Top UK restaurants are backing natural wines

"Some years ago, natural wines haven’t had a proper place in the collective awareness of Britain’s restaurant scene", Doug Wregg, wine importer and organizer of the RWF, says. “But now wine taverns and top restaurants have specialized in this kind of wines. However, we are going one step further; we are trying to motivate the restaurants to follow their customers’ wishes for special wines. Moreover, we are organizing tastings in the restaurants in order to achieve a sustainable effect.”

Well-known gourmet temples, some of whom are honored with Michelin stars, like “ Hand and Flowers”, “Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons”, “Martin Wishart at Loch Lomand”, “Club Gascon”, “St. John”, “North Road and The Glasshouse” as well as “Hix”, Ottolenghi”, “Selfridges”, “Harvey Nichols”, “The Oxo Tower”, “Hawksmoor” and “Hotel Terravina” are participating. The list is led by the “Pont de la Tour” restaurant, London, with its over 1,000 wines, 40 percent of whom being natural wines.

“We knew natural wines beforehand but we haven’t seen such a movement yet”, Nicolas Clerc, manager of the “Pont de la Tour” restaurant, explains. “At the beginning, we had difficulties, on one hand because our guests didn’t ask for those wines – now they have become more and more sensitive –, and on the other hand, natural wines need more explanation. Many of the guests expect a certain style, too. For instance, if we offer a natural Sancerre, some of our guests will be enthusiastic, whereas others do not want to deviate from their well-known taste.”

The “Real Wine Fair” (RWF) is taking place in London from Mai, 20 to 22 – the “RAW - Artisan Wine Fair”, will open its gates on Mai, 20 and 21, also in London. (red.yoopress)