Bat and Bottle Wine Merchants

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Bat and Bottle Wine Merchants

Wine Merchants. We buy directly from the wine cellar, mostly from small artisan producers, and sell directly to the general public (you and I).
(19)

Straightforward importers of Italian wines
We are always sending wine out, but the warehouse is not always open - please check the website before visiting (https://bat.wine/pages/diary) Awarded first ever UK “Online Specialist Wine Buyer” of the year (inaugural Wine Buyers Awards held by the London Wine Fair in May 2020), we are a mail-order Wine Merchants, also with a retail site in

Oakham, Rutland; we have been importing Italian wine since 1994. You can buy wine online from us, over the phone or by email - or visit us at our warehouse in person. We started trading in 1994, a classic kitchen table and van operation that started simply in Uppingham, Rutland and has now travelled all the way to ……. the outskirts of Oakham, also in Rutland, the smallest county in England! This is not as bad as it sounds, as we weren’t in Uppingham very long before we upped sticks and moved to Staffordshire, where we remained until 2003. We have always been a pared down business, as all the frills are found in the stock. At first, we aimed to sell cricket bats as well as a range of wines. The cricket side has been and gone, wine remains a passion, but a much more focused one. We caught the Italian bug badly thanks to a chance meeting and an introduction to the late Felicita Pask-Hughes, a charming Italian lady who came to Britain after the war. She had a remarkable eye for quality and was fearless in the wines she imported. In a time of straw-wrapped bottles of Chianti, she was importing Isole e Olena and Sassicaia. Ben was told (by Felicita) that we should buy her business. We did and the die was cast. Felicita’s influence on us, helped by a six month journey round Italy, means that our emphasis is mostly, but not completely, on the wines of that country. Whether from Italy, France, Spain or Portugal, we have developed a taste for wines made by men and women who cherish the history and traditions of their hills and valleys. Such individuals make wines with a sense of place and unique character. We aspire to follow our mentor’s lead and do not buy wines for our customers – we find customers for our wines. We try to be serious when buying, but never too serious when you are buying from us! Our Wine Club offers two types of membership: Vinicuriosity and Conspirators. Please have a look, it is really special: https://bat.wine/collections/wine-club

Here are some of our customers’ testimonials that we thought you might want to read:

Antonio L: “Excellent Italian wine selection and Ben has a real passion for all things Italian!”

Leah P: “Thank you Emma and Ben for the superb service you provided to Greenwoods GRM LLP. Our virtual wine tasting event ran extremely smoothly, you organised the dispatch of tasting kits to our guests brilliantly and Ben’s insight into the wines and their origin during the event was fascinating. Ben was highly praised by our guests for his ‘extensive knowledge’ which he delivered in an ‘interesting and informative’ way and everyone enjoyed the selection of ‘fantastic wines’. If you are thinking of a virtual wine tasting event, get in touch with Emma and Ben at Bat and Bottle, they come highly recommended.”

Steve B: “it's great to see a wine seller with a range to suit all tastes and budgets, they seem all too rare.”

Maggie B: “I would like to give a recent example of how you go above and beyond customer expectations. When lockdown came into force in March, you were the only suppliers of wine who were able to guarantee and organise next day shipment of wine not only locally, but also to members of my family who live as far away as Cumbria. Your singular approach over the years means that you understand my allergy to sulphites in wine, and are also able to recommend wines which are particularly suited to my palate. You have provided delicious wines for special family events such as weddings and birthdays, allowing us to relax in the certainty that our guests will be happy. You and Ben are always bright and cheerful, nothing is too much trouble for you- even small orders or requests for individual bottles of wine.”

13/06/2024

This is worth a read!

Old labels, some dating back to 2007, all sealed with both screw caps and corks, blind tasting of six pairs. Here are the winning bottles: the traditional cork closure is defeated

03/06/2024

We have just sent out an email about Le Marie's wines, if you didn't get it, you are not signed up to our newsletter (sign up via the Contact us/newsletter page of our website - (https://bat.wine/pages/contact). If you did, I have added a post about the Pinerolese region on the blog within our website.
These are wonderful, individual wines from the Raviolo family who both work the land, and craft their wines - if you haven't tried them, do! (link in the bio)

18/05/2024

A fantastic vineyard and winery tour with Matt, great fun, and thanks to our host Matt and everybody who joined us. The tank sample of his skinsy Solaris was a revelation, the Ancestral White 2023 (Bacchus) is a triumph! Matt is making some seriously good wine, bravo. (only the Red Wine is available at the moment.)

03/05/2024

Monterosa and Luca's Lessona vineyards framing the beauty of the Bat and Bottle white van. We were working from the Alto Piemonte in February, and visited Lessona, a village in that gives its name to one of smallest appellations in Piemonte; one which is devoted to Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo, which thrives on these acidic soils. The combination of maritime sands over volcanic subsoils is unusual, combined with the altitude and proximity to the Alps, makes Lessona a truly unique Nebbiolo appellation, it really does challenge the great names of Barolo.
Lessona was the toast to the unification of Italy, this fame has been eclipsed by the upstarts in the Langhe, however, the revival is spectacular in the quality, if not quantity of their wines.
These are Nebbioli with poise and balance, silky fresh tannins, focused strength and individual character, more treble than bass. We ship Lessona from:
Massimo Clerico
A historic and tiny producer, who has largely ignored time and makes wine in a single-minded fashion. The wines are excellent and moments to Lessona's past and present. Made on the MGAs of Leria and Gaja.
Colombera and Garella
Carlo works alongside his sons, Giacomo and Guglielmo and family friend Christiano Garella. Their Lessona comes from the 'Pizzaguerra' vineyard, the wine is always remarkably pure, with silky tannins, their 2018 is magnificent drinking.
Villa Guelpa
Daniele's Lessona has shot to fame, the 2018 receiving . We have a case of the 2020 left, great wine. It is made from a rented vineyard until Villa Guelpa's own vines reach maturity.

01/05/2024

I love Matt Wright's creation 'Great Food', it has a wonderfully friendly and positive attitude. It is a wonderful 'goto' for pubs and restaurants, cafes and local producers and the winners are genuine local heroes!
We don't fit very neatly into any of the categories, maybe: 'Shop of the Year'
Whilst not expecting to win (we don't really behave like a proper shop), it would be nice to be nominated and get a vote or two...
So if you have a second, please nominate or vote here:
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/awards-24-25/?mc_cid=57c8435c51&mc_eid=85daac7fb2

Last years winners were:
Restaurant of the Year – The Monk, Quorn, Leicestershire
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/the-monk-quorn/

Pub of the Year – The Red Lion, West Deeping, Lincolnshire
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/the-red-lion/

Food Producer of the Year – Stonehurst Farm, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/stonehurst-farm/

Drink Producer of the Year – Tynt Meadow Trappist Brewery, Mount St Bernard Abbey, Coalville, Leicestershire
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/mount-st-bernard-abbey-brewery-coalville/

Shop of the Year – The Cheese Shop, Nottingham
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/the-cheese-shop-deli-and-cafe/

Café of the Year – The Harley Cafe, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
https://www.greatfoodclub.co.uk/business/the-harley-cafe/

Bakery of the Year – Harrison & Griffiths, Arnold, Nottinghamshire

People’s Choice Award – The Forge at Glenfield, Leicestershire

Food Heroes of the Year
Jane Tomlinson, founder, Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, Lincolnshire
Sara Barton, founder, Brewsters Brewery, Grantham

29/04/2024

first, thanks for the picture Robert Hardy
A lovely event from in the events space, great stallholders - a joy to see old friends and our neighbours
Such a pleasure to see Rosella's Sassocarlo () making new friends, the .donnas was tasting so good, restraint and purity from , Ferrante's Greco is in a lovely place (Cantine di Marzo) and the most popular wine of the day was Agramante
Thanks to everyone who visited - DM me if you were there and would like the show discounts (you have a day or two until the offer dries up)

27/04/2024

All set up Great Bristol Wine Fest

24/04/2024

Siamo stati alla manifestazione di ViniVeri a Cerea che riunisce molti produttori di vino naturale. Ecco i migliori vini assaggiati

23/04/2024

Join us at the Great Bristol Wine Fest this Saturday 27th April! Emma and I will be there to show off some of the styles of wines we offer to our Vini Curiosity Wine Club. We hope to see you there. Link for tickets in bio.

15/04/2024

Nothing like a 30th birthday to remind us to remember why we started Bat and Bottle Wine Merchants!
It always pays to take a little time out of running our business and spend some time on nurturing it. Thank you Small Business Britain for the Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme

23/03/2024

The motley crew that are the Bat and Bottle wine family, thanks to everyone who turned up, if you couldn't (or did) make it and would like to try the favourites, do follow the link in the bio. (we distribute in the UK only)

20/03/2024

Just loading up the van for this evening's Spring Tasting in the Crypt at St. John's, Smith Square. Ferrante (Cantine di Marzo) and Mariangela (Plantamura) land any second, if you see the Picech family in London, send them our love!
The warehouse will be open on Friday and Saturday, there should be a fair few open bottles to enjoy.
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16/03/2024

Ferrante has taken his historic family winery and made it a temple to Greco di Tufo. Now his single estate Greco di Tufo is joined by an extraordinary Extra Brut (Pas Dose) Greco di Tufo (Classic Method) and 3 single vineyard Greco di Tufo Riserva wines, all with strong, individual traits and capable of developing over many years.
All are open alongside the Fiano di Avellino and Aglianico Irpinia on Wednesday 20 March at our Spring tasting (link in the bio)

15/03/2024

3 remarkable wines, all open at our Spring tasting on 20/3

Looking forward to seeing Ferrante at our Spring Tasing on 20/3 (details https://bat.wine/collections/london-wine-tasting)His single vineyard Greco di Tufo a...

27/02/2024

We will be opening all Gennaro's wines at our tasting on 20 March (see the link in the bio). Wonderfully unique wines: Piedirosso is one of Italy’s most ancient grape varieties; the name means ‘red feet’, a description of the red colour the stems take as the berries mature. There are only 1000 hectares, the vast majority is in Campania and Puglia.
Gennaro makes all 3 of his red wines from Piedirosso, the Sorbo comes from rich, volcanic soils on a northwest-facing slope, topped with Sorbo and lemon trees. Many of the vines are over 100 years old and it took him 10 years to organise a Guyot* training system. The work is manual, the fermentation is in open tonneau using a spontaneous fermentation. It is kept on the skins for 15 days before being aged in botti (10hl) for just under a year.

13/02/2024

Roberto and Alessia will be at our Spring Wine Tasting at St. John's Smith Square (link in the bio) with their children Athena and Ruben, and wines Athena and Ruben, as well as Malvasia Istriana, Friulano, Pinot Bianco and Jelka. True and expressive Collio wines. It has been over a decade since they last visited (I had hair) - we are very happy to welcome them back! Plus huge thanks Roberto and Alessia for one of the greatest meals ever at La Scubida, who are pure genius, thank you, thank you, thank you!

05/02/2024

Emma and I are happy to announce our Spring Wine Tasting on 20 March, discounted tickets are available through the link in our bio.
To date, Ferrante from Cantine di Marzo (Tufo), Roberto and Alessia (Picech, Collio), Mariangela and Alessia (Plantamura, Gioia del Colle) and Gennaro from Cantine del Mare (Monte de Procida) are coming along to show their wines in person.

29/01/2024

Yesterday beeline took me over the Serra, past , through the canavese and into Turin, now, just two days of , , and …. should be fun and do a magnificent job of organisation

26/01/2024

This morning the mist on Lago di Viverone masked the Canavese, the views from Cantina della Serra are spectacular. Luciano put us in the picture; 2023 turned out pretty well, we look forward to tasting the wines...
(the Serra Blu Erbaluce Spumante Brut, Erbaluce, Erbaluce Macerato and Canavese Rosso are all in stock - bat.wine)

05/01/2024

Final preparations for our January Wine Club Conspirators Case; I work so hard on this selection, it's not easy, all are shipped by us and I am pretty sure that they are all exclusive. The online tasting is on Thursday evening (11/1/24-7pm), there are a few spare, and there is still time join and receive the (follow the link in our bio)
Cantina della Serra. Erbaluce di Caluso 2022
Roccafiore. Bianco Fiordaliso 2022
Giustini. Primitivo di Manduria 'Areale' 2022
Iandolo. Barbera 'Principio' 2020
If you would like to find out a little more, do have a look at the preview video, there is a link to our youtube channel in the bio.
2 new wines: from Cantina della Serra and from Giustini, plus a one-off, Iandolo's Principio - a that will probably never be made again, this was a in waiting, the Fiordaliso is a , the 2022 is something very special.

2024

15/12/2023

We'll have the 'Bemma' case open to taste in the warehouse tomorrow (Saturday 16/12/23), good times.
Le. Cinciole. Chianti Classico 2018
High-altitude, minimalist winemaking, precise, complex, totally delicious. Luca (sitting on the tank) and Valeria craft mesmerising Sangiovese, farming along biodynamic/ organic principals, spontaneous fermentations, cement and botti grande maturation - it works.
Favaro. Le Chiusure Erbaluce di Caluso 2021
A unique wine, white peach, piercing, fresh apple and elder. The 2021 is at a lovely point in its maturation. We do have some copies of Camillo"s book: 'Wines and Vineyards of Burgundy', a tour de force and a great gift for Burgundy lovers.
Cantine di Marzo. Greco di Tufo Metodo Classico '1930'
I love this wine, extra-Brut, methode-champenoise Greco di Tufo: salt, sage and apricot, a magnificent oddball fizz.

ps. still plenty of time to stock up for Christmas.

18/11/2023

18/11/2023

From magazine - November 2023.
"Soave Revolution" story Tom Hyland
92 - Soave Superiore Docg Il Casale 2021

18/11/2023

16 novembre 1958 - 16 novembre 2023
Ieri la nostra cantina ha festeggiato i 65 anni dalla sua fondazione.
Siamo felici di festeggiare e condividere insieme a voi questo importante traguardo!

08/11/2023

A perfect London day to welcome our italian friends. Apparently its due to clear up as we enter the crypt.

Address

18D Oakham Enterprise Park
Oakham
LE157TU

Telephone

+441572759735

Website

https://bat.wine/

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Videos

Bat and Bottle Oakham Winter Wine Tasting

Friday 29th October 6.30pm - 9pm £15 on the door Wine Club members come for free We will be doing things a bit differently this year, 5 tables with a 'mini-tasting' on each. Less people and more space. A full list of the open bottles is on our website. (https://bat.wine/products/oakham-christmas-tasting-ticket?variant=29452433293423) #dicoverrutland #rutland #foodanddrinkweek #Toscana #montalcino #vermentino #passerina #lazio #gattinara #nebbiolo #cococciola #arneis #decanterawards

Celebrating winning Specialist in Italian wines and our Wine Club was the runner up from @Decanterawards

Decanter Retailer Awards 2021

We have won Decanter's 'Best Italian Specialist', and we were the runner up for 'Best Subscription Wine Club' There wasn't much more that we could win as we do just specialise in artisan Italian wines (and are in Italy right now finding more)

The Oxford Wine Festival

a preview of what we'll be pouring 🇮🇹🥂@oxfordwinefestivalco

Sunday evening wine @paolopetrilliaziendaagraria Nero di Troia 2019

Ben's start to L'Eroica 2017

OK, this is the last L'Eroica post of the year. I had a gopro on time lapse in my bike light, this is what it saw before it ran out of power. (thanks to William Lennon Boots and to all those who supported National Parkinson Foundation)

Danilo Trozzi is about to cut cheese ...

Building up to the grand cutting of the parmigiano 2015 (40kg!)

Cococciola

Cococciola, how to pronounce it and a bit of information.

Shortcuts

We are Italian Wine Merchants.

We buy directly from the wine cellar, mostly from small artisan producers, and sell directly to the general public (you and I).

You can buy wine online from us, over the phone or by email - or visit us at our warehouse in person.

We started trading in 1994, a classic kitchen table and van operation that started simply in Uppingham, Rutland and has now travelled all the way to ……. the outskirts of Oakham, also in Rutland, the smallest county in England! This is not as bad as it sounds, as we weren’t in Uppingham very long before we upped sticks and moved to Staffordshire, where we remained until 2003.

We have always been a pared down business, as all the frills are found in the stock. At first, we aimed to sell cricket bats as well as a range of wines. The cricket side has been and gone, wine remains a passion, but a much more focused one. We caught the Italian bug badly thanks to a chance meeting and an introduction to the late Felicita Pask-Hughes, a charming Italian lady who came to Britain after the war. She had a remarkable eye for quality and was fearless in the wines she imported. In a time of straw-wrapped bottles of Chianti, she was importing Isole e Olena and Sassicaia. Ben was told (by Felicita) that we should buy her business. We did and the die was cast.