Reviews of The Sampler. (Liquor Store) in London (London).

The Sampler

187 Reviews

127 Comments

Liquor store

Wine store

266 Upper St, London N1 2UQ, United Kingdom

Description

Information of The Sampler, Liquor store in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of The Sampler

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

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Wednesday

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Saturday

Reviews of The Sampler

N. G.

Personally I'm not a fan of wine , but if one day I every decide to dabble I will definitely be back here! The staff was extremely kind and attempted to help me find a wine I liked by giving me generously sized free samples. They also allowed a member of my party to get a glass of white wine which was not on the "glass menu" at no extra charge. The ambiance and decor was fantastic and so was the food. Unfortunately it was gobbled up before I could get a photo but the mussels and green olives were some of the best I've ever had. I would definitely recommend this location to wine enthusiasts as well as beginners.

K. A.

It makes me sad I don't live near the Sampler anymore. A place where you can get great wine from people that care about making sure you get what you're looking for. I can't recommend more highly

l.

Great wine shop with helpful staff - they suggested couple of white wines and red which were great You also have the option to sample almost 30 wines! Just ask the staff for a sample card which you will top-up and choose your wine and measure.

M. d. M.

One of the best wine stores in town and with the Oysterman above it has a great shellfish bar. Amazing service.

S. T.

The Sampler stocked a wine I was hunting down when I could only find one other place in the country that did. Much better price too. Ordered online and received good communication and prompt delivery. Excellent service, I’m only sad I don’t live close enough to visit the shop.

M. C.

Fancy place for wine lover. Good if you want to spend good time tasting different kind of wine. This idea should be made in many bars.

T. H.

This was the first place I ever saw an enomatic machine. It completely changed the way I bought wine. Set yourself a budget, have a few samples, buy what you like. So much better than guessing based on the label. Also you can try small amounts of wine which you would never be able to afford. Looking at you, 2001 Chateau d'Yqeum. Their range is a bit more interesting than normal and it's not particularly cheap. But if you want to get the most of each alcohol unit then it's the place for you. Nice staff. They also sell craft beers and expensive spirits.

R. D.

Great wine shop. Unashamedly fairly traditional stock and all the better for that. Service super friendly and very knowledgeable but absolutely no wine snobbery. The range of wines to taste by the glass from automated dispensing machines is incredible. From moderately priced to fully mature (and sometimes very expensive) classics. Highly recommended. Wish it was closer to my house!

S. R.

Lovely selection of quality wines, fairly priced. Helpful staff.

C. B.

Neighbourhood wine shop with fantastic selection and knowledgeable staff. Good for affordable wines as well as fine gems laid out in the back cupboards for special occasions.

J. G.

Great concept to try lots of different wines in an accessible way. Top up a pre-paid card with some credit and help yourself to a selection of around 30 wines, all available for small, medium or large measures to try at various different price points. Also lots more bottles available to purchase and take away. Staff were very welcoming.

S. M.

Dozens of wines in special cabinets that dispense a shot for anywhere between £1 and £10 a pop (price is relative to the cost of the bottle). Amazing way to try lots of different bottles for little money, and to learn more about wine. Staff are lovely and knowledgeable, and the wines are regularly rotated. Have been going here for years, highly recommend it.

T. G.

I and we absolutely 💯 recommend this place. After having worked in a top five wine cellar in the world, I never thought I'd be ever blown away by a wine again. Untill we visited The Sampler. We kept going back everyday during our stay in Islington, as the staff and management were top notch and the sampling was a triumph in our group. Looking forward to returning! Thank you all!

D. L.

Independent wine shop selling rare and up market wines plus spirits, liqueurs and craft beers. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. There's a wine club for people who want to build up their knowledge.

e. m.

amazing concept not just a wine shop with a great section and super knowledgeable staff but "pay as you go" sampling. Get a oyster style card topped up with credit and off you go.. they have approx 50 wines you can sample with 3 different measure at a variety of price. Great for a first date or post work. They also do great cheese. Its now my go to London activity with visitors

K. S.

This is a truly lovely wine shop. I am by no means a well-educated connoisseur but visiting this place has definitely made me respect and want to find out more about wine. The staff is very friendly and helpful and I really value the fact that they put effort into sourcing locally all their wine selection.

D. B.

A great selection of wines, and staff know their stock. A good, if a little pricey, shop.

S. T.

Such a lovely shop and great place to sample a lot of interesting wines. They give tou a sampling card that you top-up and each wine sample is priced according to the bottle price. They stock small suppliers too so you won't see the big brands selling in supermarkets.

E. H.

This place is great! I was brought here by a friend who was familiar with their Upper Street branch - I was not disappointed! A cool concept that allows you to taste small quantities of wine using automated machines and a smartcard. When was the last time you went out and tried 15 different wines in one night?! A unique place for an evening out!

K. L.

This wine shop has the Enomatic machines which is really appealing when shopping for wine. You can go into the shop and browse while sampling a wide variety of wines including some aged Bordeaux which would be far to expensive to purchase by the bottle. It is a great opportunity to sample a large selection. I was not all that impressed with the service, however. One of the machines seemed not to be working, and when I mentioned it to a staff member he responded, rather unpleasantly, that he was in the process of fixing it. They also seemed to be more interested in using their computer than talking to customers who were coming in.

K. A.

This is my favorite wine shop from now on. Not only is there a lovely selection of wines from £8 to £88+, but there are 10 wine fridges with 8 bottles in each and three dispensing options - 25 ml, 50 ml, 75ml. That's right. It's a wine Disneyland. They also serve lovely cheese and cold cut boards, bread and olives, too. Excellent place near all museums. A must for any wine lover.

D. R.

Wicked wine shop with bench like seating. Go get educated and tipsy at the same time. Highly knowledgeable staff and friendly punters. Get a pre-paid wine card, whack some cash on it and use it to dispense a massive variety of wines from around the world. Lots of regulars are studying for their wine courses.

D. H.

Brilliant wine shop. The knowledgable staff mean this is good for beginners who want to learn more. Go on a Saturday, top up a chip card and spend an hour or two sampling loads of great wines; what's not to love?

D.

Great selection of wine. I noticed a couple of bottles of Vin Jaune and Vin Santo (not always easy to find) in addition to a bunch of other really nice wines. Where's the catch, I hear you saying; well it's not cheap. It's well worth a visit and the staff is also quite knowledgeable.

D. F. T.

Wonderful range of wines, helpful and very knowledgeable staff who are friendly and approachable. Add the ability to taste lots of wines and you've got a pretty much perfect wine shop.

R. L.

I came here to catch the last day of their "Zero Corkage" offer, i.e. drink in their wine bar at shop prices. To be honest, I was expecting a pokey little room in the corner of a nice wine shop. In fact, it was a wonderful place to go to enjoy a couple of bottles of fantastic wine. There's outdoor seating and a pleasant bar area downstairs. They recommended a beautiful Champagne and we picked out a lovely Barbaresco for ourselves which we lapped up while munching on their cheese and saucisson plates. Superb selection, great atmosphere, friendly helpful staff and a very cool Border Collie called Ivy. Even when the corkage is back (flat rate of £7.50) I'd definitely consider coming here as a drinking establishment as well as a wine merchant.

T. S.

Fantastic shop, not only a great wine merchant but an excellent place to sample lots of wines from their enomatic machines all around the shop. Staff extremely helpful and friendly and the frequent tasting sessions are very informative.

L. M.

If you love wine and good humour, this is a wine shop worth visiting! Their news letter is a fortnightly pleasure. They are committed (very) to sourcing the wines themselves. Check out their website for Ivy the shop dog's profile. Love it!

S. Y.

80 wines to dispense, what more do you want?

C. H.

Great place to try wines by the glass or mouthful with pay as you go machines allowing self choice. Knowledgeable staff. Buy the wines you've tried or many others.

A. S.

Huge quantity of wines available for tasting, fair prices, no food (eat before you go). If you are a wine aficionado or are studying for certification, that is a sweet spot in London.

C. B.

Great and varied selection of wines. Staff is super knowledgeable! Highly recommend sampling the wines in the enomatic machines while you decide what to buy.

N. R.

I love this place. Dozens of wine to taste by the single shot / double shot / small glass. There's usually a white wine section, an eclectic section, and several red wine sections. Great for anyone interested in tasting different wines, or an aperatif before a night out.

H. H.

Nice place where you can "sample" your wines. They have something like 40 wines in special distributers where you can get sample size portions of various wines. Especially good if you want to try some of the legends there.

O. P.

Favourite wine merchant in London (says a Frenchman), knowledgeable staff (talk to them! Don't chose your wine based on the sticker!), great selection of under-£15 wine from all over the world and a dreamy selection of grands crus classes that go far beyond my wallet.

N. Y.

They have wine tastings and you can bring your own meat and cheese. Great selection of wines.

M. B.

Love The Sampler - great way of sampling & comparing lots of different wines of varying prices without breaking the bank. Nice activity for a Saturday afternoon when you fancy something different to the pub.

I. S.

Always helpful when looking for a nice wine for yourself or as a gift! Nice selection of different varieties of wines and it is always helpful to have one Sampler card to taste the wine on the machines!

J. S.

Great selection of wines along with some beers and spirits. A range of Enomatic machines provides the additional benefit of being able to taste a lot of the wines.

N. R.

Wine tasting done right! Went with the other half to pick up a bottle, topped up a card and spent 2 hours trying wines! Was lovely! Highly recommend

A. S.

A fantastic place to "sample" a wide variety of wines. They don't serve food so you are welcome to bring your own snacks.I

T. H.

It's a wonderful place. They have a variety of wines for you to sample and people there will explain to you the story behind the wines and vineyards.

L. J.

Love this place! Try lots of little bits of wines from around the world and then pop upstairs for some meat and cheese and oysters. We had a lovely evening.

A. M.

The best without wine shop in the world. Over 100 wines you can try in store. We have been going here for years and it's still great

K. P.

Super friendly and great selection! 🍷

T. S.

Excellent range of wines to sample at a wide range of price points. Friendly, knowledgeable staff too.

K. S.

Great place to taste wine on tap! They also allow to bring your own cheese and snacks.

G. C.

Great fun place to meet friends, and taste some lovely wines. It can get a bit pricey, but for what it is the value is good.

C. M.

nice winery in the museums area. They have a huge wine offer and good price for the high quality!

B. A.

If you are looking for some great wines in London don't hesitate. You will find what you are looking for here.

P. C.

Never done the tasting here. They have an interesting selection of wines . Worth to snoop around.

N. N.

Really great range of wines to sample and purchase here. There's something for everyone.

M. D.

Excellent independent wine merchant in Upper St, Islington, with a well chosen and interesting wine selection.

M. L.

Great selection of wine and knowledgeable staff to help you pick out what you want

J. T.

Novel and very fun. Great way to try different wines, very helpful staff, good atmosphere.

o. a.

A must go place for wine lovers. Great selection of tasters, great value for money, perfect service.

L. Z.

Tasting the wine before buying it make wine enjoyable to anyone. Great experience and great selection

E. I.

Vintage-designed underground lounge, friendly staff! You should try bread, oil and cheese, probably best wine bar in South Ken

M. P.

Great value for ready to drink wine. Impressive variety on offer for tasting too!

G. H.

Cool to be able to try such a wide variety of wines in one place.

S. S.

Perfect service, good choice of enomat tasting wines - great atmosphere without snobby character, cheers 🥂

B. B.

Very good wine shop close to South Kensington tube station with very knowledgeable and friendly staff.

A. M. P.

Absolutely excellent value for money, informative staff and really standout for the fun tasting format

H.

Very nice choices of wine with reasonable price, friendly staffs

B. B. M. P.

Great place to try multiple Wines. Diploma and MW students rejoice: the selection seems made for you.

B. C.

80 wines "on tap" to try. Great selection and great service from Yassine.

C. W.

Great selection of wines and you can taste them as well.

A. P. D.

Helpful and nice staff, and great selection. On the pricey side.

J. W.

Good selection, not all top priced. Very helpful staff.

E. D.

Good wine shop but also a fun activity with friends to go in and taste wines in the afternoon.

J. J.

Such a great idea! Would highly recommend a visit here! But don't waste your money on the most expensive one, I'll tell you now... tasted like shite.

J. P.

Good selection of wine and good prices

A. D.

Great Sampler, spacious and bright, friendly and helpful staff, some nice small plates to eat too.

T. M.

Great wine selection, great staff, great fun to try the wines on the machines!

J. H.

A bit rough around the edges, but the wines are incredible, and the experience highly recommended

A. A.

incredible place to taste, drink and buy wine!very clever and accessible

T. P.

Love this shop. Staff are so knowledgeable and super friendly.

B. L.

Great fun and a good opportunity to taste those usually out of reach wines

A. D.

Experience and expertise unparalleled.

X. “. W.

Decent wine collections, but a bit pricey.

A. H.

Wide variety of wines. Pity the're relocating to Wimbledon

E. S.

Very wide range of unusual wines

M. T.

Great place to sample and buy from. Fantastic selection across ranges

J. F.

Great wine shop.

B. F.

so much wine to chose from and they're all good

A. W.

Excellent selection, good vibe. Not the cheapest.

C.

Good wine selection.

E. G.

Wonderful selection of grower Champagnes.

N. G.

Great experience and very knowledgeable staff.

S. R.

Good chilled out space for sampling wine

C. L.

Great food. Fabulous service

D. V.

Really nice place to relax with friends

G. V.

Good selection, a little on the expensive side

P. J.

Good selection of wines

A. B.

Wine bar. Rec by Ayca Budak

J. G.

Cosy, chilled and a wonderful selection.

F.

I love these guys :)

P. J.

Helpful, friendly, well-priced

D. B. B.

Top rare wine

m. f.

how can anyone not love this place?

W. N.

Love it!

e. p.

Nice wine people

B. G.

Brilliant

M.

Helpful and friendly staff, wide range of wine and beers

N. M.

Lovely place

P. B.

Great place

B. A. F.

(Translated) Three spaces to taste and enjoy wine. The upper floor a spacious and bright tasting room; the ground floor with a multitude of references from around the world and dispensing machines for tasting; in the basement a room where you can share a bottle and a good conversation. If you like wine, it's worth the visit. (Original) Tres espacios para catar y disfrutar del vino. La planta superior una sala de catas amplia y luminosa; la planta baja con multitud de referencias de todo el mundo y máquinas dispensadoras para catar; en el sótano una sala donde compartir una botella y una buena conversación. Si te gusta el vino, merece la pena la visita.

E. R.

(Translated) It's just too crazy .... at 1645 ... 6 delicious freshly harvested oysters and a glass of bubbles ... for a measly £ 10 .... (Original) Det er sgu bare for vildt....kl 1645...6 lækre friskhøstede østers og et glas bobler ...for sølle 10£....

w. W.

(Translated) Best wine shop in London. Everyone should not miss this (Original) Beste Weinhandlung in ganz London. Jeder sollte sich das nicht entgehen lassen

브.

(Translated) Very good place! (Original) 너무좋음!여긴천국맛보는곳

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