Manchester is seeing a bit of a resurgence in wine. As a wine lover, I can’t say I’m sorry. In the city centre we now have Bakerie, Hanging Ditch and Salut, as well as a host of restaurants with great wine lists.
Outside the city, there are a number of bars and restaurants with great wine lists, but no real wine bars – til now, as very handily just metres from the tram stop (one could even say stumbling distance), we have Wine & Wallop.
Brought to you by the lovely people behind Folk, this latest adventure retains some of the rustic feel of their original venue, but takes it to a more sophisticated level, with stunning chandeliers, elegant vintage furniture and an intriguing looking event space upstairs.
This is no striped shirts and red braces 1980s style wine bar where big city boys come to bray and brag about their acquisitions or just how stressful their well paying job is – this is simplicity mixed with quality and, most importantly, accessibility.
Each member of staff has arrived from another venue that too has it’s own belief in quality – I was thrilled to spot one of my friends from Takk pouring fizz – and after a chat about wine to chap behind the bar, it’s clear each will bring their own strengths to the team.
Just from this little foray, I’ve been impressed by the beers on tap, the wines (even by the glass, the selection is very good – I became very fond of the Rioja) and from the divine morsels of Iberico ham, and canapes we nibbled while there, I suspect the food menu is going to be a corker too.
Oh and if you prefer something a little heavier, the spirits bar is a very pretty thing too, with some excellent gins, whiskies and rum – and not forgetting a great cocktail selection.
I’m rather looking forward to a proper visit.
The canapes and fizz consumed at Wine & Wallop was paid for by the restaurant. All other drinks were paid for by ourselves – including the large amount of red wine. Oh dear.
I am definitely going to have to check this out. Can’t go wrong with a wine bar!