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It’s Saturday night. You’re out on a hot date and the swanky restaurant has just presented you with a mammoth wine list as long as your arm with no helpful hints, lots of unpronounceable names and some seriously scary prices. If this sounds familiar, perhaps it’s time for a trip to Green and Blue…

Green and Blue Wines is the most recent addition to Lordship Lane’s portfolio, but this is a wine shop with a twist. Unlike other wine wholesalers who operate from warehouses, Green and Blue make buying wine a much more enjoyable experience.

Stepping into the airy shop, two walls are lined with racks of wine, carefully chosen from a selection of smaller vineyards around the world, many of which you won’t have heard of before. Each batch is sampled by the staff and labelled up with descriptions that read so well that not only do you get a real idea of what the wine is like, but you can almost taste the grapes. And, if you want, that’s exactly what you can do; behind the shop front is a small bar where you can try your purchase before you buy a box, or sample some of the unusual varieties that they offer by the glass at very reasonable prices - £3-£5.50 a glass.

Simply decorated, the bar is staffed by a knowledgeable sommelier who also serves up plates of Neal’s Yard cheeses, Spanish meat platters, vegetarian mezzo and other quality nibbles to compliment your wine at around £5 a go. Rather handy if you decide to try a second bottle.

Aside from being a lovely place to relax over a glass, Green and Blue Wines is an entirely unpretentious experience, demystifying the process of wine-tasting with easy-to-understand descriptions, helpful recommendations from the staff and a selection of products available that you simply won’t find on the supermarket shelves. There are excellent wines from around £6 a bottle, hand-picked selection boxes which change regularly and the shop also has regular tasting evenings tutored by the owner, Kate Tahl. It’s not a good venue for a first date but it is the perfect place to brush up your wine knowledge for that mammoth menu moment.

NB Children are allowed during the day

Reviewed by Sarah Elliot

DESCRIPTION: Too many people have forgotten how to drink with pleasure. They drink to relax or they drink to get drunk, but they rarely drink because the liquid in their glass is a thing of beauty and a joy, full of complexity of flavour and with the power to banish care that the truly great wines of the world have.

It is not really surprising. Great wines are rarely found in the high street where most wine is sold. Much of what is on sale here does not come close to providing the genuine pleasure of good, real wine. It has been so manipulated during the manufacturing process that it tastes of the same confected, artificial fruit that is found in all manner of alcoholic beverages these days. But that does not mean great wines are found only in wine shops which are hallowed halls of reverence, where buying wine can be a scary chore, or in restaurants with a similar wine ethos.

Green & Blue provides an alternative – a place where you can buy wine that tastes of its own grapes, made with minimal recourse to chemical intervention either in the vineyard or the winery, without being patronised, terrified or made to pay more than you had intended. You see, it is our belief that the great wines of the world are not just those which cost the earth (although some sadly do), but those which are honest to goodness, untampered with, beautifully made fermented grape juice – be it in a relatively humble, everyday drinking incarnation or something a bit finer and more exotic.

For those who already know that they love wine, we will offer little known gems from smaller producers around the world as well as great wines from more mainstream regions. For those who don't perhaps know it yet, we would like more than anything to introduce them to the wonderful world of wine and to start lifelong, passionate affairs. Most of all, we want all our customers to drink with pleasure, always.

We also believe passionately that, in this difficult, turbo-paced, often highly impersonal world, proper neighbourhood places that are reasonably priced, friendly and accessible to all are more important than ever. We have worked very hard to create bars where you can feel at home and enjoy great food and wine without spending a fortune. (Updated 31/08/2010)

Customer Reviews for Green & Blue

“Don't waste your money or time. The food is over priced and the quality is not great! Lunch for 2 set us back £60 inc 2 glasses of wine and a several flys on the table, walls and in the restaurant. Felt like a meal for 6 or more!”
Rating: — john, london (18 Dec 2007)

“On a recent trip to London, a friend and I came across Green and Blue and had a most unexpected and enjoyable evening. It was a real treat to be able to sample what turned out to be fantastic wines in such a neat environment. While the ambiance is casual, the place is dedicated to a sophisticated knowledge and appreciation of wine in an attractive setting – bit like visiting a vineyard but without the long drive – and just tailor made for wine lovers. We also had some tapas which was nicely done and we very much appreciated the attention to organic, high quality stuff. The wine store has a great selection small enough to avoid the hard work of trying to navigate a big store. Will definitely be back on my next visit. Had a terrific evening! ”
Rating: — Jane Masterton, Washington DC (15 Jul 2005)

“Well, you can forget all your prejudices about 80's 'wine bars' when you go to this excellent place in Lordship lane. Green & Blue is both a wine shop and a bar that serves platters of food. When we went we liked the wine so much we bought 6 bottles home! About 12 wines are available by the glass at incredibly reasonable prices (from ~£2.50) with small finger-food platters to nibble. A really great addition to the area, and a great place to kick off your evening.”
Rating: — Robert Stephens, London (06 Jul 2005)

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