Veraison Wines | A Welcoming Wine Bar in Camberwell
Yeah, yeah, we know, the name gives it away… Veraison Wines is obviously a wine bar.
Because of course we all know veraison as the French term to describe the growing process where the grape changes colour and ripens. And then there’s the, er, Wines part.
It’s one of the better wine bars in London and much of that is to do with the person running the show: Patrycja Lorek. She’s not just someone who simply likes wine, but someone who knows a lot about the stuff too, having worked at Bubbledogs (the champagne/hot dog bar that’s no longer with us, that once guarded Kitchen Table) and 10 Cases in Covent Garden. Her husband John, meanwhile, is another wine connoisseur and the director of The Winemakers Club. Having a place that she could call her own was always a target, if not a dream – and as you can see, she clearly has credentials for it.
You can find her quite literally pouring all of her knowledge into this cosy space (once the site of a hairdressing salon), marked by a purple fluorescent grape sign from the window, in Camberwell. The set up she’s opted for has shades of a Parisian café from yesteryear with its bentwood chairs and polished wooden tables, speckled terrazzo floor and green-topped counter stools that allow you to either stare out onto the street or come face-to-face with racks lined by her handpicked bottles. There’s a favouritism for smaller producers and natural wine, but if you’re feeling a full-bodied Old World red from Burgundy there’s room for that too, and the same goes for those after Hungarian orange wines, pét-nat magnums or boutique champagnes. Basically, everyone’s invited to the party.
Patrycja’s passion is infectious and if you want some of that to rub off on you, come on a Thursday when she shares some of her wine intellect though tastings; guiding you through four glasses (maybe pinot noirs from around the world or a crash course on The Rhône Valley), complemented by cheeses. And while we’re on cheeses, that’s a source of food at Veraison, as well as charcuterie boards and rillettes (classic wine grub, really). There’s even toasties – filled with raclette and nduja and using Toad Bakery bread – which, on Tuesdays, can be paired with a glass for the very reasonable price of £10.
We’ll toast to that…
NOTE: Veraison Wines is open Tues-Thurs (5-10.30pm), Fri-Sat (12-10.30pm) and Sun (12-7.30pm). There are no bookings; just turn up. You can find out more info here.
Veraison Wines | 78 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8QZ
Wait, what’s that about Toad Bakery bread? It’s one of London’s best bakeries…