The Vineyard

From Hale to Horwich the North West is fortunate in having a good selection of independent wine shops, even though city centre Manchester doesn’t have one. Now The Vineyard at Ramsbottom can be added to the list.

Having gained valuable experience working for wine wholesalers Reynolds and Reynolds in Bury for the past eight years, Stuart Rothwell opened this well- stocked vinous treasure trove four months ago.

The wine shop provides another good reason for food and drink aficionados to call in on this small town near Bury

Ramsbottom has long had culinary credibility thanks mainly to Chris and Ros Johnson’s work at Ramsons restaurant - recently recognised with a Manchester Food and Drink Festival lifetime achievement award in October. The wine shop provides another good reason for food and drink aficionados to call in on this small town near Bury.

Independent wine shops offer personal expertise that supermarkets can never equal. Many of the wines are sourced after detailed wine tastings and vineyard visits and few if any of these wines and spirits can be obtained from supermarkets, When did you last see black Zambuca anywhere, for example?

Stuart is proud that he showcases wine from so many areas and says that he feels shoppers will accept that wine is an educative experience. He offers advice in a warm, witty and anecdotally rich no bullshit fashion. France is well served with some reasonably priced clarets from the considerable 2000 vintage available though there are some esoteric French marvels such as Collioure, 'the peasant port' from Southern France. Some unusual, little seen sweet white wines from Jurancon also caught my eye.

Stuart is particularly excited by two Sardinian wines: the white Argiolas 2006 (£11.75) is fresh and zesty, the red Turriga 2003 comes with a hefty £45 price tag but is an extraordinarily powerful confection. Both are made from local grape varities.

Stuart also stocks Mauro (£26.50) a highly impressive Spanish red wine, a tempranillo and syrah grape blend. This has gained such cult status that it is becoming unobtainable in the UK.

The Duoro region of Portugal is rapidly becoming a wine region to watch and at £5 99 the Lavadores de feitoria o duoro is a red wine bargain. With the festive season looming this would be a perfect buffet wine with a robustness that can accompany the richest food.

The Vineyard
12 Square St
Ramsbottom BL0 9BE
01706 822213