Shopping around

As a female, by default, I am programmed to love to shop. The past several years, however, I’ve shifted my focus and cash deployment toward wine. Trust me, splurging is not a word reserved solely for couture.

But unlike Bloomingdale’s, Saks or just about anywhere on Madison Avenue, there are few wine shops I come across that wow me.

I love Italian Wine Merchants because, in a very rustic ambiance, there is sophistication. Only one bottle of each offering is displayed on the shelves and all inventory is stored at cellar temperature underneath the showroom.

Moore Brothers is less fancy and has a cellar-like feel to it. However, it’s the kid-friendly play zone in the back of the store that I find pretty cool. I’ve witnessed plenty of parents rushed out of wine stores by bored children. In fact,  30 years ago I might have been one of them (yes, hard to believe). Moore Brothers offers hope, or at least a few more minutes of uninterrupted browsing.

While in London this past week I discovered Philglas & Swiggot. The independent wine merchant has a charming and inviting exterior on Northcote Road in Battersea/Clapham – moreso than the Oddbins across the street.

I’ve frequented many wine shops in London, as you might imagine, but this one seemed most comfortable to me. The shop temperature was appropriate for the bottles that filled the shelves, which were simple and easy to navigate.

The floor is organized by region and I was pleasantly surprised to find many Italian, California and French producers that I not only am familiar with, but also tend to seek out – many of which I had not previously encountered when living in London. The store sells an array of decanters, books and wine paraphernalia, as well. And if I didn’t have a flight to catch, I could easily have lost myself in there.

It’s a place I’ll revisit on another trip; I’m sure it will still be there. In fact, Philglas & Swiggot has been around for years. Of course, my friends who are aware of my wine-spending habits will attest it’s probably a good thing that I only just discovered it.

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