(SPOT.ph) Wine is usually a drink that’s associated with special occasions. But who says you have to wait for a reason to celebrate to crack open a bottle of Chardonnay or Merlot? We’ve listed down 10 places in the Metro that always serve great wine, even if you’re not looking to toast to anything special.
Head over to these spots in Metro Manila whenever you feel like having a glass of red or white:
Dr. Wine Manila
Poblacion is already home to many great bars, but if you’re looking for something more relaxed and cozy, Dr. Wine is your best bet. Originally from Shanghai, Dr. Wine offers a variety of wine from different countries, at reasonable prices—you can get a glass of white or red for under P200! For only P550, you can enjoy bottomless red or white wine from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Try having your glass with either a cheese or cold cuts platter or their French Escargot Fricassee (P650), if you’re looking to celebrate.
Dr. Wine Manila is at 5921 Algier Street, Poblacion, Makati City.
La Petite Parisienne Manila
Dreaming of a trip to Paris? Here’s the next best thing: La Petite Parisienne, a deli-cum-wine cellar housing a selection of French wines. They cover all the basics—various brands of red, white, rosé, and dessert wine, as well as champagne—which you can pair with their cheeses, cold cuts, sausages, and pizzas, and other main courses. It’s also a great space for beginners, as they occasionally hold wine classes covering the must-know basics before you sip.
See a list of La Petite Parisienne branches.
Happy Barrels
Thinking of having some prosecco to go with Bun Appetit’s famous lobster rolls? You can conveniently do just that at The Grid Food Hall and head over to Happy Barrels by Bistronomia.ph. Choose your bottle of wine, which you can consume on the spot or bring home. Happy Barrels also offers draft beer, cold cuts, and cheese. If you want something more filling, you can pair your beverage with food from any of the stalls in the food hall.
The Grid is at Level R2, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City.
Stockwell Café + Lounge
This cozy cafe with industrial touches may be best known for their different coffee brews, but Stockwell Café+ Lounge also has a fully stocked bar and an extensive wine list. A glass of chardonnay (P175) is an excellent companion to their Chicken Cordon Bleu (P220), with the light flavor of the wine complementing the chicken’s cheesy and buttery sauce. You also can never go wrong with a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon (P800/bottle, P175/glass), paired with a serving of Roasted Pork in Peppercorn Sauce (P265).
Stockwell Café + Lounge is at 61 Scout Tobias Street corner Scout Rallos Street, Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
Txanton
If there’s anything that pairs especially well with wine, it’s jamon—and at Txanton, you can get the best of both these worlds. Located at the Chino Roces Extension in Makati, this jamoneria-slash-tasting room carries an extensive selection of hams, chorizos, anchovies, olive oil, and wine; as the retail arm of wine distributor Antique Wine Cellar (AWC), their selection includes fine wines from Spain and France, best consumed using special Zalto glasses (which they also carry in-store). Get your wines by the bottle or sample them in-store, dispensed from an Enomatic which keeps the open bottles fresh. Of course, the best way to complete the experience is by pairing your glass with jamon, which Txanton offers in flights.
Txanton is at 2294 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City.
Galileo Enoteca
“Enoteca” translates to “library of wines”, and Galileo Enoteca lives up to its name with a broad selection of reds and whites from different regions of Italy. Tucked away in Mandaluyong sidestreet, Galileo Enoteca also doubles as a deli and Italian restaurant serving various antipasti, pizza, and pasta to pair with your bottle of choice. Better yet, drop by the restaurant on Wednesday nights as they offer all their wine bottles at 30% off with a purchase of any entree or a pass at their cheese buffet.
Galileo Enoteca is at 80 Calbayog Street corner Malinao Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City.
Cork Wine Bar & Shop
Cork Wine Bar & Shop houses an extensive lineup of French wines from all around the country and of different vintages—even dating all the way back to 1975. With its wide range of wines at different price points, the wine bar and shop attracts both beginners and connoisseurs alike. Mix and match your vino of choice with their selection of light bites, which include a Cheese Platter (P550/2 kinds, P880/3 kinds), Oven Baked Camembert Cheese (P580), and Beef Tenderloin Salpicao (P1,180).
Cork Wine Bar & Shop is at 5th Avenue corner 32nd Street, W 5th Tower, Bonifacio Global City.
VENGO
Looking for a place to unwind during hump day? Consider paying a visit to Vengo. This restaurant with polished, minimalist elements is already well-known for its unique take on Mexican cuisine. Try the umami-rich Shiitake Mushroom Tostada (P168) and fiery Mexican Spice Chicken (P348), and wash these dishes down with wine. They also have a promo every Wednesday, where you can get unlimited wine from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for only P499.
VENGO is at Don Carlos Palanca Street corner Dela Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Planet Grapes
Like finding a romantic partner, finding a perfect bottle of wine requires a lot of time and money. But at Planet Grapes, you can easily find your favorite, thanks to their wine-vending machine. It serves a selection of wines from around the world that you can try by the glass before committing to a whole bottle.
See a list of Planet Grapes branches.
Wine Story
If you’re hoping to learn more about wine, you may want to head over to Wine Story and enjoy a glass or two amidst elegant interiors. This wine-retail store prides itself on the wine-buying experience, letting customers sample and taste as many as 16 glasses before deciding on a full bottle. You can even order small plates to go with your vino. They also offer courses for budding sommeliers all year round through Wine Story Academy following the Wine & Spirit Education Trust qualifications. They offer three courses where you can learn all about the process of making wine, tasting it, and the right kinds of food to pair them with.
See a list of Wine Story branches.
