It may possibly be the smallest wine shop/bar in the UK, but the wines are big and expressive and the tapas terrific, as Nick finds out on a visit
There probably is just about room to swing a cat in Tiny Wine, although there are of course laws against that sort of thing. With a bar and a few tables against the wall, plus a bit of space out back, this is not the place to hold a big party.
If you want to try some brilliant and unusual wines, made with mostly natural or low-intervention methods, and nibble on some tasty Latin American tapas, in a cosy spot not far from Oxford Circus but a world away from the hustle and bustle though, this is it.
You find it on the corner of two Fitzrovian streets and it has the Fitzrovian feel in spades. The name Fitzrovia was given in the 1930s by Tom Driberg. Something of a Bohemian character himself, he saw how the area was home to writers like Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Rimbaud.
It still feels special and Tiny Wine fits right in. It’s the baby of Maria Yanez and Carlos Socorro who founded the Latin American restaurant group Crudo Cocina Latina, and is on what was once the Fitzrovia Crudo site. So it’s not just wine being served but also snacks that are heavily Latin American-influenced
The idea is that it is both a shop and a wine bar. The carefully curated wine selection, which changes constantly, is attractively displayed in the back room and each bottle carries a label with the price to buy and the price if you drink in (corkage).
The emphasis is on South American wines, but not exclusively. As long as the wine is interesting enough to catch their eye and tastebuds, it earns a place on the rack.
Our guide tonight certainly knows his wine and is young for a wine expert. I don’t mean that in a patronising manner, it’s excellent that expertise in wine is no longer confined to middle aged men wearing fancy dress and women with Roedean accents and messy hair.
We sampled some excellent wines, Pago de Tharsys Medusa Brut Nature Cava NV made with Macabeo, Parrellada, and Xarello grapes. It went down very well with a pincho of octopus.
From Morocco, yes Morocco, came Volubilia Gris La Zouina, a lovely fresh rosé made from local grapes Marselan and Caladoc. With that came Pão de queijo – Brazilian cheese balls – small, baked cheese rolls that are chewy and both sour and sweet and very more-ish.
Cara Sur Pergolas Criollas Tintas from Argentina is made from heritage Argentinean grape varieties (criollas). Fresh tasting pale red with a hint of underripe strawberry that gave it a pleasant acidity that worked with an Acapulco style Ceviche, orange and lime juice pepped with jalapeños ceviche and fresh prawns.
Pedro Olivares La Muscat Blanc d’Argila 2023 is golden in colour and packed with fruit and apple, it comes from Murcia where since 2008 wine maker Pedro Olivares focuses on old local vines and uses wild yeasts and no additives or sulphur. With this a bocadillo packed with stracciatella cheese was perfect
Finally, Pais Volcanico, A Los Vinateros Bravos, a Chilean cracker of a wine with the wine from the Pais grape matured in cement tanks under natural malolactic fermentation.The on volcanic soil gives enormous character to the finished product
A Cuban bocadilo of pulled pork, honeyed ham, cheese, Dijon mustard, and pickles was delicious with it
If you’re a vinophophile, which is not as sordid as it sounds, or simply love wine and want to try new wines made from lesser-known grapes and producers under expert, friendly, guidance (by the way they do also serve spritzes, negronis and beers), Tiny Wine is the place to go large and impress friends with your knowledge of secret London places.
Tuesday – Sunday: 5:00 pm to 10:30pm
21 Foley Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 6DR.