Try before you buy news: Vagabond Wines launches, The Sampler opens in South Kensington & Bottle Apostle’s Portuguese mission

The trend in favour of wines by the glass continues apace.  Recent London launches include Vagabond  Wines off Fulham Broadway), which claims to be the first UK retailer to allow customers to buy samples of all 150 wines it stocks, be it grand cru classe or vins de pays, at 50p a 35ml glass. 

Meanwhile does-what-it-says-on- the-tin wine merchant The Sampler has opened a second branch in South Kensington at 35 Thurloe Place, stocking over 1500 wines, a selection of 80 of which can be tried at any time.  From their new Portuguese range, I recently tasted Vinha Paz Reserva 2007 from the Dão, a gorgeous vintage, an elegant red. 

And talking of Portugal, The Bottle Apostle in Hackney, East London is hosting a Portuguese winemaker evening this Tuesday, 2nd November with Rita Ferreira of Conceito, a striking new talent in the Douro (watch this space for a write up of Conceito), also wines from Luis Pato.  Two hot Portuguese properties on cracking form, so I highly recommend it.   You can find out more about this event here.