Discover European Wine in Spring St Melbourne

161 Spring St  - the address of wonderful venues for any wine lover.  Three great venues to experience both Melbourne and Europe.  Situated opposite Parliament House  its one of DiscoverVin’s favourite places to visit when in Melbourne.

DiscoverVin popped into The City Wine Shop after a day of meetings in Melbourne on a recent Friday.   It was “very Melbourne”.  Men in suits, women dressed in stylish black.  Some having a coffee at the bar or at the alfresco tables, but many enjoying a class or two of wine.

The brief wine list presented a well-balanced range of wines from Victoria, Australia and Europe. Trimbach Riesling from Alsace was at the top of the list and I needed to go no further. Crisp and dry with lemon and lime acidity, zest and persistence.  With purity and freshness it was the perfect after work drink.  DiscoverVin had no problems recommending it to the person sitting next to me at the bar when he expressed his hesitation regarding Alsace Rieslings. With citrusy dryness and a flinty finish it was almost like a crisp Polish Valley Riesling.

While enjoying the Riesling I was able to contemplate the wall of wine bottles.  Arranged by variety, European and Australian wines are in racks to the ceiling.

With focussed searching I was able to locate The Domaine de Crampilh Madiran Tannat, imported by DiscoverVin amongst a range of “other” Reds.

The staff were friendly, welcoming and informed.  Happy to discuss wine and busy assisting customers decide on a bottle to take home for dinner or what to try at the bar with something  tempting from the round the clock bar menu.

I was wishing I had time to eat downstairs at the common table or to follow those heading up stairs to enjoy a wine at “The Melbourne Supper Club” or to move next door for dinner at “The European”.  The menu was enticing - Another time.  The European’s wine list of only European wines, offers serious temptations.  The DiscoverVin team are proud our Monbazillac and Madiran have found a home on the list. 

Discover Chateau Moulin Pey Labrie at Our Favourite Wine Bar

Bar a Vin- formally named CIVB Wine Bar, in Bordeaux must be one of the best wine bars in France, maybe even the world. It is definitely the favourite place the DiscoverVin team.


On our last visit we were excited see Chateau Moulin Pey Labrie on their wine list. DiscoverVin have established a warm and professional relationship with the Hubau family of Chateau Moulin Pey Labrie and import their wines into Australia.
What, you ask, is the CIVB? In French, le Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, basically The Bordeaux Wine Council. They offer wine classes, tours and through Bar A Vin a place to sample, enjoy and learn about the wonderful wines of Bordeaux.


The wine list is very select and changes frequently. A few whites, a few reds, some dessert wines - ranging in price from 2 Euro to 8 Euro per glass, providing an entree into the exciting world of Bordeaux wine.


Cards like the one above are there to help educate visitors about the diversity of Bordeaux wines, and offer a space for notes. Describing the 2006 Moulin Pey Labrie you could jot down words similar to those on our website.
Lovely purple colour. Red fruit and plums on the nose. Palate is soft, round in the mouth with minerals and fine chalky tannins. Great balance and length. Delicious, classy merlot!


With both outdoor and indoor seating you can sample the Moulin Pey Labrie Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend with an accompanying cheese plate as you sit looking out to the Grand Theatre and the rich street life of the Allée Tourny. The Bordeaux trams rattle by as cyclists and pedestrians make great street theatre.
Inside you can sit under a wall sized stained glass window of Bacchus or near a wall of bottles - all Bordeaux, on comfortable lounges and banquettes. Further inside you can meet friends in the dining space with tables or the bar, once again eating something small from the tempting menu. While deciding on a glass of the Moulin Pey Labrie, from St Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac category on the wine list as opposed to one from the other area you can admire the glorious flower arrangements on the bar and nearby sidetables.


So French - so beautiful, and you are drinking fabulous wine at the same time. No wonder DiscoverVin adore it.


Now you don't have to fly to Bordeaux to taste it. You can get some right here.