Birmingham self-pour wine bar introduces octopus and other small dishes inspired by international vineyards

Vagabond - the self-pour wine bar boasting over 100 wines - has launched a new small plates menu at their Colmore Row venue in Birmingham.

Ideal for sharing, guests can choose from a variety of plates and further indulge in wine exploration from their specialist machines where wine pours at the tap of a card and shelf talkers explain tasting notes.

The small plates have been inspired from the Vagabond team’s exploration of wine across the world.

The new small plates menu at Vagabond includes:

• Grilled Galician Octopus with mash,
• Pickled red onions and shallots,
• Spinach & Ricotta Arancini with a truffle and parmesan béchamel,
• Homemade Meatballs,
• Roasted Cauliflower,
• Beef Brisket,
• Miso & Teriyaki Glazed Aubergine,
• Patatas Bravas,
• Croquetas Iberico,
• Fried Whitebait,
• Burrata di Puglia IGP,
• Chorizo with a Vagabond red wine reduction, and
• Hanger Steak Tagliata

How will I know which small dish to pair with which wine?

Knowledgeable staff are always on hand to recommend a wine pairing. Ben Gubbins, General Manager at Vagabond and wine expert, suggests pairing the Grilled Galician Octopus with the 2022 Val De Meigas Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain, and the Beef Brisket with the 2020 Andreza "Altitude" Douro Tinto, Douro Valley, Portugal.

Alongside their new small plates menu, guests can still enjoy items from their Nibbles, Focaccia Sandwiches, Sharing Plates, and Dessert menus.

He adds, “We love the Miso & Teriyaki Glazed Aubergine dish, as it’s a bit of a break away from the Mediterranean base of our menu, veering into beguiling umami flavours. It begs for a wine that has a dose of fruitiness to balance the more savoury notes of the sauce, yet not too heavy that it might overpower this delicate dish. This all speaks of August Eser Riesling from the Rheingau in Germany. Touch off-dry, with delicate lime, floral and white peach notes.”

Christobell Giles, Operations Director at Vagabond, said, “The team have been working hard to craft this fresh new delicious menu, drawing on inspiration from cuisines such as Italian, Spanish, and Japanese, and we can’t wait for regular self-pourers and new explorers to indulge and find their perfect wine pairing!” Bookings can be made at Vagabond Wines bookings