Independent enthusiasm for ASDW

Rallying support for independent wine merchants (Fingal Rock's shop window in Monmouth is shown here) is a common thread amongst internet wine fora – and indeed, it is an admirable aim. They are, after all, supposed to be the heroes of wine retail, working with hand-selected wines with comparatively few resources but overwhelming passion.

It was fantastic to see the evidence to uphold such claims on display at yesterday’s tasting organised by the Association of Small Direct Winemerchants, a small co-op of traders who were uncorking their wares at The Atlas in Fulham to taste with press and public.

There...