Buying wine in Belfast

Donal

Before xmas, I asked family and friends to just buy me a nice bottle of wine from a shop. I ended up variously with Chateneuf Du Pape from Tesco and Marks & Sparks, and Barolo from Tesco and Makro.

They were all relatively expensive wines, up to £20 a bottle, but I have to honestly say I've been disappointed by the lot. I was expecting to be blown away, but they could have been a £5 Winemark bottle for all I know.

When back in Fermanagh for Belfast, I nipped into Blake's Fine Wines in Derrylin, and the owner told me that supermarket "top range" wines use a lot less grapes than independent wine shops do, resulting in a less full flavour. I didn't buy a bottle for myself, bought one for my parents instead, so what I'm wondering is, is there truth in this? Is a £20 bottle from Tesco worse quality than a £20 bottle from like the independant wine shop up near the roundabout on Stranmillis?

Can anyone recommend good wines in Belfast? Direct Wine Shipments are expensive, but are independent, so can anyone advise?

thriftyminx13

Not sure where direct wines are based. There is a very good wine sellers on Ormeau road and there's one at Stranmillis just on the hill at the corner of the turn to the embankment at Annadale. Sorry that names escape me at present.

belfastgirl23

I do like direct wine shipments. The people there are knowledgeable and easy to talk to. They also have a reasonable amount of wine at the £5-£7 mark so it's not all in the top price bracket. The owner is lovely and really helpful (short, slightly stocky man with grey curly hair) and there is also a really nice american grad student who works there. There's a woman too who can be a little offputting, I'd avoid her if possible. But they will advise you on how to best spend your £20. I don't know if it's fair to say that their wine is 'better' than tesco but you will find things that aren't made in industrial quantities, whereas tesco can only deal with the huge scale winemakers because of the volume they need.

to be honest I don't think the one on stranmillis is much cop, it is independent but probably catering more for the student market. The Vineyard on the Ormeau is good although can't really vouch for the advice there they do have a good range. If you're in crossgar, James Nicholson is also ok although probably more on the posh and pricey side than the others.

DWS will also give you a free bottle if you buy 12...

belfastgirl23

thriftyminx13 wrote: »

Not sure where direct wines are based. There is a very good wine sellers on Ormeau road and there's one at Stranmillis just on the hill at the corner of the turn to the embankment at Annadale. Sorry that names escape me at present.

To get to DWS you need to drive as if you're going to the old seacat terminal (ie drive past albert clock and follow road to the right, then branch off left) and then follow the road on round as far as it goes - the DWS building is purple.

purt

I think the wine shop on Stranmillis is called Belfast Wine Company?

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

Have to agree with belfastgirl23 about DWS - never had a bad bottle from them yet and we go for the cheaper bottles. Then again I'm not really looking for a wine to blow me away, just something nice with dinner. They have some tasting notes on the shelves which I find helpful and the staff know their stuff. Must pay a visit soon...

thriftyminx13

Yes that's it, the Vineyard, always very helpful and a really nice range of wines.

SaveMeTheMoney

Belfast Wine Company is owned by Winemark, so is not independent. In fact they stock pretty much the same wine (obviously with a few more) but they charge £1 more than the wine costs in Winemark!!!

I agree that Direct Wine Shipments are very good, knowledgable and helpful.

Buy your wine on the internet, a lot cheaper and good introduction deals from a lot of sites!

SuperMario_2

Gap Wines on the Antrim Road, beside La Cuisine, excellent choice and very knowledgeable and friendly staff. They have another shop in Carrick, havent been to that one, but I'm sure theyre excellent too!

Robothell

SuperMario wrote: »

Gap Wines on the Antrim Road, beside La Cuisine, excellent choice and very knowledgeable and friendly staff. They have another shop in Carrick, havent been to that one, but I'm sure theyre excellent too!

I can vouch for both Gap wines and the Vineyard too. Both really good stocks and helpful staff. The Vineyard also stocks some really nice german and other imported beers that you can't get elsewhere and spirits you can't find anywhere else (like Bundaberg rum from Oz).

belfastgirl23

Not a beer gal myself but I too have heard very good things about the Vineyard's beer selection....