What a fantastic way to start the year! We couldn’t be more honoured and proud to have been awarded 10th place in Harpers’ UK's Best 50 Independent Wine Retailers 2025.
As Andrew Catchpole, Editor-in-Chief at Harpers, put it:
“Landing anywhere in the Top 50 puts you in the top 6% of the UK’s independent wine retailers. Making the Top 10 is the top 1% of the country.”
Wow! Those words truly resonated with us as we attended the Harpers Top 50 Awards Lunch earlier this week. Looking around the room at the “who’s who” of the UK’s independent wine trade, we couldn’t help but feel a touch of imposter syndrome. How could this small, family-run wine business nestled in leafy South West London find itself at this table? A group of wine mavericks, driven by a mission to champion Good Wine, Real People, and Great Stories. It felt surreal, and we had to pinch ourselves to believe it.
When our number was announced, our hearts skipped a beat. As Andrew outlined the reasons for our selection, we realised just how much this recognition represents the hard work of everyone connected to The Good Wine Shop. The award celebrates our:
- Hybrid Model of Specialist Retail and Wine Bar, blending exceptional service with a welcoming space to enjoy wine;
- Engaging Wine Events, which bring our community together to explore and enjoy wine in new ways;
- Focus on Smaller Growers and lesser-known regions and styles, with sustainability at the heart of everything we do; and
- Deep Community Roots, building relationships with customers, suppliers, and winemakers alike.
This award isn’t just for us—it’s for the entire Good Wine Shop family. Our team, our loyal customers, and the talented suppliers and winemakers we partner with all share in this achievement.
We feel incredibly fortunate to work with so many amazing and talented people and to connect daily with customers brought together by one of the world’s most beautiful and captivating beverages. This accolade recognises the hard work, passion, and dedication of our entire team.
At The Good Wine Shop, we live for discovering interesting wines from under-the-radar growers, many of whom farm sustainably. Sharing this passion with our community—whether in-store or online—is at the heart of what we do. From helping you find the perfect bottle to hosting wine tastings, dinners, and more, we are truly grateful for the trust and support of our valued customers.
Our motto, Good Wine, Real People, Great Stories, inspires our team every single day. While we don’t actively seek out awards, this recognition motivates us to continue innovating, delivering exceptional wines for every budget, and hosting fun, engaging, and educational events.
After all, wine and food bring people and communities together. As the late Michael Broadbent once said:
“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilised pleasures.”
So, here’s to 2025—a year of good wine, good food, and good company. Whatever the occasion, we’ll have phenomenal bottles waiting for you.
Cheers!
