The Wright Wine Company
The Old Smithy, Raikes Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1NP
Tel (01756 700886)    Fax (01756 798580)

Closed Sun (exc. Dec)    Cards Yes    Discount 5% on 1 mixed case 8-10% on 1 unmixed case    Order online No Delivery Local only (35-mile radius) for wine, free service; nationwide service for whisky only, max. 6 bottles Glass hire Free with reasonable order    Tastings and talks No    Newsletter No    Special promotions Various, some promoting regions

• A wonderful array of premium Australian red and white wines   • Alsace taken seriously with a fuller range than most   • Chilean section keeps up with the times   • Wide range of large-format and half bottles

This is a long list, and in places it really excels. Take Australia, for example- one of buyers Bob Wright and Julian Kaye's greatest strengths. There are so many top labels from Down Under here that it is hard to know where to start: listed under 'Reds' are, among others, Mount Langi Ghiran, Charles Melton, Jim Barry and Yarra Yering, while 'Whites' draw in the likes of Shaw and Smith, Giaconda...It's certainly refreshing (in more ways than one) to see such a broad range of names after scanning dozens of lists that feature the same old big brands.

So, Wright Wine is good at Australia, but it also shines in New Zealand, Chile, Spain, Alsace (where you will find Josmeyer, Trimbach and Ostertag) and for fizz, in the shape of sparklers (some from England), champagnes and top names in Cava. Bob and Julian are keen on large-format bottles too- there are plenty of magnums, jeroboams and even bigger bottles- and for those who prefer smaller packages, their range includes an astonishing 120 wines available in half bottles too, one of the best collections around. Among the more obscure selections, it is heartening to see Greece getting a look-in, Canada's dessert wines making an appearance and several Tokajis from Hungary. Malt whisky is taken very seriously indeed here, with 10 pages of the list devoted to it.

All in all, this is a list to linger over. Even for those who want a bargain, there's plenty at around £5 as well. The list is not annotated, but Bob says that tasting notes on display in the shop, plus regular wine samplings in-store, have helped improve sales.

With wines like these, it's hardly surprising.