An independent wine shop in Canterbury
Our mission? Finding great wines and then being able to sell them at a fair price to the good folk of East Kent.
It was love at first sip…
I started at Oddbins, Canterbury, with absolutely no idea what the world of wine had in store for me. Ten years of tasting wonderful wines, debating distilleries and getting very excited about obscure champagne houses and above all Pinot Noir and I was ready to do it my own way.
Why an independent shop?
To many these days, a bricks and mortar specialist high street shop seems quixotic to say the least. But I think there’s no better way of buying wine. Wine is a physical thing with a story – you can’t taste it over the internet and you certainly won’t find anyone to talk to about it in any supermarket. Nevertheless, opening in Canterbury is a big step. Having discovered that I am actually a dab hand at DIY (which has opened up a whole new line of debate at home over chores…) I’ve been able to fit the shop out on a shoe string, helped no end by the artistic talents of Dan the manager. Five hectic weeks of driving around the country picking up counters, painting coat after coat of paint and waiting nervously for my premises license to be agreed and we are finally ready to trade.
Which brings me on to the fun stuff…
The reason why I’m doing this. Tasting wine after wine, picking out old favourites such as the Perrin family wines from the Southern Rhone or new wines that got us very excited, for example Boom Boom Shiraz – a layered and complex Shiraz with a label that stopped me in my tracks and is now definitely a favourite with all who tasted it, that’s what all of this is about: finding great wines and then being able to sell them at a fair price to the good folk of East Kent.
Local Ales, Ciders & Wines
While we’re talking about Kent, I should mention that I’ll also be championing the county’s wines, ales and ciders where the quality is good. Expect to see the best that Kent has to offer in terms of beverages, as well as frank feedback on the rest…
So here we go. Folks walking past seem excited about the shop, I’m incredibly excited as well as a little nervous and Dan’s as cool as a cucumber (as ever). Come in, try something you wouldn’t normally do and have a chat.
Vivat Bacchus,
James
