William Gadsby Peet takes a look at some of the best places in Surrey to get your wine and cheese fix.
Benjamin Franklin is often misquoted as having said that "Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." In fact what he actually said was far more poetic: "Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine, a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy." Whilst he doesn't have a similar quote about cheese, I like to think he held it in similarly high regard. In memory of Benjamin Franklin it has been my great honour to scour Surrey for some of its very best purveyors of cheese and wine.
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1
The Teddington Cheese Shop
The range of cheese this store offers is absolutely mind boggling – from Stinking Bishop to Wild Garlic Yarg it has an incredible choice as well as every conceivable accompaniment.
The staff are friendly, incredibly well informed on everything cheese related, and more than happy to help you put together a custom tailored package of cheese and wine to wow your dinner guests with. They offer some wonderful gift hampers, as well as a cheese master class for the truly hard-core enthusiast.
Finally, check out the quirky tiered cheese wedding cake as a unique alternative for your big day (which I can attest from my brother's wedding is glorious.)
Check out the full range here
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2
Denbies Wine Estate
Denbies is the largest vineyard in England and the perfect setting for a weekend escape (children optional). Hard to believe that this idyllic rural vineyard in Dorking is only an hour's train or car journey from London.
It has a range of tours from cheap and cheerful virtual tours costing around £10, to more full on personally guided wine and cheese making tours, at around the £90 mark.
The vineyard in spring or summer is a breathtaking sight to behold, serving as the perfect backdrop to try some of Denbies' multi award-winning range of wines. If that isn't enough to tempt you, the grounds also include a charming B & B, art gallery, third floor restaurant with panoramic views of the vineyards, gift shop, brewery and a local produce store.
Check out the website for more information.
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3
Cellar Magneval Wine Bar and Caveau
This is a brilliantly quirky little wine boutique in Ripley, which is well worth checking out. The store offers an incredible selection of wines, including some nifty organic and biodynamic offerings, not to mention a mouth watering array of continental cheese and antipasti meats to go with it. The staff are friendly and staggeringly knowledgable when it comes to all things wine and wine related. They offer a number of other services, including hireable wine sommeliers and a couple of separate rooms for private or corporate functions.
Cellar Magneval also run a delightful little continental style wine bar/cafe just up the road in Woking, that is well worth a visit. Its old-fashioned Parisian decor is the backdrop to a wide range of scrumptious wines, as well as some delicious cheeses. This is a great place to sit back and relax with a glass of vino (or coffee if it's too early in the day for booze) and watch the world go by.
The store has some great nights on as well, including world cinema screenings and the occasional cabaret evening. Très Cultivé!
Check out the website for more information on stock and store locations
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4
Hampton Cheese and Wine Company
This store is an all singing, all dancing, powerhouse of cheese and wine. They have a mammoth range of both on offer and if you can't find it in this store, you're probably just not looking hard enough. Regular, seasonal, wine and cheese tasting evenings are renowned throughout hampton as being both exceptionally informative and tasty!
This is another establishment that have invested allot of time and effort into their website and it shows. There are extensive listings of cheese and wine pairings, cooking with cheese, cheese quotes and my personal favourite – cheese facts. For example did you know:
"The myth about cheese keeping us awake and giving us nightmares was started by Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol."
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Philglas and Swiggot
The name alone should be reason enough to buy your wine from here, it is the kind of quaint Victorian name you would associate with a monocle repairer or top hat maker.
If you are looking for slightly from your wine store than a whimsical name, then it's worth noting that it stocks a dizzying range of quality wines, selected by a group of expert wine connoisseurs and sommeliers.
There a good value for money wine club with annual prices ranging from £180 to £480 depending on the quality of wine you want to receive quarterly. The wine is selected by master of wine Justin Knock and reflects his favourite seasonal wines, so quality and variety are assured.
Check out the full range on the website
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The Real Cheese Shop
62 Barnes High Street, Barnes, SW13 9LF
This is a wonderful little local cheese shop, with a wide selection that belies its small physical stature. It stocks an impressive variety of quality cheese and along with the usual chutneys and biscuits and deli style accompaniments, like fat Greek olives and Marcona almonds.
The owner is always more than willing to allow you to try before you buy, and on Saturdays it sells fresh bread from the Born and Bred bakery, perfect to smother in soft cheese.
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Surrey Wine School
The Surrey Wine School is a brilliant place to get an introduction into the world of wine, and pretty much anything else alcohol related. It was recently rated the #1 class or workshop in the Guildford area on TripAdvisor, with a number of glowing reviews. As well as wine tastings, they also offer beer and spirit workshops, as well as courses on cooking with wine.
It is impressively good value for money, with individual classes available from £25. All levels of expertise are welcome, and the sommeliers are adept at creating a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy an informative chat about wine.
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ExCellar
This independent wine merchants/cafe is run by Simon Baile and his family. Simon is a man who, in his own words, has "been in The Wine Trade since he was in nappies, and was largely weaned on wine courtesy of his father who was a Master of Wine."
It is no surprise then, that his three Surrey stores offer an incredible selection of wines. Simon has a love of small, independent, family run wineries, so expect to be introduced to something different when you visit.
His Surbiton store is a lovely French style épicerie with seating for up to 50 people. This wine bar/cafe, gives you a great opportunity to try before you buy. They also have an enticing array of charcuterie, pies, olives and pizzas if you fancy a cultured nibble.
His other stores are in Claygate and Ashtead
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