Jacques wine bar, Ruthin

HERE is something very appealing about simple wooden interiors, which make me want to put down my coat, grab a pew and glug down a refreshing glass of wine.

- MARK WILLIAMS

A rustic table and a wine rack, visible from outside, was proving difficult to resist, especially as the sun was shining on a warm Ruthin evening.

In the '70s, wine bars emerged as a concept, often seen as a more relaxed and sophisticated alternative to traditional, male-dominated pubs. But what makes a good wine bar now? Well, there’s the wine, for starters.

Jacques offers a vast selection of classic reds from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Or you can sip a white wine from the Loire Valley region, or a fizzy rose from Provence.

The bar was absolutely heaving with bottles of the stuff, along with sparkling Champagne and a host of Belgian and other European beers.

The atmosphere was relaxed; the lights dim with soft jazz playing in the background, and paintings of French streets on the wall with peacock art cushions on the pews.

We were sat on mismatched paint-splattered chairs, which gave off a shabby, chic vibe, and noticed a small roof terrace upstairs, where a few people were chatting and taking advantage of the good weather.