Don't Miss Durham's Chicest New Wine Bar
From the former Head Sommelier of the two Michelin star-awarded Raby Hunt, Crush is the new wine bar and shop you need to know about in Durham city centre
Opening its doors in August of this year, Crush has already wowed locals with its laidback atmosphere and exceptional wine list. Living North catches up with owner Daniel to learn more about curating a wine list, expanding people’s palates and what wines he can’t get enough of.
You’ve had an incredible career at some of the most prestigious establishments in the area (Raby Hunt, Rockliffe Hall and Swinton Estate to name a few). Can you talk us through what you’ve learned so far?
That’s a big question. I’ve been doing wine most of my career and being a manager as well, so what I’ve learned mainly is how to build a good team. I’ve been head hunted by different places to build up teams and make them better. I really enjoy that, but at the same time I’ve always been working with wine. Even when I was a manager on the floor, I always had my finger in the wine so to speak, and tried to expand the wine list and teach my staff about wine. So that’s the highlight, building strong teams and getting people interested in wine.
What has kept you passionate about wine for so long?
I’ve been doing it for 28 years and yet I know so little, and I still have so much to learn. Every year there’s something new – a new winemaker comes out, there’s a different approach to wine, and new flavours appear. It’s like being a child in a candy store. It is amazing and it’s important to be curious about new wines all the time – it is so much fun.
What is it about wine that brings people together?
It is definitely a social thing. When I started wine tastings in the previous places I worked in, the owners didn’t think it would work, but then realised it was a great idea. Couples would come down who don’t know each other, and then after the wine tasting decide they would sit together for dinner later on – it’s amazing.
'There’s no guaranteed sign of a good wine as such. Fancy labels and funky bottles are mostly sales gimmicks so the more you know about an area or grower, the better wine you will find'
Tell us what you need to consider when building a wine list.
People have very different palates. It’s also important that I have the knowledge and also the passion to get people to try something different. If guests are going for something like a sauvignon blanc – I don’t serve that, I serve six different sauvignon blancs. So for me it’s about educating people gently. They can ask absolutely any questions they want and I’m happy to help. If visitors say “I used to drink this kind of wine,” I’m happy to help, and if there’s a wine they don’t like, I’ll take it away. We specialise in small and obscure growers. The wines we have here are wines you don’t generally see anywhere else, and the list is ever changing. We have wines from all over the world.
What was the inspiration behind Crush?
After working in high-end restaurants for so long this is something I always wanted to do, and it’s been on the back-burner for a long time. Together with Craig from Coarse [North Road’s fine dining restaurant], we’ve built this up. Now I’m working for myself and it’s great. The inside of Crush is soft greens, soft reds and warm light. I just want people to be able to relax.
What has the response been like?
It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s been busy and the reception has been so warm. People have been telling me that Durham needed a dedicated wine bar where people can come and relax.
Do you have a top tip for new wine drinkers?
Be adventurous in selecting your wine. Yes, there will be bad wines sometimes, but don't always stick to the same grape variety. Go left-field and be surprised! There’s no guaranteed sign of a good wine as such. Fancy labels and funky bottles are mostly sales gimmicks so the more you know about an area or grower, the better wine you will find.
What about the future of Crush?
I hope Crush will grow organically as I have seen already, with regular guests. I hope my wine evenings will be popular as well. Those are something I put out on social media and they are ticketed since my bar is not so big.
Besides Crush, where is your go-to for wine in the area?
To be honest, there isn't anything like Crush, I'm proud to say, but I do like the Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield; good wine list, great atmosphere and good staff.
What is a good wine to impress dinner guests?
To impress, take a wine from Languedoc or Roussillon in southern France. Pick a small grower, read up a little about them and tell the story over dinner. The wines from those regions are so underrated.
What are you drinking at the moment?
At the moment I’m drinking a Cabernet Franc from China – it’s absolutely amazing.
To find out more, visit crushwines.co.
