Roadtest: Best of the bottlos

It’s all about good wine this issue so here we take a look at some of the best bottle shops in the area and raise a glass to our favourites…

Summer Hill Wine Shop

Wine lovers will love this Summer Hill shop, which has been around since 1986 and dabbles only in wine – that’s right, they are not interested in beer or spirits, wine is their niche and they stick to it. Aside from the friendly customer service, the range is good and the prices competitive. Whether you’re in the market for a $200 bottle of shiraz or a $15 chardonnay, they’ve got you covered.

roadtest-AmatosAmato’s Liquor Mart

This Leichhardt shop is huge, has its own parking and a big range. If you can’t find a certain product anywhere else, you’re likely to find it here with literally hundreds of beer varieties and wine as far as the eye can see; if you’re not great at making decisions it can actually be quite overwhelming. There’s an impressive range of Italian wines but local produce is not overlooked. With so much variety there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets, they also offer other little add-ons like ice, glass hire and even Sicilian playing cards, should you find the need for them.

Annandale

Annandale is spoiled for choice when it comes to quality bottle shops and locals share their patronage between two brilliant options: Annandale Cellars (Johnston St) and David’s Cellars (Booth St, near Wigram Rd). David’s competes well with bigger stores when it comes to range and always has low prices on imported beers. Annandale Cellars has plenty of boutique Australian as well as imported wines and we love the friendly staff (Inner West hipsters will love their beards too) – manager, Chris Loth, studied wine science and can answer most questions you throw at him.

Camperdown Cellars

Well known to most Inner Westies, Camperdown Cellars has been around since 1947 and are not just in Camperdown anymore (they also have a Leichhardt store). The focus here is on the amber fluid with a good mix of imported, local and craft beers available, as well as whiskey. The wine range is more limited.

Mr Liquor

Mr Liquor Drummoyne is an independent with big buying power so the prices are good and so is the range with some fairly unique products on offer. Astute wine buyers will be impressed by the collection of imported wines, including select Argentinean, French, Spanish and Italian varieties and brands, some of which are exclusive to the Mr Liquor group. The manager is enthusiastic and more than willing to pass on her in-depth product knowledge if you’re struggling to make a decision. Plus, there always seems to be a great deal or two on, so it’s worth a browse.

Broadway Liquor Distributors

This Glebe bottle shop specialises in all things Español. They stock a huge range of good Spanish, Argentinean and Chilean wines for all price points, as well as some from Australia and New Zealand.

Sydney Cellars

If you’re looking for a bargain, this is a great place to start; they always have good deals on and the proprietor is a lovely guy. Look out for imported Asian and European beers especially.

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