Words: Lucy Sarah O’Connell | Images: Supplied
If you haven’t yet made a booking at Joburg’s newest wine bar, you’ll want to make sure you do so right away. Owned by Walter Melato, Le Wine Chambre combines sophistication and accessibility. With a prime location in the heart of Illovo, it’s perfect for a romantic evening meal, a few drinks after work or just a glass of vino on a Sunday afternoon. We sat down with Walter to chat about this beautiful tribute to the fruit of the vine.
What does Le Wine Chambre mean?
Translated into French, it roughly means “the wine room” or “the wine house”, and that’s the exact feeling that we wanted to translate into this space. Here, we’re all about wine, but we also have an amazing culinary team on hand to complete the experience for you.
And what inspired you to open it?
If you open a bottle store, you sell what people like to drink. But I believe that if you open a small wine bar, like Le Wine Chambre, you can change people’s opinions on what they like. If it’s good quality, is priced right and has a great ambience, then people will be open to trying new things and experiencing new drinks. I wanted to create the kind of place where people can sit at a table and feel like they can lean over to a stranger at the next table and ask them how they’re enjoying their wine, and I think we’ve been able to do that here. Wine is sociable and I love imparting knowledge on just how wonderful it can be.
What’s your advice for starting your own wine collection?
People like to keep their wine in the kitchen, but that’s really the worst place to keep your wine because the temperate goes up and down there. Heat can ruin a great bottle of wine. So it’s really better to keep your wine somewhere temperature-controlled. Look for spaces in your house that won’t be affected by sun or heat – like the space under a staircase.
For more information on Le Wine Chambre, phone 011 268 5886 or visit the website.
