WLC Eats – St. Barts
Douglas Blyde finds an ecclesiastical setting, skilful wine list and excellent crunchy cod fritters at Restaurant St. Barts.
Birley Wine Club dinner raises £186,651 for ‘Food from the Heart’
Enticed by the promise of a dinner at Annabel’s Club matched with 100-point wines sourced by The Birley Wine Club, guests raised £186,651 for The Caring Family Foundation’s ‘Food from the Heart’ campaign – an increase of £84,651 compared to last year’s event.
WLC recommends: LPM Restaurant & Bar, Mayfair
Douglas Blyde visits LPM in Mayfair and speaks to wine manager Johnghyun Jung about finding vintages with “danger”, “excitement” and “passion”, and how he went from being a loan administrative assistant in a bank to working in wine. Taken from this year’s Wine List Confidential guide, available to buy now.
Unfiltered: Natalia Ribbe
Natalia Ribbe, who runs Margate wine bar and shop Sète, speaks to Douglas Blyde about bad pairings, how to find value on a wine list, and whether she’s ever had to break up a fight between customers.
WLC recommends: La Trompette, Chiswick
Douglas Byde visits Chiswick’s La Trompette and speaks to head sommelier Donald Edwards about how he made the switch from computing science to oenology, his “growing obsession” with minimal-intervention white Burgundy, and the rise of English wine. Taken from this year’s Wine List Confidential guide, available to buy now.
The merchant view: Uncorked
City-based fine wine merchant ‘Uncorked’ began life 28 years ago as a Bishopsgate bottle shop. Fast forward almost three decades, and today’s version is a full-service wine merchant operating out of swanky new premises on Copthall Avenue close to the Royal Exchange.
WLC recommends: Askham Hall, Cumbria
Douglas Blyde visits the medieval family home of the Earls of Lonsdale in Cumbria. There he explores the country houses and its “incredible cellar”, containing the likes of Cos d’Estournel 1893 and Lafite 1994, and samples head chef Richard Swale’s locally-sourced menu, including red deer tartare with truffle egg yolk. Taken from this year’s Wine List Confidential guide, available to buy now.
Unfiltered: Sergio Dos Santos
The head sommelier of Latymer by Steve Smith at Pennyhill Park talks to Douglas Blyde about the vines of Brittany, the influence of the late Gerard Basset, and the power and allure of luck…
WLC recommends: Ashford Castle, County Mayo
Douglas Blyde visits Ashford Castle on the west coast of Ireland. Once owned by the Guinness family, the “magnificent property” contains all manner of gastronomic delights, including a cellar where guests are invited in to pick a bottle to go with head chef Philippe Farineau’s seasonal menu. Taken from this year’s Wine List Confidential guide, available to buy now.
WLC Eats: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Wine List Confidential author Douglas Blyde visits the three-Michelin-starred London bastion of the world-famous Alain Ducasse. There he discovers how head sommelier (and Star Wars fan) Vincenzo Arnese applies Yoda’s teaching: “Do or do not, there is no try”.
WLC Eats: Villa René Lalique, Alsace
Douglas Blyde finds good taste in both design and on the plate at the former Alsatian home of legendary artist, René Lalique. There he discovers how head chef Paul Stradner has taken inspiration from the designer’s works, and tastes wines from estates presided over by owner Silvio Denz.