Welcome to Hic! | Independent Wine Merchants

As an independent, family-run specialist, we believe discovering brilliant wine should be effortless.

For over 25 years, we have built deep, long-standing relationships with dedicated growers and elite shippers to secure an exceptional range. These connections allow us to offer highly competitive pricing across our entire portfolio - from sought-after cellar rarities to outstanding everyday bottles - proving that independent expertise and genuine value seamlessly go hand in hand.

Operating from our Ledston store, we provide expert guidance and secure UK shipping tailored to exactly how you drink. With no minimum order required, you have the absolute freedom to explore by the single bottle, alongside an automatic 5% discount on any mixed selection of six bottles or more.

SHOP ALL BOTTLES

FIND YOUR PERFECT TIPPLE!

SEARCH FOR YOUR IDEAL BOTTLE FROM OUR RANGE

NO PANIC BUYS. SHOWSTOPPERS ONLY.

Finding the right gift for someone who takes their drinks seriously should be a triumph, not a frantic last-minute scramble. We have pulled together a definitive festive lineup designed to make thoughtful gifting completely effortless, leaving the novelty presents far behind. It is time to deliver a gift with actual backbone.

We have bypassed the seasonal gimmicks to focus entirely on precision hardware and exceptional, gift-boxed bottles. We are talking about flawlessly engineered glassware, professional-grade wine accessories, rare independent spirits, and statement reds. These are uncompromising showstoppers built to deliver a completely different level of quality.

Whether you need a brilliant £20 Secret Santa drop that punches well above its weight, or a £500 ultimate gesture for the cellar, we have the entire spectrum covered. Zero stress, no rubbish, and absolutely no excuses. Find the perfect match, get it sorted, and perhaps keep a cheeky bottle for yourself.

FIND THE PERFECT POUR

FEED THE FIRE. POUR A HEAVYWEIGHT.

As the nights draw in, the leaves turn, and the winter chill finally bites, there is only one remedy: a roaring fire and a truly magnificent glass of wine that warms you from the inside out. When the temperature drops, you need something that delivers absolute comfort. Welcome to our hand-picked selection of big, bold, and wonderfully spicy bottles crafted specifically to chase away the cold.

Forget the delicate summer quaffers, this is where the heavyweights come into their own. We are talking about powerful Shiraz with a peppery punch, robust Zinfandels bursting with dark fruit, and hearty Malbecs ready to stand up to a heavy Sunday roast. These are the uncompromising pours built for crisp evenings, rich winter food, and settling in for the night.

This lineup goes far beyond just being big; these wines are packed with character, complexity, and genuine spice. There is no mass-market mediocrity here, just bone-warming brilliance designed to elevate your winter dining or simply keep you company by the glow of the embers. Grab a bottle, feed the fire, and get warmed up.

GET WARMED UP

RESPECT THE SUNDAY RITUAL

Whatever the weather is doing outside, the weekend roast remains entirely non-negotiable. If you have spent your morning peeling a mountain of potatoes, keeping a watchful eye on the Yorkshire puddings, and finally wrangling the whole family to sit down at the exact same time, you have already done the hard work. Do not reward that chaotic kitchen effort by pouring a bottle of mass-produced disappointment.

The dining table demands a wine that can stand up to the occasion and the rich food. We have assembled a definitive line-up built specifically to tackle roasted meats, deep gravies, and all the trimmings. This is where we leave the lightweight options behind, moving straight into heavyweight Ribera del Duero, ancient-vine Cape blends, and classic, structured Chianti Classico that deliver genuine depth and character.

Because the kitchen chaos often bleeds into the dining room, we have also included outstanding premium English sparkling to cut right through the noise and start the afternoon off right. You have navigated the timings, the temperatures, and the inevitable table politics. Now, grab a generously sized glass, pull the cork on something memorable, and let the wine do the talking.

SHOP THE SUNDAY EDIT

WINES BUILT FOR THE COLD

As autumn creeps in and the focus shifts indoors, white wine does not need to be relegated to the back of the fridge. Instead, we are leaving the ice buckets and zesty thirst-quenchers behind, moving straight into serious, broad-shouldered whites with real weight and texture that do not flinch in the cold.

This lineup is entirely dedicated to big, structured wines built with intention. We are talking about complex, unmanipulated bottles that deliver rich notes of brown butter, toasted hazelnuts, and deep orchard fruit. These are food-obsessed heavyweights that demand a spot next to a Sunday roast, wild mushrooms, or a massive wheel of aged hard cheese.

From premium, age-worthy oaked Chardonnay to textured, mineral-driven blends, this is a formidable selection of whites with actual backbone. Put away the ice, grab a generously sized glass, and pour something memorable.

POUR SOMETHING SERIOUS

NO LIGHTWEIGHTS | BIG GLASSES ONLY

The frantic pace of the day is done, and the evening has finally settled. As your focus naturally shifts towards unwinding, the wine in your glass needs to step up. We are leaving the simple, everyday thirst-quenchers behind and moving straight into a realm defined by character, structure, and serious savoury depth. It is time to pour something that demands a little more attention.

This lineup is entirely focused on robust, unmanipulated reds with actual backbone. We are talking about the kind of bottles that deliver thrilling hits of cracked black pepper, smoked meats, and dark, brooding fruit. These are the heavyweight pours that sit perfectly alongside a Tuesday night grazing board, or stand entirely on their own when you just want to switch off.

From an intensely savoury Northern Rhône Syrah to a complex, evolving Cru Beaujolais that rewards a few hours in the decanter, this is a formidable selection built for absolute enjoyment. Shut out the world, grab a big glass, and pull the cork on something serious.

SHOP THE EVENING POUR