It's no secret, we love wine and hope you do too. Here's the second installment of our wine-related series.
Lately we've felt a bit melancholy, or overcome by 'le spleen' as Baudelaire might put it. The sun sets by 4:30, it's consistently grey, and the Christmas lights have been switched on already. As much as we'd like to, we just can't get ourselves in the mood to transform that dusty bottle of Tesco's finest merlot into some hot, mulled wine. Perhaps you'd say we're in denial about the changing seasons, but we know there's nothing wrong with not yet being ready to fully accept the taste of Holiday Cheer, which rather closely resembles the scent of potpourri.
Our solution: a trip to Portobello Road's Negozio Classica, a sweet little shop that declares itself to be the 'Italian embassy of taste'. Cheesy? Yes, but you won't hear us whining about it (ouch). Negozio Classica serves food, coffee, spirits, and of course, wine. Customers can either choose to sip a glass or two at the bar or find the right bottle to take home. The staff is friendly and happy to let you taste a few of their favourite wines in your specified price range. Prices start around £6.99 and can soar well above £100. We sampled a couple from the lower end and were pleased to find some unfamiliar (at least to us), yet delicious wines that fell right within our budget.
The bar also offers tasting menus and is available for private events, such as their theme dinners, in which up to 10 people can learn about the food and wine of a specific Italian region.
Check out our previous installment of 'London Uncorked'.
Negozio Classica is located at 283 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA and is open 7 days a week. Check their website for opening times and further information.
