Create your own wine flight at Streatham Wine House, or go with one of their specials.

If you find yourself in Streatham, as I recently did, you need to go to the Streatham Wine House. What? Oh. Streatham is an area in south London. The district is more bedroom community than destination right now, but this wine bar is worth going out of one’s way a bit.

It’s brand new. The night I leaned on the bar last week was their very first Friday night. But the place is already hopping with happy locals. It is Streatham’s only wine destination and, fortunately, it’s a very good one.

Streatham Wine House is a collaboration of British wine educator Jimmy Smith, his American wife, Bethany Paterson, their friend/bar manager Matt Wicksteed and a creamsicle-colored 1971 VW Campervan named Jeff.

Jeff has ferried Jimmy and Matt, and later Bethany, through Europe for years. They have putt-putted through countless wine regions, most frequently the Loire Valley. Jeff always comes back with a belly full of wine. (I guess that makes him a Campervin.) Now you can leave Streatham Wine House with a belly full of that wine yourself.

Of course, Jimmy also sources wine in more conventional ways. You can order it in flights, by the glass and by the bottle. Flights come with three wines in a clever rack that Jimmy designed. Notes on each wine sit beneath the appropriate glass. When you’ve tasted through the flight, you get a free glass of your favorite.   Streatham Wine House has an off-license too, so you can take a bottle or five home with you.

The wine list has a French focus, but is global with plenty of good stuff from the New World. During my visit, I sampled very nice wines from South Africa, Alsace, Italy and Beaujolais. Beer, cider and whisky are on the menu too, because England. For noshes, you can select from delicious cheeses, all-British charcuterie (really good!), olives and local bread.

There about ten spots at the bar and about the same number of tables. It was full to capacity when I was there. I recommend calling ahead for a reservation, even it’s just y0u and a friend.

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. Photos courtesy of Streatham Wine House. All rights reserved.