Discover the Benefits of Eating and Drinking Sustainably
It’s that time of the year when we’re all chanting the New Year, New Me mantra as if January is the magical month where your cravings switch from cupcakes to kale. Worry not, we’re here to help! Our commitment to tasty, sustainable choices isn’t just a fleeting resolution; it’s a whole lifestyle. Oh yes, we want to help you shake off the post-holiday slump with a burst of delicious and nutritious energy from our London wine bars. Let us spill the grapes on why knowing where your food and wine comes from matters. You’ll even be able to take these titbits into your home kitchen too!
What is sustainable wine?
When it comes to sustainable sipping, our London wine bars have over 450 bottles to choose from - it’s hard to believe that we’re pouring so much goodness into your glasses! But what is it that makes wine sustainable?
Well, many of the wineries practice water and energy conservation in their vineyards, prioritising preserving ecosystems and local wildlife as though it were just as sacred as their perfectly aged Merlot. These winemakers aren’t just tending to their vines; they’re cultivating a legacy for (humble) grapes to thrive for years to come, taking good care of the soil that they work from.
And there’s more: instead of reaching for harmful pesticides, they’ve got natural resources on hand to keep those pesky pests in check. Some even rock energy-efficient equipment, ensuring their winemaking groove doesn’t disrupt the wild party happening in natural ecosystems.
As we love to shout about them, let us shine the spotlight on one of our rockstar wine producers: Domaine Allimant-Laugner. The family winery in Northern Alsace in France crafts vegan wines. Natural yeast, sustainable cultivation, and hands-on love; they believe that, by having close contact with the vines, they can better understand them and optimise their needs. It’s this kind of attention to detail and care that we just can’t get enough of, especially when it produces wine that is just as delicious as theirs.
In fact, why not join us for a rendezvous with sustainable wines at one of our monthly London wine tastings? We explore a range of regions, and our Meet the Winemaker Supper Clubs are one of the best things to do in London: hidden secrets from the winemakers, a dash of wine tasting, and the backdrop of our stylish wine bars in Battersea, Liverpool Street, Islington, Canary Wharf, Fleet Street, or Crouch End.
What is so good about seasonal and local produce?
Listen, you know we don’t like to brag, but you’ll find that our restaurants in London are bursting with fresh produce to keep you feeling good. We know that it’s not just about what’s on the plate that matters, but it’s also about where it comes from.
We work closely with local producers and change our menus with the seasons to ensure you’re only getting the freshest ingredients. You can do the same at home: shopping local, organic, and learning about what foods are in season will do wonders for your health and the health of the planet.
Vegetables start losing their nutrients as soon as they’re picked, which is why preservatives and pesticides are often used to try and retain it; but who really wants these guys messing with the vibes? This means that seasonal and local produce is fresher, tastier, and filled with even more goodness!
At Humble Grape, we try to get the absolute most out of our ingredients’ nutrition so we can keep our guests feeling their best when they visit one of our London restaurants. It’s for this reason that we snag our goodies locally and rock a seasonal menu, so the food journey from harvest to plate is a fast-tracked highway to culinary heaven.
When food is this good, it seems a shame to waste it. Our Executive Chef, Dane Barnard, has lots of tips to help tackle food waste at home, including saving the stems from herbs to make sauces and leftover fruit to create chutney. These small changes will make your weekly shop go further, so you can save your precious pennies for what really matters… a bottle of one of our finest sustainable wines, of course!
Now, we know that sustainable eating is different for everyone, but whether you’re a veggie hero or a meat maestro, at Humble Grape, we try to cater to everyone; plant-based masterpieces for the herbivores and top-quality, locally sourced meat for the carnivores. In particular, our small plates offer a wide variety of star-quality dishes for all. From our smoked mackerel rillette with sweetcorn, parsley, and lime; to crispy cauliflower with lime aioli and chilli ketchup; to venison tataki with blueberry, radish, soy, and ginger. Eating sustainably should taste as good as it feels, and our London restaurants want to ensure that we’re feeding you the best, so you can feel your best!
Why not give the small plates a try with our exclusive January deal? Three sharing plates for two people and a flight of four wines each for £30pp. When you book a table, simply quote ‘Humble January’ in your booking notes to grab the offer.
In a nutshell, if your goal this year is to eat more sustainably then visit one of our Humble Grape wine bars and restaurants in London. We’re not just serving up wine; we’re serving up a good time for your mind, body, and soul. We believe going the extra mile for fresh, nutritious, and sustainable produce is the secret to enjoying delicious food and wine for a lifetime.
