A cosy innercity refuge for those who take their wine seriously.
Wine lovers will already be familiar with Culture, the wine bar on Bree Street alongside chef Matt Manning’s Grub & Vine bistro. But if you’re truly, madly, deeply in love with wine culture, then it’s The Wine Library member’s club upstairs you need to explore. “It’s something out of the ordinary,” says Matt, “with community at its heart.”
Urban wine hub
The Wine Library has been designed as a members’ club and lounge, where oenophiles can steal away to enjoy their favourite bottles and discover new ones, meet fellow wine lovers and host guests. It boasts a custom-designed, state-of-the-art, walk-in cellar – the Wine Archives – where members can store their wines in optimum conditions, to access whenever they want to.
Decorated in earth tones, wood and leather furniture and African design accents, it’s a smart yet welcoming and relaxed space, with cosy lounge areas to relax and socialise in, and long tables set up for remote working, meetings and networking (with fast fibre). The Wine Library has its own private bar and a food and beverage menu, courtesy of the bistro kitchens.
Showcase your wines
Aimed at connoisseurs, professionals and members of the wine trade and wine route collectives, The Wine Library is an ideal space to host private tasting sessions and events, and to make wines available to fellow members by listing them on the Wine Library Reserve List. It’s a great marketing opportunity, too, as this menu is also available to the public at Culture Wine Bar downstairs and online.
Join the club
There are four types of membership suited to different needs:
- Culture Cru Aimed at Culture-goers seeking a wine lovers’ community, this grants members access to The Wine Library’s lounge, bar and co-working space, discounts at Culture, a complimentary seat at weekly Vine Night tastings. In addition you receive a two-pack of wines hand-picked by Culture’s sommeliers each month, delivered to your door. Plus there are quarterly membership surprise spoils.
- Trade For wine-industry insiders, this membership gives you access to the Wine Archives (storage of up to six different wines, 36 bottles, per member to use for tastings and events). These wines can also be sold on the Wine Library Reserve List at Culture Wine Bar. You have the use of The Wine Library to host private events (two per month) in addition to daily access to the lounge and co-working space, where you can sign in three guests to join you. There’s a 10% discount at Culture Wine Bar and Grub & Vine. And zero corkage fees when you enjoy your own wines with a meal (the only catch, you must gift one bottle to the chef).
- The Wine Route Aimed at wine route associations of producers, this annual collective membership provides for one event per annum at Culture to showcase the region’s wines, plus one ticketed Culture Club tutored tasting per annum in partnership with the wine route. Each month the collective can put forward two tasting flights (of 4 wines each) to be listed in the Wine Library Reserve List (with promotion on Culture socials). Members can use The Wine Library for work meetings, tastings and socialising. And there are zero corkage fees when you enjoy your own wines with a meal (gift one bottle to the chef and everyone’s happy).
- Grand Cru The premium annual membership option is for wine connoisseurs who want a place to share their love of wine with like-minded people. Store 48 bottles in the Archives, get a complimentary seat each month at a Culture Club event of your choice, and join Matt Manning and fellow members at the quarterly Grand Cru 5-course dinners paired with top-notch wines. Use the Wine Library for work, meetings, tastings and socialising, and sign in up to five guests to join you. You also get a 10% discount at Culture Wine Bar and Grub & Vine. And there are zero corkage fees when you enjoy your own wines with a meal (again, one bottle goes to the chef).
For anyone who loves wine, for work and/or pleasure, head to this welcoming hub in the heart of the city.
Good to know The loyalty card discounts do not apply to “Wanderlist” wine or promotions. Attendance at events is subject to availability.
Cost Culture Cru: R550 per month
Trade: R1 750 per month
Wine Route: R18 500 per annum
Grand Cru: R19 500 per annum
Opening hours Monday – Saturday, 9am – 11pm
Contact 021 216 0035 winelibrary@culturewinebar.com
Where to find it Culture Wine Bar, 103 Bree Street, Cape Town
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