Self-service wine bar and retail space Vin Geek opens in Pacific Plaza, bringing a wide range of wines and deli products to Orchard Road.
For those who are not oenophiles, the wine world can be rather intimidating. How many of us have stepped into a bottle shop only to step out discomfited moments later, because our brains cannot process all that information (especially with an overeager shop assistant hanging over one’s shoulder)? Or not daring to order a wine at a restaurant, because all the descriptions look unfamiliar to you?
We’ve been there.
Vin Geek may change all that. The newly-opened 52-seater wine bar in Pacific Plaza boasts a self-service 24-bottle wine dispenser that allows diners to order, pour and pay for their own wines, all without the need to confer with a sommelier or server. Simply pick a wine, scan a QR code, pay, and pour yourself some vino. Even better, pours come in different sizes – from an exploratory 30ml sampler, a somewhat committal 90ml portion, or a full 150ml glass for ultimate enjoyment.
Wines at Vin Geek generally run the gamut of provenance and style, although there was a strong Italian representation when we visited. The offerings in the wine dispensers then ranged from the likes of the 2020 Frescobaldi Rose and 2019 Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio, all the way to the 2018 Tignanello. Wines from other winemaking regions included the 2020 Babich Rose from New Zealand’s lauded Marlborough region, a 2019 Cos d’Estournel from Bordeaux, as well as the 2018 Michel Briday Rully for some Bourgogne representation.
And just to mess with one’s mind? There was event the iconic Penfolds Grange available by the glass, no less.
Wines are regularly rotated. Bottles are replaced – usually with a different wine – as they run dry, so you can always expect something new. So for those looking to dip their toes into the world of wine, Vin Geek offers the opportunity for unguided exploration.
Vin Geek started as an e-commerce store in 2012, and this space in Pacific Plaza is its first physical flagship store. Which means that aside from those in the wine dispenser, there a lot more other wines lining the shelves in its retail space of which you can avail yourself. Simply pay a $30 corkage fee to consume it at your table.
As for food, Vin Geek offers a safe, tapas-style menu curated to work well with wine. Think the likes of Crab Cake and Jamon Ham Croquettes for when you’re feeling peckish, or pastas like Carbonara and Vongole if you need a bigger meal. If you are truly hungry? There’s a seared Ribeye on the menu for sharing, but nobody ever said you had to share.
On the way out, be sure to drop in on the burgeoning retail corner packed with all kinds of epicurean treats. From canned seafood products from sustainable producer Scout and Italian truffles from Savini Tartufi, to delectable cheeses such as French Brie de Meaux and Ticklemore from Britain and a range of other condiments from around the world, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Vin Geek
Address 9 Scotts Rd, Pacific Plaza #01-04/05/06/07, Singapore 228210 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 11.30am to 10pm daily
Tel (65) 6334 1622
Web www.vingeek.sg
Facebook vingeeksg
Instagram @vingeeksg
