What House Wines Are Served By Michelin Star Restaurants?

It stands to reason that the house wine or recommended wine of a Michelin star establishment is going to be pretty good. These wines are carefully chosen by experienced sommeliers who are going to care deeply whether the wine they serve at the top of the wine menu is reflective of the quality of the restaurant serving it. Whereas once upon a time House Wine was a by-the-glass red or white chosen as the cheapest it is now more likely to be a source of personal pride with some wine directors actually making it rather than just sourcing it.  In the past it was seen as ‘declasse’ to order the House Wine but these days many diners will now only order the recommended selection – trusting that the wine’s pedigree is still of utmost importance to the restaurant – regardless of price.

Therefore if these wines could be sourced in the UK to be enjoyed at home you’d be interested right? Particularly as the price of a bottle is often closer to the price of glass when you are dining (although most of us are well used to the mark up put on wine when served in splendid surroundings). Imagine a wine rack stocked on recommendations by some of the best sommeliers in the country – you’ll be the envy of all your dinner party friends!

We’ve conducted the research and find out who is serving what and where you can buy them. Note: these wines don’t appear listed as ‘House’ in most cases but are either highlighted in the wine list, the first listed by the glass, or the sommeliers choice.Our top tip is the Moulin de Gassac, Vin de Pays d’Herault, France which popped up twice in our search and the 2012 Rioja, Olivier Rivière, Rayos Uva which is served at £9.00 a glass and can be bought by the bottle for £7.25 – stock up!

 

 Chez Bruce

White – 2012 Vermentino, Vignes d’Eglise, Vid de Pays d’Oc, France £22.00

Full of fresh fruit, you taste peach, mango, pineapple and pear

£7.30 a bottle at Nickolls And Perks

Red – Moulin de Gassac, Vin de Pays d’Herault, France £22.00

Generous, ripe, very dark, dense fruit, herbs and an almost intangible layer of wood

£6.99 a bottle at Adnams Southwold

 

Benares

White – Sauvignon Blanc Atul’s Signature, Nyakas Budai, Hungary 2011 £6.50 125ml glass

Suited to spicy dishes, it favours minerality over fruitiness, but with notes of gooseberry and lime 

£11.99 a bottle by Mephisto Wine

Red – Côtes du Roussillon Segna de Cor Domaine le Roc des Anges, France 2011 £8.50 125ml glass

Quite rounded and ripe on the nose. Textured palate with layers of fruit

£11.46 by winedirect.co.uk

 

Ametsa with Arzak Instruction

White – La Liebre y La Tortuga Albariño 2012 (Rías Baixas) £7.50 a glass

Creamy but with tart notes of citrus

£12.95 a bottle at www.redsquirrelwine.com

Red – Hito 2010 (Ribera del Duero)  £7.50 a glass

Magnificent, defined and refreshing acidity and ripe, sweet tannins. Long finish and an aftertaste full of fruit and spices

£6.26 a bottle by www.vinissimus.co.uk

 

Gidleigh Park – 2 Michelin Stars

White – 2012 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Domaine les Aphillanthes, Clémentia £9.00 a glass

An intense nose of ripe stone fruits with a very smooth creamy structure

£14.40 a bottle by www.winebear.com 

Red – 2012 Rioja, Olivier Rivière, Rayos Uva £ 9.00 a glass

Aromas of red berries integrated perfectly with elegant spiciness, an intense and complex wine

£7.25 a bottle by www.vinissimus.co.uk

 

The Samling

White – Cecilia Beretta, Pinot Grigio, Vento, Italy 2011 £7.50 a glass

Floral and almond notes, with ripe citrus fruit and a subtle minerality

£8.75 a bottle by www.corneyandbarrow.com

Red – Eradus, Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand 2009 £ 8.50 a glass

Silky smooth, earthy mushroom notes with dark, perfumed fruit and flowers.

£14.95 a bottle by www.corneyandbarrow.com

 

Sketch

White – VDP de l’Hérault, Classic, Moulin du Gassac £6.50 a glass

Light and fresh, Sauvignon, Clairette and Rolle

£6.99 a bottle by cellarandkitchen.adnams.co.uk

Red – VDP de l’Hérault,  Classic, Moulin du Gassac £6.50 a glass

Friendly, scented and warm midi red

£6.99 a bottle by cellarandkitchen.adnams.co.uk

 

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester –  3 Michelin Stars

White – Chablis grand cru – Valmur Moreau-Naudet £60.00 for 37.5cl

This is a top-notch grand cru Chablis which has fantastic ageing potential

£39.90 a bottle by www.tanners-wines.co.uk

Red – 2004 Saint Julien Château Lagrange £70.00 for 37.5cl

A nose of black fruit, cedar and spicy new oak the palate is refined and fresh with ripe grippy tannin and considerable weight

£35.00 a bottle by www.majestic.co.uk

 

Design Restaurants Member benefits can be used in most of the restaurant listed above. For more information go to www.designrestaurants.com