After our fill of trendy craft beers and cocktails, Birmingham can now enjoy some quality plonk in a good old fashioned wine bar again.

Cheval Blanc in Alcester Road, Moseley, is dedicated to bringing back the culture of drinking good wine in a classic wine bar where the vino takes centre stage. Expect to pay anything from £3.50 for a glass to £1000 for a bottle!

But what has got us really excited is the cheese flights the bar will be offering. You can pair your favourite cheese with a perfectly matched glass of wine. You can sample reds, whites or sparkling wines matched to a selection of British gourmet cheeses.

Paul Maders, executive chef at the British Oak and Dark Horse, has devised the small plates tapas style menu that also includes goats cheese croquettes, tea smoked duck breast and sardines.

General manager and chief sommelier Abigail Connolly will help match dishes to the best selected wines from all around the globe.

Executive chef Paul said: “I think Cheval Blanc will be a breath of fresh air for our city. The wines are all handpicked. We use the best produce in our food and they are presented so you can enjoy your wine, nibbling on small plates while enjoying good conversation and ambience.”

Abigail, who previously worked as head sommelier at Michelin starred Carters of Moseley restaurant, added: “I have said for some time that Birmingham needs somewhere to drink decent and interesting wines without a three course meal at the same time.

Inside Cheval Blanc on the Alcester Rd
Inside Cheval Blanc on the Alcester Rd

So I’m thrilled to be working at a bar that offers just that. Cheval Blanc offers an intimate atmosphere to drink superb wine.”

Cheval Blanc is named after wine producer in Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux wine region of France. It’s also a nice nod to sister bar The Dark Horse, next door.

Both bars are owned by businessman Keith Marsden who also owns the famous Prince of Wales pub just up the road from both pubs.

The interior of new Moseley bar Cheval Blanc on the Alcester road
The interior of new Moseley bar Cheval Blanc on the Alcester road

While the Prince Of Wales and Dark Horse are great pubs, Cheval Blanc is most distinctly a wine bar and takes its raison d’etre tres seriously.

An impressive underground spiral cellar for wine bottles has been installed at the bar at an eye watering cost of £30,000.

But getting back to the cheese. What one of bottle of wine would Abigail recommend for Cheval Blanc’s 5 cheese board (£12)?

“It has to be white not red. A rich and rounded white wine that will cut through the fattiness of the rich cheeses and still complement the others.

"Our 2014 Nothing to Declare from Western Cape, South Africa has pear flavours is perfect with all our cheeses. ”

Cheval Blanc, which is due to open on Saturday, July 23, will also offer wine tasting events and fortnightly beginner French classes.