Passione Vino Clerkenwell is the latest chapter for a brand that has spent more than two decades quietly shaping how London drinks Italian wine. Since 2003, Passione Vino has sought out small, independent winemakers from across Italy who prioritise tradition and craft. Today, the group imports wines from more than 90 producers, spanning lesser-known appellations and styles, united by an insistence on quality and authenticity. Its Shoreditch and Exmouth Market outposts have built a loyal following and so a third site, this time in Clerkenwell, feels like a natural next step.
The neighbourhood suits the ethos wonderfully. Clerkenwell is full of creative, independent businesses from florists and boutiques, to small plates restaurants and coffee shops, making Passione Vino an obvious addition. The Clerkenwell opening continues the brand’s familiar formula: a wine bar and shop rolled into one, where bottles are discovered with guidance from the informed staff. The focus remains firmly on Italy, with bold, unfiltered wines from passionate producers who often work organically or biodynamically, and whose stories are as important as what’s in the glass.
Food plays a supporting but thoughtful role. The kitchen works with a short list of honest ingredients, cooking instinctively and seasonally, with dishes that change daily. Expect baccalà done properly, pasta cooked with precision, and soft focaccia designed to be torn and shared. It’s unfussy, generous cooking that exists to complement the wine rather than compete with it, rooted in the way people eat at home across Italy.
More than anything, Passione Vino Clerkenwell is about coming together. It’s a place to drop in for a glass, stay for another, and leave having discovered something new. For Clerkenwell locals and Italian wine enthusiasts alike, it’s a welcome neighbour to the area’s dining landscape.