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Independents such as butchers and bakeries, are
not easy to find these days. Supermarkets might be to blame, but
with so many of the British public in love with them, it is
fruitless campaigning or hoping for the return of those lovely,
local shops, that were once the heart of the community. Stony
Stratford might not have a decent bakery, but in the Stony Wine
Emporium, run by Simon and Caroline Stagnell, it certainly has a
fantastic wine shop that is an absolute gem!
The right place!
The Stony Wine Emporium provide a vast range of
wines – over 250 in fact, so you can rest assured that they have
a wine that will suit any occasion or pocket. This really is a
shop that anyone, regardless of their knowledge of wines, will
feel comfortable visiting. A lady walked in and told Simon she
was looking to sit down and unwind with a good glass of wine
after a long afternoon shopping. She had certainly come to the
right place!
Simon has tasted every single wine in his shop
(yes, I wish I had his job!) and has designed the Emporium in a
simple, yet hugely attractive way. I felt like a child again -
in the best sweet shop in the world, as I moved around with
genuine excitement surveying countless wines that I had never
heard of before. The décor, with natural stone floors and walls,
makes the shop feel like a modern cellar.
The wines on display are cleverly laid out to
ensure your search for wine is made easy. From New Worlds to
Europe, sweet to dry and whites to red – every combination is
covered.
Still looking?
When you do not know what you are looking for in
life, it’s a fair bet you will never find it. In the same way,
you could spend hours in a supermarket trying to find a wine for
your curry later that night. There’s a good chance you will not
come across a choice you are completely happy with because,
let’s face it, you do not know what you want or need. You WILL
spend hours searching – hoping the tiny writing on the label
finally tells you that you have found the perfect wine to
accompany your meal.
Whatever your choice of food, at the Emporium,
Simon will immediately direct you to the ideal wines to
accompany it. Not only has he already sampled the wine himself –
he has an amazing recall for wine he has tasted, and will
explain anything you need to know - simply, clearly and in a
language us novices can easily understand. There are also bins
of various wines which contain varieties suitable for fish and
meat dishes.
BBQ & Picnic wines!
With bins containing a wide variety of wines
ideal for barbeques or picnics – making your choice here could
not be easier. Much thought has gone into making your visit an
enjoyable experience.
The Café
The Stony Wine Emporium is also a Café (open from
12pm til closing at 6pm and open until 9pm for supper on
Thursdays and Fridays) so we gladly took the opportunity to sit
down, sample some wine and local produce with the ‘Stony
Platter.’ This costs just £10 and is ideal for sharing. Whilst
it is fair to say that food does not take centre stage here; it
is still extremely well presented. Our platter, a mixture of
cheeses (ideal for my partner) and locally sourced cured meats
(my preferred choice) went down a treat! Light, fresh and tasty,
we enjoyed this alongside some fresh bread (sourced from a
bakery in Ampthill), balsamic onions and chutney.
Wine is available from £3.95 a glass, up to
£5.95. You’ll find a black board with today’s choices (usually 3
reds and 3 whites) which frequently changes and you can try
these before you buy.
Whilst sampling the platter, we enjoyed a glass
of Quinta da Falorca 2009 (Portugese Rose) at £5.95. This is a
delightful wine, and although not sparkling, it definitely has a
hint of Co2 meaning there are the slightest of bubbles that made
this an incredibly refreshing wine that was very easy to drink.
Of all the wines we sampled, this was our favourite, and we duly
opted to buy a bottle alongside some fantastic looking wine
glasses to take home.
As mentioned, the variety of wine available by
the glass does change daily. Whatever the choices however, I
would advise anyone to treat themselves and buy the more
expensive option. The wines available at £3.95 are certainly
pleasant enough, but as you move up the price scale, the quality
of the wine (as of course it should) rises too, and that makes
the difference between an enjoyable drink and a memorable one.
The Stony Wine Emporium is one of those shops
that you wished you had at the end of your road. It’s a
relatively new establishment, but one that is destined to be a
part of Stony Stratford’s newly developed Odell’s Yard for many,
many years to come.
Private wine tasting parties are also available.
Simply call Simon on 01908 267 373 to find our more about these
or talk about anything to do with wine! When it comes to wine,
you really couldn’t be in better hands. |
