Message in a wine bottle

Aug 22 2008 by Helen Savage, The Journal

IT used to be said, even by me, that we lack good independent wine merchants in the North East. And it’s still true that there are relatively few places in and around Tyneside where you can browse through a wide selection of fine wines and come away with just one bottle.

Richard Granger and Fenwick’s wine shop are the most notable exceptions, along with Oddbins, a national chain of course, whose presence in the region has grown significantly over the last few years. Supermarkets apart (something of a mixed blessing), Majestic continues to be a great source of vinous goodies, but there’s only one branch on Tyneside – at South Gosforth – and you have always to buy a minimum of a mixed case of 12 bottles.

But over the last few years, a number of specialist wine merchants and importers have also taken root in the region. They offer an increasingly wide and often exciting choice of wines not available elsewhere. It’s harder to compete price-wise with the supermarkets and multiples, but many of the new breed of local merchants keep costs down by specialising in internet and mail order sales.

You can meet a selection of the best, discover some superb wines, taste them free and buy just a bottle or two at The Journal Taste 2 food and drink festival in association with Tesco on August 30. Here’s my guide to those taking part in the event at Macdonald Linden Hall at Longhorsley, near Morpeth. In addition, you’ll also be able to taste a super selection of fair traded wines on Traidcraft’s stand.

The best-known and longest established merchant taking part is Michael Jobling Wines www.michaeljoblingwines.com, (0191) 378-4554.

Michael is a joyful, larger than life figure who radiates an intense love of wine. He began by selling wine to friends and has never really looked back. His list is remarkably comprehensive with a good balance between Old World classics and stars of the new – including the brilliant Jane Hunter from New Zealand.

Michael also somehow manages to keep his prices very competitive. Individual wine lovers may buy wine by the case, but many happy diners in some of the region’s top restaurants have been enjoying Michael’s wines for a number of years, and he’s recently been working with leading restaurateur Terry Laybourne in promoting a series of wine dinners in Newcastle and Durham.

Spanish Spirit was founded a few years ago by airline pilot Oliver Ojikutu and a couple of friends.

It has a firm focus on quality. Oliver takes a great deal of time and effort to search out wines from smaller Spanish wineries, especially from northern Spain, many of which are family-run.

Oliver has a sure touch, and with the help of Ginny Nicholson (ex-Oddbins), the business has expanded steadily from a base in a warehouse on Low Prudhoe Industrial Estate in Northumberland. They also offer a range of fine Spanish foods.

The warehouse, on Earl’s Court, is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 11am-5.30pm (you can buy single bottles), otherwise it’s best to order online at www.spanishspirit.com.

The present owners took over Rothbury Wines in 2002, and guided by Jonathan Radgick have slowly built the off-licence into a haven for wine lovers, with an impressive range of sometimes unusual vintages.

One example is their unfailing trust in English wine, of which you’ll not find a better selection anywhere in the region. Prices are generally very fair. If you visit the shop at Townfoot (very easy to find) you will be welcomed warmly, but for those who don’t have time to wind through the lanes to Rothbury, a new website makes buying more widely available. Go to www.rothburywines.co.uk.

Jonathan also has been working hard to build up a tasting club and keeps customers well informed of events and latest offers through regular emails.

Lanchester Wine Cellars based in Annfield Plain, County Durham, is by far the biggest company taking part in Taste 2.

It was founded in 1980 by Tony and Veronica Cleary and is now a considerable wholesale operation working with both the off and on trade.

They buy from all over the world and their list is both long and interesting.

In addition to supplying wine by the case, they have an important bottling facility and have scored a particular success recently with sales of bag-in-box wines. Some of these are aimed specifically at the restaurant trade.

Finance director Audrey Close told me that they even include a popular line in wine with salt added ready to be turned into sauces or marinades!

I’ve not written about NH Wines Ltd before because I must declare an interest: the ‘H’ part of it is me!

For the past 18 months we’ve been importing and selling wine from small, family-run French estates. We specialise in the south west and Alsace (with wine from other regions coming soon) and have a special interest in organic or sustainable production methods. Our wines, of which I’m unreasonably proud, are available online at www.nhwines.co.uk or from Nick Lowe on (0191) 257-2827.

On our stand at Taste 2 you can also learn about the wide range of wine courses and tastings that I run and the many wine holidays I organise under the umbrella of Vine Visit Ltd. For more details see www.vinevisit.com or tel (0191) 259-1280.

Another great opportunity to learn about wine in a friendly environment is provided by The Newcastle Wine School, run by ex-Oddbins employee Chris Powell.

From a base in the heart of the city of Newcastle at Blackfriars, Chris offers a great range of short or longer courses, day-schools and tastings that appeal to a lot of local wine lovers.

Chris also organises regular and highly popular editions of the Newcastle Wine Fair (the next one is in September).

The Newcastle Wine School will be at Taste 2 to show that learning about wine can be a lot of fun. Visit www.newcastlewineschool.com, or tel (0191) 281-8045.