Vini Italiani - yet another adornment to SW London

After The Sampler in South Ken and Sipp in Brompton Road Vini Italiani in Old Brompton Road comes within months Vini Italiani, a home for Italian wines in London as their brochure has it.

Practically opposite Handford Wines who have a pretty good selection of Italian wine themselves, Vini Italiani almost makes a wine trail in the area if you add Harvey Nichols, Harrods (where Jo Ahearne MW previously of Marks and Spencer is just taking over the buying), two branches of Nicolas, Jeroboams in Walton Street, Troubadour Wines further up Old Brompton Road, Lea and Sandeman in Fulham Road and various delis and Gastronomie where the odd individual interesting bottle may be found (Cheesemonger Beillevaire in Montpelier Street), Luigi's in Fulham Road, San Lorenzo in Beauchamp Place, La Picena in Walton Street, Partridges in Kings Road etc.

But Vini Italiani is different. As well as 'only' selling Italian wine, the nicely appointed shop is divided up into the separate Italian regions with those of the North upstairs

and South downstairs. Each region has Red, White, dry, sweet, fizzy, still etc. displayed together. It is an excellent format; one which accentuates the different regional terroirs and traditions.

The wines are a little on the expensive side even for this well-heeled end of town and inevitably there are some omissions (no Grignolino, no Schioppettino, no Rossese, no Pugnitello, - available from Handfords by the way - still less rarer varieties) but we must give them a chance and plenty of encouragement in this worthwhile initiative.