Bubble Bar of the Month: Cheval Blanc Wine Bar, Birmingham

Cheval Blanc Wine Bar

145 Alcester Rd
Birmingham B13 8JP
chevalblancbar.co.uk
0121 449 6344

If you’re looking for a little French flair in the heart of the UK, Cheval Blanc in Birmingham is the place for you.

With an extensive wine list, impressive fizz selection and super chic interior, this wine bar has been wowing fizz fans in the Midlands since it opened in June 2016. A crack team of three is behind this beautiful bubble bar: sommelier and general manager Abigail Connolly, chef Cydric Tachdijian and assistant manager and mixologist Rory Eaton.

Together with their staff, these three food and wine enthusiasts endeavour to bring the best of France’s joie de vivre to their Birmingham home. An elegant and entertaining evening in the warmth of their beautiful bar will convince you that they’ve succeeded.

At Cheval Blanc, there’s style to go around. Their modern space – all exposed brick and beautiful wood floors – are softened and enhanced by vintage-style furnishings in pops of cheerful turquoise and lampshades reminiscent of bohemian Montmartre.

Their wine bar is, of course a beauty, and the neat rows of flutes and tulip glasses hanging from the rafter are signs of the fabulous fizz to come. But to really catch a peek of Cheval Blanc’s amazing offering, you need to look down.

This wine bar takes the fruit of the vine very seriously, indeed, and their cellars are state-of-the-art. But why keep such a wonder hidden from view? At Cheval Blanc the spiralling cellars are exposed through plexiglass panels in the floor, so you can ponder the long, lovely evenings it will take you to work your way through every beautiful bottle.

And what wines there are to try! Cheval Blanc sources many of its wines from independent wineries, which means their wine list is an ever-changing icon of mankind’s best boozy achievement.

As Abigail explains, “Some of the wines on the list are a little funky, some are a great example of a good classic, and some are luxury in a glass. If you can’t find anything that takes your fancy, just ask and we’ll point you in the direction of a bottle you’ll love.”

With four fizzes by the glass and eight by the bottle, it won’t take Bubble Clubbers long to find their tipple of choice. The selection of fizz at Cheval Blanc runs the gamut from the finest vintage Champagnes to sprightly Prosecco – and, on certain days, you can even get two glasses of Cava for less than a tenner.

If you’re looking for something still, the Cheval Blanc wine list is as accessible as they come. Neatly sorting their wide wine selection to flavour profiles, you can match your next glass to your cravings, even if you don’t know where to begin. And, of course, the staff of wine lovers is always eager to help.

Be sure to pair your bubbles with a dish off of the brilliant food menu, or try the seasonal tasting menu. Lovingly put together by chef Cydric, a trip through the Cheval Blanc menu will have you seeing la vie en rose.