WINE BAR RENAISSANCE

New bars add to the tippling scene in Singapore

- Tan Hsueh Yun

In case people think cocktail culture has taken over the Singapore tippling scene, wine bars have been popping up of late.

Big Wine Freaks in Bukit Pasoh, Vitis in Fraser Street and Vivino at Raffles City are the latest to open. Year-old Convivial, Singapore's first champagne bar, is holding its own.

Places to enjoy a glass or bottle of wine abound in Singapore. This latest crop of wine bars, however, is trying to set itself apart by focusing. They each have a mission.

FROM APP TO REAL WORLD, SEAMLESSLY

Vivino Wine Shop Where: 01-44B Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road Open: 10am to 10pm daily (retail shop); 11.30am to 10pm daily (wine bar) WhatsApp: [phone] Info: vivinowineshop.​com

Wine app Vivino used to exist only online. Users more than 70 million of them around the world - get access to a vast database of ratings, reviews and food matches by using it to scan a wine label.

Now, it has a bricks-andmortar store and wine bar, its first in the world, in Singapore.

It opened in September, offering over 150 labels for sale.

Prices start at $35 for a bottle of La Tordera Saomi Prosecco Treviso N.V., which is now selling at a promotional price of $19.90. It is rated four out of five on the app. The priciest bottle is one with a 4.8 rating - 2018 Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard Napa Valley, which costs $555.

Newbies can key in their preferences at the Vivino Recommends kiosks, which throw up suggestions for wines and guide shoppers to find these in the store

At the 25-seat wine bar, wines are available by the glass, with prices starting at $8. The rotating selection can be had by the bottle. Customers also have the option of buying a bottle at the store and having it at the wine bar for a $20 service fee. Tapas, including Gourmet Loaded Nachos and Baked Brie with Honeyed Nuts, are priced at $12 each, or $33 for three.