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Say "hello" to Joburg’s debonair new wine bar, Le Vin Wine Bar. It’s a welcome addition to the Rosebank social scene, with the sweet sounds of R&B, soul, and Motown, played only on vinyl, underscoring the refined atmosphere. Le Vin Wine Bar is cool without pretension. It’s also not easy to find.
Tucked away down a concealed passageway, behind a gate, at the end of a parking lot, it’s Joburg's best-kept secret – but the secret part is more a factor of location.
We shared a glass or two with owner Neo Mohlala, and relished in the story of how this unique place came to be.
Seated at a plush table adjacent to an impressive collection of vinyl, wine glasses charged, we toast, and Mohlala promptly but casually unravels his fascinating journey from software engineer to wine bar owner. He tells us, “I worked for a lot of large corporates, predominantly in Joburg. Then I moved to Cape Town where I did some work for Sanlam, and the Foschini Group, as an IT Exec.” He laughs and adds, “Cape Town is an interesting and cliquey place.”
Mohlala had moved to the idyllic, but slightly sleepy village of Hout Bay. He was keen to develop new relationships and friendships but fell short locally, and found himself frequenting the Cape Winelands. He expands, “I’ve always been a wine drinker. I started spending more time visiting various wine farms and I developed a close circle of friendships there, predominantly in Stellenbosch.” Before he knew it he had his own clique; an exclusive community that was all about wine. He got to attend all the private events, tasting a different farm every Monday. “Only people in the industry get invited and when you get there, they open their best bottle, things you don’t see on the shelves, non-commercial stuff,” he explains.
His wine knowledge expanded, his palate matured and now, as an insider, he was given the opportunity to buy rare and unique bottles not available to the public. Mohlala smiles and adds, “It's expensive on a regular basis.”
On returning to Joburg he became frustrated by restaurant selections, especially those offered by the glass, as they were mostly made up of lower-end ‘table wines’. So he started a wine club for his friends where he’d showcase a selection of lesser-known wines, develop them into a package, and sell them. It enabled him to expand his own collection and get something back for his efforts. He then began partnering with distribution agencies like MR D Food and Uber Eats, delivering boutique wines to a larger Joburg audience. Before he knew it, he had a cult following.
People were constantly asking him to host wine tastings which he did at different venues across Johannesburg, but it was costly as every restaurant wanted an upfront fee. The solution? Open his own venue.
And that's the story of Le Vin Wine Bar, where every bottle is available by the glass, and where there's no menu, just an inviting display of wines that you’re encouraged to peruse with a talented team of sommeliers at the ready to answer any and all questions. It’s a space focused on transforming the exclusive world of high-end wines into an inclusive experience. Because let’s be honest, it’s daunting ordering a R800 bottle of wine when you have no idea what it’s like. It's the reason most of us stick with what we know. And, as Mohlala reminds us, “Sometimes it’s not about the price. Even if it’s a R2000 bottle, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be good.”
Mohlala has created an exciting space where you can come and enjoy, experiment with, or simply quaff a good glass of wine. A wine bar where everyone’s welcome, and there are no stupid questions. Mohlala hands us an interesting bottle, a Rhône-style red blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Marsanne, and Syrah, and asks us where we think it’s from. We have no idea. He smiles and tells us it’s from Simonsig. We'd never heard of it, and it's not one of Simonsig's flagships, but rather one of their lesser-known blends. And that’s what Le Vin Wine Bar is about: breaking down preconceptions about wine farms, and what we think we know.
We scan through the display, most wines are between R100 to R300 a glass, with a good selection of imported varietals from France, Chile, and Spain. In his words, “Most people don’t have the privilege of tasting international wines. Where do you get to start? You start here.”
We ask about the the spectacular wall of vinyl records that frame the space, and he explains that the marriage of wine and vinyl made sense for his offering. “For us music became the differentiator… the quality of music.” Mohlala tells us about his love for Michael Jackson, and pulls out some of his early records, the likes of which you're unlikely to find elsewhere. You'll also find Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin... the list goes on. The team is well-versed on the music library, but patrons are also invited to browse and pick something to play themselves. The vinyl wall is Mohlala's own art installation, one that patrons can marvel at, peruse, or interact with.
Food is not the focus at Le Vin, which draws an after-dinner crowd. That said, there is a selection of sushi on offer for those feeling peckish between sips. Mohlala tells us that people come for one glass or several, later at night, and that’s what sets them apart. He nods and affirms, “If you love wine and great music, then this is your spot.”
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