Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Wine, Divine By Jigs Arquiza
“WINE is a celebration of life.” Thus declares Jericho Sungahid, proprietor of d’Vine, a wine bar and deli shop down Salinas Drive, a stone’s throw from the I.T. Park. “Drunk in moderation, it’s good for the health.
Drinking wine also uplifts one’s spirits.” he elaborates. “The establishment was named so as a play on words,” Jericho, or Jake as he prefers to be called, explains, “I wanted our name to sound like ‘divine’, because I think wine is a gift from God.” He goes on, “Besides, wine comes from grapes, and grapes come from vines, so there you go.”
Cozy and welcoming, d’Vine caters not only to wine enthusiasts but also to beer and liquor drinkers as well as those wanting to learn more about wines.
More often than not, Jake can be found behind the bar, on hand to advise wine newbies on what wine to purchase. “Of course, I do my best to give value for money. I don’t sell customers the most expensive wine in here and leave it at that. I try to give my customers the most bang for the buck.” Jake says with a smile. At least 35 varieties of wine are available at d’Vine at any given time, although Jake recommends the Chilean J.Bouchon, Australian Beelgara and the Sylvain Fessy from France.
Food choices include a cheese and fruit platter, Hungarian sausages and a selection of sandwiches served with potato chips.
Beef tapa is also available, served with pinakurat, a highly-spiced type of vinegar. D’Vine’s chicken barbecue with java rice is definitely a must-try, especially for those transplanted Manileños longing for a taste of that famous restaurant by Manila Bay.
Subdued lighting provides customers with an intimate setting, perfect for couples wanting to avoid the boisterous environment most bars offer. D’Vine also provides an excellent venue for those wishing to unwind after a tiring day at the office. The veranda in front provides additional seating and acts as a smoking area as well.
Music is no issue as far as Jake is concerned. “We have songs from ABC all the way to ZZ Top.” Jake boasts, “If we don’t have it right now, most probably, we’ll have it the next time you come here.” Customers are also encouraged to bring their own CDs, mp3 players and iPods so Jake can rip the songs onto the store’s hard drive and create playlists for individual customers, something most establishments do not practice.
Most noteworthy about d’Vine, though, is the humanitarian aspect of the business. Part of d’Vine’s earnings are donated to the less fortunate, adding even more meaning to the establishment’s name. With this as part of their policy, chilling at d’Vine is definitely a win-win situation. Not only would customers have a great time, they would also be able to contribute to a very good cause.
A paradox, most people would describe it: a hangout masquerading as a charitable institution, or vice-versa? Whatever the case may be, one thing you can be sure of: at d’Vine, you have the makings of a divine experience.
