I was kindly invited to this very exciting collaboration evening, and what a treat!

Summertown Wine Bar opened in March 2023, so not a year old yet, and has already collected its ‘regulars’, making it feel cosy as well as classy. SWB was founded by Emily Robotham, Michael Jelley and Graeme Woodward, who run Grape Minds, a wine shop (one round the corner from the wine bar, and the other in Wallingford). I’d been in before for a quick glass of wine and some olives, but not much more so was very excited to spend a whole evening there.

I was barely over Georgia’s food from the long menu experience I had the week before at Table 13 (read the review!), so getting to try more of it so soon after, and WITH wine chosen by Emily from Summertown Wine Bar?! WHAT a way to get into Christmas!

Georgia put together a menu of her plant-based small plates based on wine that Emily had chosen, and matched them perfectly. So often wine is paired with meat and cheese (and hey, I’m not complaining!) but how refreshing for it to be paired with these incredibly unique and intelligent flavour combos. Not once did I think the dishes lacked meat or dairy.

Emily’s knowledge of wine is impressive and her passion came across immediately as she introduced wine number 1.

I was sat at a table with none other than her own family (what an upgrade from sitting alone and looking like the grumpy reviewer from Ratatouille with my accidental resting bitch face). What a JOY it was to sit with them, I learned all about Emily’s impressive career history in wine (starting with the Majestic grad scheme), as well as the family’s love and passion for all things wine and food. There wasn’t a moment of awkwardness and I soon felt like an old family friend, as we ooh’d and aah’d in unison at everything that was served to us. 

The range of wine at SWB is commendable. The prices too. Wines by the glass start at £5 which is virtually unheard of nowadays, especially in such a dreamy setting. If you were to visit on a normal evening, there are some lovely nibble options to go alongside your vino. The tarte flambee proving popular.

The team has worked hard on the decor and layout of the wine bar; lovely subdued lighting, gorgeous green drapes to create cosy areas, a beautifully central bar. There’s also a private tasting room that can be booked for meetings, parties, and tastings. Acoustic panelling has been installed to enhance the sound quality, which makes sense as they have a stage for live music which takes place every other Sunday. Find out what’s on.

Georgia is a mastermind.

She was given descriptions of the wines, and matched the dishes without even having tried the wine first. They were matched to perfection. 

We were served:

• Cote Mas Picpoul Frisante Brut NV with ‘Phish’ cakes, tartare sauce, lemon
• Domaine Bellevue Cremant de Loire Brut BV with pickled pear gel, fuille de brie pastry, artichoke bechamel
• Reflektief Palomino, Wellington 2022
• Chateau Oumsiyat ‘Rouge Desir’ Merlot Lebanon 2020 with a mince pie doughnut
• Lunadoro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018 with wild mushroom arancini
• Breitenbach Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos 2018 with ginger ice cream, gingerbread biscuit and a white chocolate and clementine ganache

The concept of Georgia being on her way to receiving a Michelin star was heavily discussed at the table – has a vegan restaurant achieved one yet?

The only thing that could improve this experience is if Georgia could deliver a dozen of the mince pie donuts to me ASAP (I’m hoping if I say this enough times, it’ll happen…)

I came away from this evening feeling smug, as if it was me who had cooked it all, but it was all so cleverly done you almost feel like you’ve achieved something just by eating it! There was also a lack of that post-drink and food bloat, everything was light and fresh. I felt satisfied, not full.

I really hope SWB takes on more collaborations as it worked incredibly well, and the fact I live round the corner meant I could waddle home with ease. (Although I must admit I would very happily travel for an evening like this, for those of you further afield – it’s worth it!)

A highlight at the end of the night was finding out Summertown Wine Bar is dog-friendly – could it get ANY better? So, if you see me in there regularly with my little puppy, Moose, don’t judge me, join me – pull up a chair and have a glass! 

Summertown Wine Bar
267 Banbury Rd, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7HT

Bitten were guests of Summertown Wine Bar, all views are our own