Wine & Spirits
Private wine clubs entice enthusiasts with a sumptuous setting for sipping their favorites.
If you have ever been on a long layover in an unfamiliar city or just wanted a place to relax and unwind over a glass or two but didn’t have any intel on great wine bars, a smattering of luxe locations in Europe (and now the United States) can fulfill your oenophile fantasies.
WINEBANK is a collection of membership-based wine clubs launched in 2008 by founder Christian Ress, who also co-owns Balthasar Ress wine estate in Germany’s Rheingau region. At the core of its concept are swanky lounges and vaults with temperature-controlled lockers where members and their guests can store and sip bottles and magnums sans corkage fee while sinking into sumptuous seating. Those who join winebank enjoy reciprocity with every other location; currently there are eight locations in Germany and Austria including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Vienna and Baden, with four more planned for the next year.
Last summer the company launched its first stateside location, winelair, in Washington, D.C.’S West End neighborhood, a 20-minute ride from Reagan National Airport and a 45-minute ride from Dulles International Airport. The staffed, 5,500-square-foot lounge has 358 storage lockers in a vaulted space, as well as self-serve niceties like wine glasses, coolers, decanters and mineral water. Seating options include tufted green leather banquettes and armchairs, high-top tables and private dining rooms.
And if your locker is all out of, say, red Burgundy, or you have a penchant for bourbon that evening, you can order a selection of spirits or wines from the full-service bar, focused on old-world and California selections like the 2010 Jeanmichel Guillon Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Champonnets” and Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare
Port Ellen, an incredibly rare Islay single malt from a defunct distillery.
WINELAIR partnered with renowned chef Ris Lacoste, owner, RIS, to offer a selection of menu items, and there are also cheese and charcuterie boards on which to nibble.
“WINELAIR is the perfect location to host guests, have meetings and show off the gems in your wine collection,” said partner Ron Wight. “Ship them to us and we’ll stock your locker, or tell us what you’d like in your locker and we’ll stock it for you.” Monthly programming in D.C., including master classes, tastings and winemaker dinners, will soon be joined by trips to global wine regions. The next location of winelair is planned for Austin, Texas. In the meantime, members stepping into the D.C. locale can sip their way around the world via their locker and then retire to a room next door at The Ritz-carlton.
Membership to winelair starts at $500 a month, with a $5,000 initiation fee, and includes one locker, three private member’s cards and six guest access passes.