Monthly selection of wines from the world's smallest online wine shop
Alvin CaudwellWell-known British food and wine critic William Sitwell launched the world's smallest online wine store in the autumn of 2020, with a monthly changing selection of his favorite wines. William’s House Wines aims to make wine buying easier by offering only three white, four red and one sparkling wine at any one time. He changes the eight-bottle selection in the online store every month so customers are able to sample new wines on a regular basis. The criteria for choosing the wines is based on taste, quality and value for money, with most bottles £10-£12, always well under £15. The shop has actually doubled in size since launching, with the addition of an eight-bottle “cellar” section for fine wine connoisseurs who are happy to spend more. These specially-selected premium range of wines are priced between £20 and £40 per bottle.
Wine critic William Sitwell
William SitwellAs restaurant critic for The Telegraph, a broadcaster and a critic on MasterChef, William Sitwell knows his food and wine well. He was the editor of acclaimed magazine Waitrose Food for 16 years and is the author of four books: A History of Food in 100 Recipes, Eggs or Anarchy, The Really Quite Good British Cookbook and The Restaurant: A History of Eating Out. Like many of us, he explored new business ideas during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. While housebound and searching for a straightforward way to buy wine, he decided to set up an online wine shop himself and stock it with the wines he loves. It’s only been running for a few months but he says he’s already “had such great feedback from my customers. People love the simplicity of what we offer, have really enjoyed the wines they’ve tried and have loved trying bottles they’ve never come across.”
The province of La Rioja in northern Spain is well known for its wines under the brand Denominación ... [+]
Getty ImagesWilliam Sitwell says: “I love wine and I love the extraordinary complexities of the grape but sometimes the degree of choice makes buying good wine a nightmare. My shop solves that problem. I taste every wine and only list the best, the ones I would personally recommend to friends and family.” The critic offers excellent advice about buying cheap wines from supermarkets. William’s House Wines are priced between £10 and £15 which is, he says “the sweet spot of wine purchasing. Unless you spend over £7, you’re not investing in actual juice; just the costs of production, glass, transport and tax. So, between £10 and £14 you know you’re getting good wine.”
MORE FOR YOU
Epineuil in Burgundy, France, one of William Sitwell's favorite wine regions.
Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesWilliam’s House Wines are sourced from all over the world and include familiar and more unusual grapes. His favorite vineyards are in Santorini (Greece), Quinta de Noval (Portugal), Burgundy (France), Rathfinney (Sussex) and Renishaw (Derbyshire). Each bottle is described in an informative and often amusing way, with screwcap bottles described as offering “emergency access.” One of the reds currently in the shop is Front Row Shiraz 2018, which at £10.50 is a “great-value red blend for cold day warmth and comfort.” A white on offer is Picpoul de Pinet St Clair 2019, a dainty, crisp aperitif and great with seafood. And the sparkling wine this month is René Barbier Brut Reserve, that William describes as an “astonishly good cava, a truly great sparkling wine,” one that you could well think is champagne in a blind taste test.
In the more expensive cellar section this month, a “posh, sophisticated” Pinot Noir, the Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018 at £22.50, “punches well above its weight and tastes like a super expensive wine at twice the price.” Drink it on its own or it’s a great accompaniment to roast chicken.
Nationwide delivery of William’s House Wines is also straightforward. The delivery charge is £7.95 nationwide, regardless of quantity, until you spend £120, at which point delivery is free.
January 20, 2021 at 10:09PM
https://ift.tt/3bW9vwN
Critic Launches World’s Smallest Online Wine Store, With Favorite Bottles Under £15 - Forbes
https://ift.tt/31lUVcw
Wine
No comments:
Post a Comment