GIRL POWER

Douglas Blyde toasts his top three women-led wine bars

Swains Wine Bar & Store is a forestcoloured gem opposite Hampstead Heath, brought to you by Victoria Sharples, former head of wine for St John, and Ruth Morrell, the thirdgeneration of New York family wine business, Morrell & Company. In a nod to St John, wines include the restaurant’s Bordeaux plus a perky Cotswolds Bacchus. Check the cellar list for brilliant, rare finds. Meanwhile, former Marylebone pub Clarette is filled with natural light and features a wraparound terrace — a fine place to sip rosé champagne. Spearheaded by Alexandra Petit Mentzelopoulos of the Château Margaux dynasty, it boasts London’s biggest selection of Château Margaux. And lastly, after seeing yet another industry run by men, Carole Bryon launched Lady of The Grapes near Covent Garden to shine a light on vineyards run by women. Wines include skin-contact Amrit Pinot Gris (left) by Shashi Singh, Australia’s first Indian-born winemaker. Be sure to ask to see Bryon’s guest book, signed by winemakers who stopped by. (swains.london; clarettelondon.com; ladyofthegrapes.com)