Sadly, the Trout Wine Shop closed for the last time in January 2014 and the space is now a popular self-catering holiday let, called Little Trout. However, although the physical shop has gone, the website lives on and I aim to continue to offer an interesting and personal selection of wines for sale. Since browsing my shelves is no longer an option, it is now possible to browse virtually.
Wine continues to be what this list is all about - wine that has been selected because it is interesting, enjoyable and which, while offering good value for money, is not included because it fits an arbitrarily set 'price point'. Nearly three quarters of the wines in this list fall between £6 and £12 per bottle because this is where, I believe, the best value is to be found. These are wines that I am passionate about - I hope you will share that passion.
Collection & Delivery
Wine orders can still be collected from The Trout but, as my stock is no longer stored on site, advance warning of a visit is advisable, preferrably by email.
We are delighted to quote prices for delivery to any part of the UK mainland which, wherever possible, will be on our own vehicles but we cannot guarantee either speed or cheapness! Please do ask - you may be surprised. See below for details.
Glass Hire
Glass hire is still be available for parties, again by prior arrangement.
Screw Tops
When screw top wines first started appearing, I used to distinguish them in my lists with a symbol. However, since the vast majority of the wines I sell now come with a screw top, it seems sensible to identify those which have a cork, rather than those which don't. I have chosen a corkscrew symbol for this purpose, which seems logical! Some bottles marked with a corkscrew may appear to have screw tops in the picture because these are more recent bottlings. The corkscrew symbol doesn't necessarily mean that you'll need one to get into the bottle, just that it hasn't got a screw top! Most sparkling wines can be opened by hand, so have no symbol.
Anthony Whitaker
Such is my enthusiasm for the wines of South Africa that I list them first. Why the enthusiam? It is because, for me, these wines combine the best of the "old" world and the best of the "new" in wine making terms. Many grape varieties seem to grow better in South Africa than they do anywhere else - Chenin Blanc being a prime example. Another would be the wonderful Mourvèdre which you can find as a single varietal wine in the south of France and, as Monastrell, in Spain but somehow it gains another dimension in Swartland (particularly but not exclusively). The selection here includes some truly great wines and I have seldom, if ever, encountered a bad bottle. Please give them a go!
South Africa Red
Revenant Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Stellenbosch
Percheron Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2018
Western Cape
Still on great form - Rhône style wine with lots of fruit and real quality. Exceptionally good value for money.
False Bay Pinotage 2017
Western Cape
Very good 'modern' style Pinotage - not too heavy. Limited availability of this vintage.
Percheron Old Vine Cinsault 2018
Western Cape
Slightly lighter than the wine below - really enjoyable.
The Curator Red Blend 2012
Swartland
From the wonderful Adi Badenhorst - a joyful blend of Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Viognier.
Withington Wines Roan Ranger 2015
Darling
Brilliant new wine, a Rhône blend of Cinsaut, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Barton Rouge 2015
Walker Bay
An "almost Bordeaux" blend containing 40% Merlot - very well made and drinkable.
Darling Cellars The Capeman SMG 2017
Darling
A new blend (Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Grenache) for this popular wine - and a new label.
Darling Cellars Chocoholic Pinotage 2017
Darling
This is amazing! It really does taste chocolatey and almost more like a light port. Very moreish.
Spice Route Grenache 2012
Swartland
A great wine - really Rhône-ish. Limited availability.
Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2014
Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl
Don't be put off by the jokey name - this is a serious wine (or should that be 'cunning'?)
Spice Route Mourvèdre 2015
Swartland
Just one of my favourite wines on the entire list... New vintage.
Barton Winemaker's Reserve 2012
Walker Bay
Classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet. Really classy stuff. An absolute joy to drink.
South Africa White
Primordial Soup White Blend Non Vintage
Western Cape
This blend of unspecified grape varieties grown in the Swartland, where absolute ripeness is guaranteed, is fresh and clean with a citrusy feel to it.
False Bay Chardonnay 2017/18
Coastal Region
Although unoaked this is made from sun ripened fruit, giving it much greater depth and flavour.
False Bay Wild Yeast Chenin Blanc 2019
Western Cape
Possibly my favourite Chenin Blanc. Consistently good - rich and apricoty.
The Curator White Blend 2016
Swartland
I've stocked this before - an exciting blend of Chenin, Chardonnay, Viognier by the formidable Adi Badenhorst.
Barton Chenin Blanc 2017
Walker Bay
Barton Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Walker Bay
Groote Post The OMB 2019
Darling
Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Darling
The Tea Leaf Chenin Blanc 2016
Piekenierskloof
The Chenin vines are surrounded by Rooibos tea bushes which impart tea flavours to the wine.
Groote Post Seasalter 2020
Darling
White Vins de Pays (France...)
Maison de Vigneron Blanc Sec 2018
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Made from Colombard and Ugni Blanc grapes - crisp and fresh; easy drinking.
Joyau Gros Manseng Chardonnay 2017
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Worth comparing with the Brumont below – here the Chardonnay gives weight to the wine while the Gros Manseng adds zing.
Domaine de Vedilhan Viognier 2019
Vin de Paysd'Oc
Classic 'peachy' Viognier with plenty of ripe fruit, exceptionally well made. Really classy new label, too.
Les Volets Chardonnay 2018
Vin de Pays de la Haute Vallée de l'Aude
We've seen this before but it's a worthy returner. Classy oaked Chardonnay at a stonkingly good price…
Domaine de Brumont Gros Manseng / Sauvignon 2017
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Back again after a long absence - a combination that really works. Crisp and zingy.
Red Vins de Pays (France...)
Maison de Vigneron Rouge 2018
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
Terrific quality for a humble VdeP - full flavoured, soft, easy drinker.
Les Oliviers Merlot Mourvèdre 2018
Vin de Pays d’Oc
Mostly Merlot (80%) with the balance in Mourvèdre – another great vintage for this old favourite which will improve with age (if allowed!)
Domaine Mas Barrau Cabernet Franc 2016
Vin de Pays du Gard
Cabernet Franc doesn't often have such depth of flavour. Limited quantity of this vintage.
Domaine de Boède Le Pavillon 2012
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Pérignan
Concentrated fruit cake flavours - very rich. Delicious.
Domaine de Brumont Tannat / Merlot 2014
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Very soft and fruity. A great glugging wine. Has aged beautifully.
Southern French Red
Château La Bastide Vieilles Vignes 2011
Corbières
The return of an old favourite. Properly made with a nice amount of bottle age.
Château L'Herbe-Sainte 2016
Minervois
An amazing new find. Very deep colour with fantastic depth of flavour. Really "chewy".
Rosé Wine
Borgia by Borsao Rosado 2019
Campo de Borja, Spain
Proper rosé with a decent depth of colour and strong strawberry flavours.
Leccio Monferrato Chiaretto (Rosé) 2018
Piemonte, Italy
Much paler in colour than my preferred style of rosé but this is really fresh and fruity – not just dull white wine with a bit of colour which can be the case with barely pink wines!
Alsace
Pinot Blanc Organic 2018/19
Cave de Turckheim
Crisp and steely but with richness of flavour too.
Riesling Vieilles Vignes 2008
Cave de Turckheim
Truly classic Riesling with all the intensity that great Riesling brings. Limited availability of this vintage.
Gewürztraminer Tradition 2018
Cave de Turckheim
New vintage from an old favourite. Proper Gewürz like it should be.
Red Bordeaux
Château Haut Rian 2014
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Soft, easy drinking claret. Lots of rich fruit - well balanced. Limited availability of this vintage.
Château Le Bedat 2016
Gensac, Bordeaux
Deliciously soft, easy drinking claret. Lots of rich fruit - well balanced.
Sparkling Wine
Prosecco Spagorosso Domenico de Bertiol NV
Colli Trevigiani, Italy
"Lightly sparkling wine – all you need now is some peach nectar. The corkscrew symbol isn't an error!
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2015
Western Cape, South Africa
Another old favourite returns! The great South African sparkler which ages beautifully. One of the few sparkling wines outside the Champagne region to include Pinot Meunier in the blend.
Champagne
Bernard Robert Brut NV
Formerly known as J P Robert - but only the name has changed. High quality grower's Champagne.
Italy White
Ca' di Ponti Catarratto 2019
Sicily
Catarratto is one of Sicily's best grapes, producing peachy, soft wines with elegance and style.
San Vigilio Pinot Grigio 2019
Provincia di Pavia
Very drinkable wine with character. Only 12% alcohol, for those who prefer a lighter wine.
Gavi La Battistina 2019
Piemonte
Something different - peachy and very drinkable. Light, crisp - a refreshing change.
Italy Red
Frappato Baccaria 2016
Cantina Paolini, Sicily
Deliciously soft, easy drinking red from the increasingly recognised Frappato grape.
Salice Salentino Giardinelli 2014
Puglia
Back on form, thank goodness! Packed with soft fruit and lasting flavour.
Vallone Appassimento 2018
Puglia
Spain Red
El Tesoro Monastrell Shiraz 2018
Jumilla
Back with a new label, this wine using 85% Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) and 15% Shiraz grown on the top-rated Juan Gil estate offers exceptionally good value for money.
Alaia Prieto Picudo 2018
Dehesa de Rubiales, Castilla y León
The return of an old favourite - made from 80% Prieto Picudo and 20% Tempranillo aged in French oak to give the cherry and berry fruit a bit more complexity.
Borsao Selección Barrica 2015
Bodegas Borsao, Camp de Borja
Oak aged (barrica = barrel) and similar in style to a Reserva Rioja.
Pinna Fidelis Roble 2016
Ribera del Duero
Oak aged wine with great depth of flavour accompanied by lots of juicy fruit. A great find.
Australia White
Murphy's unoaked Chardonnay 2018
Big Rivers, New South Wales
New vintage and new label for this well made unoaked Aussie Chardonnay at a keen price.
Australia Red
Pike's Red Mullet 2011
Clare Valley
I have been selling the red Percheron wines for a number of years. Currently unavailable.
Chile White
Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Central Valley
Crisp, clean and fresh. Excellent value
Montevista Chardonnay 2019
Maule Valley
Straight forward unoaked Chardonnay which lets the fruit shine through.
Chile Red
Sierra Grande Merlot 2019
Central Valley
Outstandingly good value - fruit cakey Merlot for immediately enjoyable drinking!
Sierra Grande Pinot Noir 2017
An exceptionally fine example of Pinot Noir – what Chile does best in my opinion. Lighter in style than the Infiernillo below.
Montevista Carmenère 2018
Valle del Maule
New vintage of what used to be called Andes Peaks. Always a very dependable and well balanced wine.
El Infiernillo Pinot Noir 2015
Maule Valley
An exciting new discovery - classic, beautifully made, single vineyard Pinot Noir.
Argentina Red
Pablo y Walter Malbec 2019
Mendoza
We’ve sold this before but this is the latest vintage and the conditions in 2019 were all but perfect. Aromatic with lots of black fruits in evidence.
Molinillo Malbec 2016
Mendoza
Exciting new find. Deliciously jammy Malbec - perfect summer BBQ wine.
Corkscrews
These two models of Screwpull corkscrews are absolute bargains and offered at well below RRP.
Screwpull Activ-ball Table Model "Trilogy"
Kitchen Accessories
Sarah Whitaker's Aga recipe books - lavishly illustrated in colour, featuring all new recipes for casual, effortless and confident cooking (but not necessarily in that order). An absolute must for cooks everywhere - and you don't even need an Aga to make these recipes work as there are instructions for conventional cookers as well!
Please visit sarahwhitaker.com where you will find a wide range of excellent cooking equipment to suit all pockets (and kitchens!)
Casual Aga Cooking
by Sarah Whitaker
Confident Aga Cooking
by Sarah Whitaker
Effortless Aga Cooking
by Sarah Whitaker
Deliveries
Prompt, free delivery (minimum 12 bottles of wine) within 20 mile radius of Nether Wallop. We can deliver to other areas by arrangement (whenever possible, at no extra charge) so those living more than 20 miles from Nether Wallop need not be afraid to order from this list!
Discounts
Please note that the case price shown in this list applies to any purchase of at least one dozen bottles of wine, which can be mixed. You do not have to buy 12 bottles of the same wine to qualify for the discount. The reductions offered vary between 5% and 10% (sometimes more) so it does pay to buy by the case.
Credit Cards
We accept payment by MasterCard, Visa, Delta and Maestro for all transactions over £10. Please note that we can also take credit card payments over the telephone, subject to the standard security procedures.
Services
Free glass hire / Sale or Return facility / The Search for the Obscure (let us find your favourite wine, the one you thought you couldn't get any longer).
