Broaden your wine horizons – sans the snobbery.
Climb the stairs from street level and enter a marvellous world of wine… You’ve arrived at Culture Wine Bar, a sophisticated drinking hole on Bree Street, stocked with the finest South African and international wines, including rare gems and cult classics.
Says owner Matt Manning: “It doesn’t matter if you’re ordering an entry level rosé or a R20,000 grand cru, as long as you like wine, you can feel at home in the space.” A hub for wine lovers on any day of the week, Culture is also known for wildly popular events.
Everyone’s welcome
Whether you’re unwinding with friends over a glass or two, or you’re here to try something new, learn more about wine and engage with the sommelier and other fundis, Culture’s approachable vibe (and a small menu of snacky bites from the bistro kitchen) makes it an obvious (and popular) choice.
The moody interiors reflect Matt’s vision of creating “a warm and welcoming space that’s contemporary and also timeless”. Think marble countertops and leather booths, wooden floors, high-beamed ceilings, and an exposed brick wall that runs down one side of the space. Grab the window seat for the best views over Bree Street.
A world-class winelist
With a focus on championing local winemakers, Matt and sommelier Keize Mumba have built an impressive winelist that won Culture the Grand Prix award at the 2023 Star Wine List South Africa competition, as well as two further gold stars.
“At Culture it’s not just South African wine. We put international wines on the same table at a fair price, so it’s attainable to taste a South African Cap Classique alongside a French champagne,” says Matt. “We offer 35 international wines by the glass and 40 local wines, so you can taste them together and get a grasp of just how good our wines really are.”
Bar snacks
The short bar menu shares the same ethos as next door Grub & Vine: good honest food designed for relaxed eating with a glass of wine. Think posh pies (braised short rib), steak and triple fried chips, bangers and mash, mac and cheese croquettes, fishcakes, then charcuterie and cheese platters with cured meats from Richard Bosman and cheeses from small local producers.
“The marriage between food and wine is as old as time itself,” says Matt. “As a chef, I believe that you cannot separate one from the other, which is why all our offerings housed at our 103 Bree Street destination – Culture, Grub & Vine, the Blue Room and the Chef’s Studio – retain a focus on both.”
Good to know Matt is opening a second Culture Wine Bar at Time Out Market, which opens at the V&A Waterfront in November 2023
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
Contact details021 216 0035, wine@culturewinebar.com
Address 103 Bree Street, Cape Town
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