Latest News

Saturday 22 February 2020

Grower Champagne Tasting

  

Our first dedicated tasting of Champagnes, focusing on ten wines from a selection of our favourite small grower-producers, from 1er Cru and Grand Cru villages of the Montagne de Reims to the more obscure outposts of the Cote des Bar. Styles ranged from Pierre Paillard's vibrant, expressive Extra-Brut to Veuve Fourny's deeply-coloured saignee rose and Fleury's biodynamically produced Blanc de Noirs from Courteron. Other producers included Gallimard Pere et Fils, Rene Jolly, Paul Dethune, Armand Margaine and Pierre Gimonnet. Tremendous character and quality throughout, truly some of the best of the region.

Sunday 17 November 2019

Pre-Christmas Tasting

     

The festive season was officially launched with our Christmas tasting of 30 odd wines, from sparkling, white and red to sweet and fortified. A pleasure to see so many of our regulars in attendance despite the limited space! Highlights included Fox & Fox's impressively brooding Midnight Rose from East Sussex, Oliver Zeter's charming Grauburgunder from Pfalz and Stanton & Killeen's indulgent Rutherglen Muscat, while top-seller was Bodega Montecillo's versatile and superb value Rueda Verdejo. A great start to the final push until 25th December...

Friday 21 June 2019

New 2019 release of Valdespino's Manazanilla 'En Rama' in stock

   

Valdespino's sherries are some of the very best around the and the latest release of their wonderful unfiltered 'en rama' bottling is keenly anticipated every year. Grapes are from their Pago de Miraflores vineyard and the Deliciosa solera consists of six criadera. This is one for serious sherry lovers: bracingly dry, saline, tangy and concentrated, a fantastic expression of this still under-appreciated style.

Friday 31 May 2019

New Italians from Winetraders

We're delighted to have recently received a second wave of new Italian wines from star specialist importer Winetraders, run by Michael Palij MW. I was fortunate to meet Michael many years ago in preparation for a trekking expedtion to Tibet we both joined in 2006 and consider his portfolio of small predominantly Italian producers to be one of the very best of its kind. Current highlights in stock are Soave from Inama, Lacryma Christi Bianco from Terredora, Barbera d'Alba from Marco Porello and Nero Buono from Cincinnato in Lazio. More to follow...

Sunday 24 March 2019

Spring Tasting

       

At last some glorious sunshine, streaming across the Green, for our Spring Tasting. 24 wines, from Court Garden estate in East Sussex to Massaya in the Lebanon, including the debut appearance of Montecillo's delicious Rueda Verdejo 2017 and the first of several rose wines to come: Domaine des Jeanne's 'Esprit' 2018 from the Luberon. Look out for our next tasting in the coming weeks...

Monday 24 December 2018

Quercus Wines' First Christmas

   

And so here we are: after just a month of being open it's now Christmas Eve and time to close for a few days' keenly needed rest and (wine-centered) merry-making after a hugely rewarding festive build-up. A pleasure to have met so many people, including new customers who now feel like faithful regulars, and to have had interest in such a varied mix of wines. Reviewing the range come January is going to be an exciting job. With very best wishes to all for Christmas and the New Year.

Thursday 29 November 2018

Westerham Shop Opening

  

     

Just two weeks after picking up keys to our new premises at the foot of The Green in Westerham (under the steady and hopefully approving gaze of Oscar Nemon's statue of Winston Churchill, who lived most of his life down the road at Chartwell) we opened on a wet, windy afternoon just in time for the lighting of the town's Christmas tree. Paint is barely dry but shelves are stocked with room for lots more to come, and it's been a wonderful welcome from local independent traders and residents alike. Great to finally be here after a hectic couple of months in the planning.

Saturday 10 November 2018

Quercus Wines Launch Tasting, The Leicester Arms Hotel, Penshurst

      

     

After months of seemingly endless website design, licensing applications and any number of sleepless nights came the chance finally to officially launch Quercus Wines with a tasting of 50 or so of my favourites with an assortment of friends, family, crowdfunders and new customers. A lively evening, with Jonica Fox very kindly on hand from Fox & Fox in East Sussex to show some of her superb award-winning sparkling wines. Kicking off with Gallimard's always excellent Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne, my stars from the evening were Philip Shaw's restrained cool-climate 2016 'Architect' Chardonnay from 900m high vineyards in Orange, Australia, and the concentrated but supremely elegant 2014 Douro blend from Quinta do Espinho. With thanks to everyone who made it such a memorable occasion.