cases, and no wastage  

reduced storage: a 20l keg holds 26.67 bottles worth of wine – a reduction of over 50% of the storage footprint of bottled wine.  the dispensing systems have inbuilt cooling, removing the need for refrigeration of whites, rosés and fizz. 

Reduced waste: the kegs are crushable by hand and are completely recyclable. one 20l keg removes the need for 16kg of glass, 26 capsules, closures and labels, and 1.6kg of cardboard. you also remove all spoilage costs from oxidation and corked bottles, shrink storage cost and electricity cost by reducing refrigeration space (wine is chilled to order)  

value: efficiencies at filling, shipping and distribution mean the cost saving is passed on into the price of the wines