The aim of Joseph Barnes Wines is to introduce interesting and unusual handcrafted wines from…read moresmall, independent producers and constantly seek out new and exciting wines that are rarely available elsewhere but still represent great value for money. Strike a good relationship with them and the road to better drinking begins.

I'm no wine connoisseur, in fact I'd be more likely to choose a £5 bottle of California white from…read moreTesco but I can't recommend this shop highly enough! Located on one of the tiny side streets of Saffron Walden its a bit of a hidden gem. They've made the most of the space they've got with floor to ceiling wine racks, but it feels well organised and cosy rather than crowded. The wines come in at a variety of price points, starting at around £6 and going up to £50+, so there's something for everyone, but what really makes this a great place to shop is the owner, Charles. If you visit on a week day you're likely to get him to yourself, which may sound a little daunting to those who don't know their Chardonnay from their Savignon Blanc, but there's nothing to worry about. He's helpful, informative and not at all pushy, whether you're spending £10 or £100. He will advise not only on the wine itself, but also which meals it compliments, so you can get the most out of your purchase. If you frequent the shop on a Saturday you can look forward to a free wine taster while you browse and when I visited just before Christmas there was even a butler (in full outfit) serving the wine. Even if the shop is busy you wont be ignored and you never feel rushed. But my absolute favourite thing about Joseph Barnes Wines is the story behind each bottle, which Charles will tell you while he wraps it up. Maybe he's making it up as he goes along, but I get the impression that he really does know what he's talking about and it makes the whole thing feel more like an experience than popping into the supermarket for a bottle of plonk. The only think that could make this better would be if he had some cards to include with wine bought as a gift, so that the recipient could learn the story behind their wine too.

Great customer service. Fast response time. A high-quality bourbon and a bottle that you can keep…read moreforever. It is also simple to design your own label. I will surely let you know about this experience. A thousand thanks!

This is a lovely little store. It has a great selection of wines. There are prices to suit all from…read morethe bargain range right up to the top notch stuff. I love the fact that they do so many different spirits. There is also a selection of champagne. The staff are helpful and always willing to help you make the right choices without being imposing. It is fairly priced and covenient.

Just off the main road opposite Morrisons supermarket…read more This store offers glass loan and often has different promotions across a rage of wines, beers and spirits.

Small and friendly wine merchant- given the size and location, a limited range of wines and beers…read moreare carried, emphasising quality ( go somewhere else if you want a case of Fosters). Some real gems on offer here, if you're willing to go with the proprietors nous ( for example, on last visit I had a fantastic Provençal Picpoul- fantastic with local seafood).

This small independent wine seller is a real gem…read more We held a wine tasting evening last Saturday and needed a good selection of wine/champagne - the owner Clement - was excellent at selecting different wines/champagne (direct from the vineyards) for each course of the dinner. He also provided us with details of all the bottles and lent us a book on what we were drinking. All the wine was organic and no-one had a hangover. Glasses were provided and also cleaned - no washing up is a huge bonus! Can fully recommend Smashing Wines.

I went into this shop for help and advice, i was soon put right that if i wasn't buying anything…read morefrom them then they were sure not going to point me in the right direction to get what i was after. Very unhelpful almost to the point of embarrassment..i would give them a wide berth.

went in the shops with my cousin I understand I'm under age but I came as an translator as her…read moreEnglish is not very well. they refused to sell to us and she got emotional after the employees and if I'm correct the manager laughed at us. not recommend store will also contact the bureau and their council for comp on discrimination and racism.

I actually passed up a few liquor stores on my way to this one. Based off of the picture I saw, I…read morefigured it might be worth a walk. The place was clean and organized. The staff made recommendations that were great recommendations. Definitely a good liquor store!