Noble Grape

Noble Grape trades from 18 High Street in Cowbridge, a wine merchant set up by Richard Ballantyne, a Master of Wine with close to three decades in the trade before opening under his own name. The shop favours small producers over big-brand listings, drawing on Ballantyne's background sourcing artisan and handmade wines from small European growers as well as New Zealand, South America, South Africa and Australia. Staff can talk through the list bottle by bottle rather than pointing to a shelf label, and the shop runs in-store tastings for customers deciding between options. The range sits alongside spirits and a small selection of craft beers. Unlike a supermarket wine aisle, stock turns over according to what small growers have available that season rather than a fixed catalogue.