Vinothec Compass – golfing and wine -ing on the Greenwich Peninsula

Posted by winesleuth in All | 3 comments

I’ve just discovered a place that combines 2 of my passions, wine and golf! I don’t get out on the course as much as I’d like to but I do enjoy the game even if my handicap is like, a 1000 (just kidding but not by much). Vinothec Compass is a new venture that’s just opened in North Greenwich. A parnership between Arnaud Compass and Keith Lyons, the driving range/restaurant/bar is bound to be a big hit! I wish they would open one up closer to Clapham (hint, hint).

We started off the evening by sipping on Pol Roger 2004 paired with chorizo and shrimp skewers whilst we swung away on the driving range. We were hosted by one of their golf pros, Gary. I have to say, in just the few swings I took, Gary helped me to correct my slice to the left, can’t wait to try it again. There are 60 bays on two tiers and you get to swing your club into the twitlight of Canary Wharf as a backdrop. The standard is 120 balls which will you back £12 (£10 off-peak) or 60 for £6. For more info. including opening times click here  n1golf.com/london

Afterwards, we were invited indoors to partake of small plates paired with a selection of wines on offer at Vinothec Compass. The bar also doubles as a shop so you can take the wines home with you if so desired. We had a host of wines from not the usual suspects. Starting off with a Bulgarian Chardonnay, the Château Burgozone 2012, was quite good and had a nice citrus spritz to it. It was lovely with the tapas of baby squid, tomato and coriander. The head chef of Vinothec is Catalan, Jordi Rovira Segovia and you can see his roots reflected in the dishes.

As well as Bulgaria, we had a Morrocan rose,  the Volubilia 2013 Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Vin Gris – very pale in colour but bursting with strawberry flavours and refreshingly dry. I love the fact that Vinotech has taken the time to source wines from interesting destinations. It’s always great to discover wine from non-traditional wine countries.

Of course, where would we be without the Old World? We were treated to the Couvent des Jacobins 2005, an upgraded Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2005 was a good vintage and this particular wine was showing very well and still quite youthful, paired with a suckling piglet belly with piquillo, it was divine, a wonderfully textured wine, still having plenty of fruit flavours on the palate.

These were just some of the wines available at Vinothec Compass. If you’re a wine lover and a golfer, you’ve found the perfect match here. My only complaint is that is is way out on the Greenwich Peninsula but if everything was on our doorstep it would probably make for a boring life. Vinothec Compass is well worth the visit.