Remember the Saddleworth Wine Vault, down the steps in the basement of 72 High Street? From the day it opened in 2011, buying a decent bottle in Uppermill meant going underground and trying not to bang your head when you left (or staggered out) a couple of hours later, laden with bottles.
In May 2025, the Wine Vault became Garratt’s Wine Merchant & Delicatessen and moved to bigger and brighter ground-floor premises in the square, further up the High Street. No steps now, but staggering is still an option. The selection has grown to over 3,000 wines, and every single one has a story.
Pop into the shop and say hi to Julian, the son of the late great Phil (Wino) Garratt, who opened the first shop, Winos, in Oldham in 1983. Julian is the storyteller here, and will gladly help you choose the perfect wine to suit your needs, be it a crisp, zesty Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc or a stonking, meaty Moldovan red.
Every bottle has a story
Don’t just reach for a label you recognise, or go for an old favourite. Open your mind to new ideas, to new flavours, to new stories. Tell Julian what you like, what you’re cooking and what you’d like to spend. He’ll pick the perfect wine, and you get its story thrown in for free. You don’t get that from a supermarket shelf.
Two bottles, two stories
Picpoul de Pinet. You’ve probably ordered this in a pub without a second thought. This one I know well. I drank it with Julian’s dad, Phil, over fresh oysters straight from the Étang de Thau, the saltwater lagoon in the south of France where it comes from. I live on the other side of the lagoon and see the vineyards every day. The grape is Piquepoul, usually translated as “lip-stinger”, and that’s fair warning: bone dry, with lemon, green apple and a salty edge. If there’s fish (or oysters) for tea, this is the one.
Politika Coupage Conservator. I didn’t even know Moldova made wine, let alone wine as good as this. It’s a red from Chateau Cristi, in the south of the country, with a chimpanzee dressed as a politician on the label. The winery is named after Vladimir Cristi, a politician and winemaker of a century ago, so the whole range is a running joke: there’s a Liberal and a Democratic too. The Conservator is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, all dark cherry and plum with a bit of spice. It’s so meaty it’s practically a meal on its own! Would I have picked it off the shelf myself? Not a chance.
The deli
Spirits, beers and a selection of local products sit alongside the wine. The deli counter stocks artisanal cheeses, olives, charcuterie, olive oil, and bread, and at the weekend there are pies, pastries, and sausage rolls. Enough for supper at the cottage without doing much more than finding a plate.
The scones from Scóna Kitchen (at the back of the shop) are worth the visit alone, and the chocolate Guinness cake is just, well, it’s incredible.
Stay for a glass
You don’t have to take it home. Buy a bottle, take a seat, and have it there with some nibbles or a cheese and charcuterie board. On a fine day there are seats outside in the square. Saturday afternoons are the time to go. Pop along and you’ll meet the whole village!
Upstairs is the Millyard Art Gallery, run by the people behind Saddleworth Picture Framing. It keeps its own opening hours, so if it’s open, go up and have a look. They have regular exhibitions and constantly changing artwork throughout the year.
What’s on at Garratt’s (autumn 2026)
- Cheese and wine nights, Friday 6 and Saturday 21 November. A wine, cheese and charcuterie tasting, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, £30 a head. Booking is essential, so ring the shop or call in.
- Christmas wreath making and wine tasting, Thursday 19 and 26 November and 3 December. Make your own Christmas wreath with Eden Floral Styling while you work through six festive wines: fizz on arrival, two whites, two reds and a Christmas dessert wine. 6.30pm to 8.30pm, £65 per person, and only 16 places a night. Book and pay in full directly with Eden florist in Uppermill.
- Scóna and Garratt’s sharing plate tasting, Saturday 5 December. Details to follow.
Visiting
- Where: 97 High Street, Uppermill OL3 6BD
- Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm. Closed Monday.
- Phone: 07828 499496
- Getting in: Garratt’s is in the square. Say hi to Julian from me xx
- Online: @garratts_wine_merchant on Instagram. Events are announced on Facebook, where the page still goes by Saddleworth Wine Vault.
Eat, drink and shop in the village
We ask everyone who stays at Pots & Pans Cottage to eat, drink and shop in Uppermill. Independent shops like this one are a big part of what makes Uppermill what it is, and they will only stay open if we use them.
There are more places to try in our guides to shopping, and eating and drinking in Uppermill.