Humble Grape (Liverpool Street)

"It is an unfortunate fact that the world of wine is often (and usually not unfairly!) perceived as an elitist and, let's be honest, snooty world where those in the know look down their nose at the ignorance or uncultured palate of those who have little experience or knowledge of wine. Wine bars can be intimidating places for those with limited wine expertise, and this is precisely the problem that Humble Grape wine bars aim to solve."

"South African born James Dawson arrived in London in 1997 with a love of wine but a limited knowledge of the opaque European wine labelling system. After a somewhat humbling experience in a wine shop where he was made to feel ignorant for not knowing that Chablis is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes, James decided that wine does not have to be this way, and in 2009, he started Humble Grape as a side gig while doing his full-time fintech job."

"At the core of the Humble Grape concept is its 450+ wines imported directly from small independent producers in over 26 countries. Many of these small-scale, family-operated vineyards produce wine through sustainable, organic, biodynamic or low-intervention practices and many of the wines on offer are Humble Grape exclusives, unavailable anywhere elsewhere in the UK. Wines are available to purchase, both to drink on the premises or to take home."

"Initially, he only sourced and imported wines he personally loved, direct from small family producers to share at informal monthly pop-up wine tastings. But tasting guests wanted to know where to buy the wines they had tasted, and soon James was personally delivering cases of wine to customers on his motorbike. In 2009, he opened his first Humble Grape wine shop, bar and kitchen in Battersea 2009 and today there are branches in Canary Wharf, Fleet Street, Liverpool Street, Islington and Crouch End."

James Dawson, born in South Africa, arrived in London in 1997 and founded Humble Grape in 2009 after a humbling wine-shop experience. The business began as pop-up tastings and direct imports of wines he loved, with personal deliveries by motorbike, and grew into a shop, bar and kitchen in Battersea. Humble Grape now operates branches in Canary Wharf, Fleet Street, Liverpool Street, Islington and Crouch End. The core offering comprises over 450 wines from more than 26 countries, many from small family producers using sustainable, organic, biodynamic or low-intervention practices, including UK exclusives. Wines can be drunk on-site or purchased to take home.

Read at www.london-unattached.com