• London wine bars have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of wines.low view of a wine glass with wine and grapes and napkin image by David Smith from Fotolia.com
  
  Priding themselves in knowledge of the vine, London's wine bars boast more than just selections of imported and domestic reds and whites. According to VisitLondon.com, London's online tourist guide, the city is brimming with eclectic wine bars that combine all sorts of tastes and occasions. From the traditional to the sophisticated, the city's wine bars offer foodies a wide range of gourmet food and entertainment--all paired with a glass of wine.
  
  

Cork and Bottle Wine Bar: Dependable Traditions

• When New Zealand native and wine connoisseur Don Hewitson arrived in London in the 1970s, he established Cork and Bottle Wine Bar to offset the predominantly night club vibe of Leicester Square. According to Hewitson, Cork and Bottle showcases 40,000 bottles of wine at any given time in its cellar reserves. These choices range from mature vintages to lesser known wines sourced from his frequent travels to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The wine bar's tavern-like atmosphere is threaded with a non-touristy vibe, and provides an oasis for those in search of good wine and fresh food. In fact, even the "New York Times" credits their Raised Ham and Cheese Pie as "the perfect accompaniment to this trove of blissful fermentation."
  
  Cork & Bottle Wine Bar
  
  44-46 Cranbourn Street
  
  Leicester Square
  
  London WC2H 7AN
  
  020-7734-7807
  
  corkandbottle.net
  
  

Cellar Gascon: Upscale Vintage

• Though an annex in the Michelin-starred Club Gascon in Smithsfields, Cellar Gascon stands alone as a trove of imported wines and spirits from Southern France. The cellar's reputable status is credited to resident Chef Pascal Aussignac, whose Toulousain influence has been entrancing the London food and wine scene since the mid-1990s. As one of the most celebrated specialist wine bars in London, Cellar Gascon features tapas-sized house specialties which are prepared using seasonal food. Its monthly wine-tasting evenings are a mecca for wine connoisseurs out for rare vintages.
  
  Cellar Gascon
  
  Annex, Club Gascon
  
  59 West Smithfield
  
  London EC1A 9DS
  
  020-7600-7561
  
  clubgascon.com
  
  

Ebury Wine Bar: Timeless Classics

• This world-renowned wine bar has been charming wine and food lovers since 1959 when it first opened in Westminster at the heart of London. Featuring a combination of the establishment's trompe l'oeil ambiance, gourmet food and choice wines, Ebury prides itself in offering gastronomic fare. According to Zagat, a top food and entertainment portal, Ebury's eclectic vibe coupled with its extensive list of wine makes it a dependable choice for those who enjoy the timelessness of vintage wines and a menu of Anglo-French cuisine.
  
  Ebury Wine Bar & Restaurant
  
  139 Ebury Street
  
  London SW1W 9QU
  
  020-7823-5447
  
  eburywinebar.co.uk