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Sip to your heart’s content
When you drive along busy Jalan Sultan Iskandar in Ipoh during the day, you may miss a little place set amidst your normal,daily retail outlets.
But, if you are a lover of good wine and tasty snacks and want a cosy place to wind down and catch up with friends, wait until the lights come on at night and you will find the place.
Only about five months old, TL Wine Shop caters to the growing breed of wine connoisseurs in Ipoh.
The shop was set up by three friends to offer fine beverages to the discerning palate.
“Many people will assume that to get good wine, one has to make a trip to Penang or Kuala Lumpur. We want to let people know thatIpoh boleh and that we have good wine at our doorstep,” said Tang, one of the partners.
Spoilt for choice:A wide range of liqueur and malt whiskey.
Surprisingly, he said that the wine market in Ipoh was relatively mature and there was a growing awareness and acceptance of wine as a whole.
“People are starting to enjoy wine more and learning to appreciate the finer aspects of wine and wine-drinking,” he said, adding that patrons ranged from young working professionals to the more mature business people.
“We have quite a number of wine connoisseurs who get together on a regular basis here for a good drink and some tasty bites,” he said.
One would not normally expect to find such a wine retail/bar/snack shop in the busy heart of the city.
Tang said that they wanted a more relaxed but easily accessible place in the heart of the city.
“To get from New Town Ipoh to Ipoh Old Town, you need to pass us,” he said, adding that the shop could also pass on the savings from the low rental to customers, making the experience more affordable to many.
TL Wine Shop offers wine to cater to every taste and budget, with prices ranging from RM40 to more than RM1,000 per bottle nett. The outlet absorbs government tax and service charges.
It also takes pride in the personalised service offered to customers. As guests relax in the warm glow of sexy lighting and comfortable cushions, their wine will be served in cultured style.
Tang said that using the correct glasses for different wine was vital in savouring the full richness of the wine experience.
“Served properly, wine tastes even better and when matched correctly with food, can enhance each dining experience,” he said.
From Tuesdays to Sundays, this wine outlet offers special theme nights, such as the Girls’ Night Out on Wednesdays and special discount night on Sundays.
It also accepts group bookings and caters for private functions. The shop takes a rest on Mondays.
To expose more Ipoh folk to wine, TL Wine Shop has plans to hold wine tasting sessions.
It also plans to expand its wine and drinks list to include fine liqueur and single malt whiskey to add to the present repertoire of wine from more than 250 labels and imported beer.
Meanwhile, those who want to learn more about wine, the storing and the making of it, the drinking and the savouring of it, and interestingly, how not to “cook” your wine (we are not talking here about using wine for cooking?), stop by TL Wine Shop. You will be pleasantly surprised.
It also caters for private functions.