A WORLD WELL POURED.

A thoughtfully chosen wine does more than accompany a dish. It can bring out a flavour, soften another, change the pace of a menu and give guests something new to discover.

Our relationship with Corney & Barrow began with Shelley, several years before Greek Tings developed its own wine service.

Corney & Barrow HQ

WHERE IT BEGAN

Shelley first worked with Corney & Barrow in 2023 while she was part of the team at The Queen’s Club in London, where the merchant supplied the wines.

During that time, she also took part in Corney & Barrow’s wine education programme as part of gaining her wine qualifications. The training broadened her understanding of grape varieties, regions, styles, tasting and food pairing—but, more importantly, it taught her how to make that knowledge useful for guests.

Knowing about wine is one thing. Being able to listen to someone, understand what they enjoy and confidently guide them towards the right bottle is something else entirely.

That experience now forms an important part of what we can offer through Greek Tings.

AN INDEPENDENT MERCHANT SINCE 1780

Corney & Barrow’s story began in 1780, when Edward Bland Corney opened a small shop on Old Broad Street in the City of London. At the time, its selection centred on Port, Sherry and Bordeaux.

More than 245 years later, the company remains privately owned and is one of Britain’s longest-established independent wine merchants. It now works with producers across the world, with many wines supplied through close or exclusive relationships.

Corney & Barrow also currently holds two Royal Warrants, serving both King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The history is impressive, but what interests us most is the way they work today: building lasting relationships with producers, understanding the people and places behind the bottles and helping customers select wine with a genuine sense of origin.

BEYOND A SINGLE WINE REGION

Greek wine will always have an important place within Greek Tings. It gives us the opportunity to introduce guests to native grape varieties, distinctive landscapes and bottles they may not come across every day.

But our menus do not belong to only one country or style, and neither should our wine selection.

Working with Corney & Barrow gives us access to a broad international portfolio. We can explore established European wine regions alongside New World producers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North and South America, as well as more unexpected bottles from further afield.

That freedom matters because every Greek Tings event is different.

One menu might call for a crisp, mineral white to accompany seafood. Another may need a generous red for slow-cooked meat, a carefully chosen sparkling wine for a celebration or something less familiar for guests who want to explore.

The aim is never to add wine simply because a recognisable name looks impressive on the table. The bottle has to make sense alongside the food, the occasion and the people drinking it.

TASTING BEFORE SELECTING

We have held dedicated tastings with Corney & Barrow so that our wine selection can be shaped around the food and experiences we actually offer.

These tastings allow us to compare different regions, grape varieties and styles, discuss possible pairings and identify wines that could become part of our regular selection. They also give us the flexibility to develop custom wine options for particular menus and events.

This is especially valuable when we are creating something bespoke. Rather than forcing every event into the same fixed wine list, we can consider the dishes, season, guest preferences, budget and style of service before recommending what should be poured.

Sometimes the right answer is a classic bottle from a well-known European region. Sometimes it is a New World wine that takes the menu in a less expected direction. The important part is understanding why it belongs there.

Vintage wine from 1920

WINE TASTINGS AND EVENT BARS

Our relationship with Corney & Barrow supports more than traditional food-and-wine pairings.

Greek Tings can also create guided wine tastings and dedicated wine bars as part of an event. These can be designed around a country, grape variety, style of wine or a journey through several regions.

Shelley’s role is to make the experience knowledgeable without making it intimidating. Guests should feel comfortable asking questions, comparing flavours and deciding what they genuinely enjoy.

A wine tasting does not need to feel like an examination. It can be relaxed, social and built around discovery—whether guests already know their Burgundy from their Bordeaux or are simply interested in trying something new.

KNOWLEDGE AT THE TABLE

For us, good wine service is not about reciting a tasting note and disappearing.

It is about knowing when a guest wants the full story and when they simply want a bottle they will enjoy. It is about understanding the menu, reading the room and explaining a wine in language that makes sense.

Corney & Barrow gives us access to the bottles, producers and specialist support. Shelley brings the knowledge and personal service that turns those bottles into part of the event.

Her drinks knowledge does not end with wine, either. Shelley is also a mixologist—but that is a story for another day.

For now, we will simply say this: wherever the wine comes from, it should earn its place at the table.