DRINK > V Wine Salon, Melbourne

V Wine Salon is located in the slightly unlikely West End of Melbourne’s CBD. For those who are less familiar with region it is close to the Southern Cross Train Station which tends to make it an area less obvious as a destination for fine dining or fine wine-ing. But that said it works and that has a huge amount to do with the co-founder Vianney Establet.

Vianney is a huge personality with a depth of wine experience, he was born in Bordeaux into a wine making family that goes back five generations. As a sommelier he has worked in fine restaurants all over the world but his first venture in Australia was V Wine Salon which launched initially in Abbotsford but has since moved into the city and with it he gained a partner Valentine Kuz. Valentine’s family is also from France and comes from Champagne and Provence so between the two of them they have a wonderful knowledge of French wines.

That said I have drunk some wonderful and eclectic wines from around the world at V Wine Salon, most recently it was a Bordeaux blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that was made in Syria (The Bargylus Grand Vin De Syrie – click to read the review). That summarises this place it is the historic ‘Donkey Wheel House’ on Bourke Street a beautiful building. As you walk in past the record player and vinyl, (with the amazing natural reclaimed Tasmanian Myrtle long slab table), you will probably feel that this place is a very nice place to settle in and enjoy a fine glass of wine and maybe some cheese and a few nice French nibbles.

It is a place for drinks with friends or colleagues, after work or before the football and even if wine is not your thing they have some nice craft beer and good range of spirits and cocktails.

Image Credit | V Wine Salon (click on an image to view the lightbox)