Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 22nd November 2012
Interview with Michael and Charlotte Sager-Wilde
Sager & Wilde, whose eponymous new pop-up wine bar, appearing weekly at Bird & Ballard (previously The Foundry), is revolutionising London's wine scene. WineChap's went along to the launch, drank some excellent and rare vintages by candlelight and had a chat to the duo behind the event, Michael and Charlotte Sager-Wilde. WineChap's way to do it? Go to the nearby Shoreditch Princess for a few before settling in for a fine wine session.
What was the inspiration?
We just returned from two years working in California and South America at RN74 and Bar Tartine where our mentors would constantly crack open bottles to allow us to try. This inspired us to work the wine harvest in Chile and Argentina, where we lived with humble and hard-working vigneromes who see little reward for their labour but for whom wine is their passion and their lives and that of their families. This contrasts starkly with us, the gluttonous westerners sitting in our fancy London restaurants paying a premium for wine! Many producers aren’t seeing the rewards so we felt it was time to challenge the status quo.
What are your differentiating features from other wine bars?
We believe that no one should be forced into buying a bottle of an awesome wine, if all they want is to have a glass. We want to change people’s concept of ‘value’ by having ridiculously low and fair mark-ups on a previously out-of-reach product that no one ever even dared to pour by the glass before. We only serve wine and water (and the ever so popular grilled cheese sandwich!). It really is that simple.
What are your top recommendations for red and white that we will see this Thursday?
(brackets = average bottle price in London restaurants)
Super
- Willi Schaefer ‘Graacher Himmelreich’ #7 Spatlese Riesling 2006, Mosel Germany, £6.50 per glass (£60)
- Sean Thackrey Pleiades XXI, NV I California, USA, £7.50 per glass (£82)
Supreme
- Maison Leroy Bourgogne Blanc 1999, Burgundy France, £8 per glass (£92)
- Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2007, Burgundy France, £10 per glass (£170)
- La Chappelle De La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 1997, Bordeaux France, £9.50 (£140)
- Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2001, Eden Valley Australia, £10 per glass (£148)
What exciting plans can we look forward to in the near future?
If we’re right about this (and we think we are) we’ll be looking for a permanent venue in January 2013. Or we’ll be on the dole, who knows!
