The Wine Club in Makati City: Of California Wine and Ambrosial Fare
Situated in the bustling Legaspi Village is a quaint wine shop and restaurant that specializes in wine pairings and ambrosial fare.
The Wine Club is a family joint owned by Michael Reyes and managed by his son Mike Reyes. It was born out of a passion for wine—California wine to be exact.
IMAGE from The Wine Club
It started as a wine distributor in 2006 when the Filipino-born Reyes patriarch thought of bringing fine California wines to the country.
They are devoted importers of premium California wine from the regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma—the only place that focuses solely on such selection of wine.
IMAGE from The Wine Club
The labels they carry include top-rated brands hailing from California’s Napa Valley, Santa Cruz and Central Coast, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They distribute most of the wines to restaurants and hotels like Shangri-La, City of Dreams, and Solaire.
“Being in Manila, you can find some really, really expensive wine out there. It’s very easy to find expensive wine and I don’t necessarily believe that you can find a good valued wine,” General Manager Mike Reyes shared.
Andover Estate Chardonnay, Bonanza California Cabernet Sauvignon, and Layer Cake Pinot Noir
The wine lounge and restaurant only came about in 2013 as an extension of their distribution business. Its concept of adapting the nonpretentious aura of Napa Valley lures guests to peek at the spellbinding appeal of California wines, paired with a good slab of steak and pasta.
IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Upon entering, you’ll easily notice the rustic elements of the interior that replicates an old California wine cellar complete with an elegant display of wine surrounding the four corners of the lounge.
With warm wood accents, leather seats, a Ms. Pac Man arcade machine, and artful wall decor showing wine motifs, the space feels both stylish and comfortable. The neatly arranged wine displays and intimate seating areas create the perfect ambiance for gatherings or tastings.
Need an intimate and private location for a meeting or party? You may also book one of their private rooms for events up to 10 guests or the entire club for events up to 35 guests.
IMAGES from The Wine Club
Their menu is not only limited to wines as it also includes a well-curated entree that complements their wine offerings.
Start your meal with a serving of one of their pasta dishes from their selection.
IMAGE from The Wine Club
If you are dining with a group, a dish made for sharing is their famous Grilled Sausage Platter, a plate comprised of imported grilled sausages, or their Cheese and Dried Fruit Platter, an assorted of European cheeses and dried fruits–absolutely great for pica-pica!
IMAGES from The Wine Club
One of their prime dishes is the Wagyu T-Bone Steak made of 800 grams of premium T-Bone meat and served with roasted potato and sauteèd vegetables on the side. It also comes with a pepper sauce and truffle mushroom sauce to add flavor.
Complementing the wagyu is a bottle of USA’s powerhouse Bonanza California Cabernet Sauvignon. Compared to Pinot Noir, this red wine is lighter but has a full bright currant flavor that rounds off the strong taste of spiced wagyu.
Wagyu T-Bone Steak and Bonanza California Cabernet Sauvignon / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
To make the most out of your wine, you can avail a bottle and share it with your group for up to five glasses.
All in all, The Wine Club is the right place to enlighten oneself with good California wine, matched with excellent food pairings.
“We’re all about coming in here, making sure that when you spend your money, you’re getting a good product which we can guarantee being from California wineries and the food is there to support that at a good value,” Reyes said.
