WineChap seeks out the best places to try and buy inside the M25I cut my teeth in wine retail, starting (and finishing) with London’s top merchant Lea & Sandeman. I still feel a kinship for the independents – occasionally nostalgic for slow Saturdays in the shop with farmer’s market hams and cheeses, and several bottles of interesting wines open for preferred clients and passing friends.It was all very civilised, although I certainly don’t miss Christmas. But times are hard and many, driven by attractive prices and regular offers, head to the supermarkets, some of which offer good selections, better in fact than the mid-end, high-street retailers who, most recently with the demise of Oddbins, seem in terminal decline. But for those with a little time and a real passion for wine, independent local merchants are always worth going out of the way to visit. Invariably staffed by well-informed enthusiasts, they are repositories for rare artisan wineries and rare varietals, and usually have a bottle or two open. 

Below are ten of the best new, or more discrete, operations that should be on your radar.Fulham’s Vagabond is a year old this month with a selection of 100 wines – all available on tap – so you never have to buy before you try. It’s “risk mitigation”, says owner Steven Finch. This allows Vagabond to focus on less familiar grapes and regions, as with so much variety and choice, customers often play safe with the familiar. A cheese and charcuterie selection is sourced direct from Italy, but early birds watch out as they open at the crack of noon. (Clearly anyone who is interested in wine before midday doesn’t drink enough the night before to be a good client.)18-22 Vanston Place, London SW6 1AX 020 7381 1717A cork’s lob from Tower Hill, this discrete merchant is rightly loved by the City’s wine cognoscenti.  Its selection of French classics is augmented by a well-chosen handful from the rest of Europe and the New World, and there are some enticing older vintages too. Best of all, the wines can be drunk next door in the restaurant for an exceptionally reasonable £7.50 corkage.43 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4DJ020 7481 0415The successful Greenwich-based merchant has recently opened an outpost north of the river.

I wish they had been around when I lived in Tufnell Park. The new breed of the old school and open later than most – until 9pm – so those working late have a fighting chance of picking up something to douse the cares of the day.124 Junction Road, London N19 5LB020 3490 2147This is a wonderfully old-school wine merchant, with a particularly commendable Burgundy selection. Having relocated from Pimlico to Chelsea Green, it offers welcome respite from the hordes on the Kings Road. red wine with best health benefits(In Gloucestershire for the weekend? best gift wine 2014There’s a second shop is in Stow-on-the-Wold)7 Elystan Street, London SW3 3NT 020 7584 7927This quirky Brockley stalwart looks the part with a façade straight out of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. places to buy wine in chicago

It proffers a strong selection from south-west France in particular, but ships also from Rioja and Porto, and carries a rare vintage collection of Lebanese legend Chateau Musar. Graham (Mr Lawrence) aims to over deliver – hoping his customers would think every wine was worth 20% more. Apart from the wine bar with its walled courtyard next door, other attractions are a choice of 300 real ales from around the world and, probably, the best-stocked humidor that nobody knows about.391 Brockley Road, London SE4 2PH020 8692 1550Previously an antiques dealer, perennial cricket jumper-wearing Tuggy Meyer is, for his loyal clients, a quintessential English eccentric. top wine blogs ukNever short of an opinion, whether on en primeur or traffic wardens, his Notting Hill store, littered with collectables from its previous incarnation, houses a great collection of mid-priced, mature Bordeaux, his speciality.108 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH020 7229 1602A great place to stumble upon in Battersea, with a good smattering from Bordeaux and Tuscany, and particular strength in limited-releasewine buy online europe

, single-vineyard wines from the Americas and Antipodes.  Proprietor Atul Patel has, sensibly, bulked up on powerful, aromatic wines perfect for enjoying at the acclaimed Mien Tay Vietnemese restaurant opposite.  227 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1JR 020 7223 7209A traditional merchant operating for over a decade, manager Stefan Botfield never thought he’d see Hoxton become so cool. Sourcing the majority of their wines directly, especially from France, City Beverage Company prefers to think of itself as a strong generalist, with Spain, Italy, Austria and South Africa all getting fair shelf space. best wine made in 2007Every Friday is tasting night, which is free to attend, with 8-9 wines on show and 20-30 customers keen to get the weekend started.303 Old Street, London EC1V 9lA020 7729 2111Owned by the Wheeler family (previously of Lay & Wheeler merchants), this sizeable showroom in Colchester has had an extensive makeover since becoming fully independent. best boxed red wine 2015

There’s an impressive range of 1,200 lines, with a particular focus on France and New Zealand. Wines between £7 and £20 are preferred to the very entry-level, but some more exclusive bins are also offered and the store hosts a number of popular tasting events.Gosbecks Park, Colchester, Essex CO2 9JT01206 713560With two other local branches (in Four Marks and Grayshott) this Hampshire merchant prides itself on preferring wines from boutique vineyards to brand names, sourcing directly where possible. top wine brands in the ukGrower Champagnes are well represented, as are organic and even some local wines. best bc wines of 2015A good selection of cask ales round out the portfolio and there are free monthly tastings for regulars to enjoy20 West Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AT01962 732002Tom Harrow is founder of WineChap, offering wine list reviews, tastings events and a concierge service for all fine wine needs.