Imagine a place where you can sip Domaine de la Romanée-Conti without having to sell a kidney. No, you're not dreaming – you've just stumbled into Circl, Melbourne's new wine house that's determined to democratise fancy wine for the masses. A middle finger to wine snobbery, if you will. Here, even the most clueless cork dorks can feel like sommeliers.
Tucked away in a double-storey building on Punch Lane, Circl is the brainchild of a bunch of mates with a shared grape obsession. Award-winning head sommelier and venue manager Xavier Vigier, formerly of Ten Minutes by Tractor, has curated an impressive 150+ by-the-glass list (gotta catch ‘em all), and a 1,500-bottle selection that reads like War and Peace – if Tolstoy was really into niche wines.
"We want to bring our guests wines they've never heard of before. There's a new market and audience in wine that we're very much conscious of,” says Vigier. “We will challenge the status quo by offering rare and allocated wines by the glass to allow anyone the chance to try wines they otherwise wouldn't be able to reach. It also provides the chance to have a glass rather than committing to the full bottle.”
This ethos extends to their weekly release of an "extremely rare bottle" spanning Australian and international vineyards, limited to 75ml per person. If you’ve ever wanted to sip on the likes of Coche Dury, Roulot, or DRC, but on a Fruity Lexia budget, your prayers have been answered. Okay look, that’s a bit of an exaggeration; the big names will still set you back a bit per glass – but hey, it’s better than having to fork out for the full bottle.
But it's not all about wine. Executive Chef Elias Salomonsson is dishing up Euro-inspired fare with a Swedish twist. Think caviar on crumpets, goat cheese eclairs, and smoked eel tarts. On the mains front, highlights include Blackmore Wagyu tri-tip steak with mountain pepper Café de Paris butter and Loddon Estate duck with Davidson plum BBQ sauce.
“Ultimately, we want to be known for our flexible, accessible and enjoyable food offering that delivers our ‘circle’ philosophy – creating memorable food and wine experiences together with family and friends, for any number of occasions,” says Salomonsson.
The interior, courtesy of March Studio, whispers sophistication. Polished concrete floors and red leather seats create a moody vibe, while the upstairs wine cellar behind glass walls is the perfect marriage of form and function, aesthetically playing home to thousands of bottles. Circl also boasts one of Australia's biggest Champagne selections, if you're celebrating a special occasion or just simply in the mood for some bubbles.
Circl is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 6pm till late. They also offer lunch service on Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 3pm. Bookings are available through their website, but walk-ins are welcome if you’re feeling lucky.