Splash Wine Lounge
Splash Wine Lounge
By Kaitlyn O’Riordan
Have you ever stood in the aisles of your local liquor store, your mind boggling at the choices of wine before you, determined to make the perfect selection? You consider everything: pays du origen, acidity, fruitiness, or simply which has the sexiest label? I have. I often leave feeling like a child who has been picked last for a team in softball – defeated, embarrassed and confused. And I almost always end up purchasing the same bottle or brand of wine that I had the previous time.
There must be an easier way.
Enter Splash, North Park’s one-of-a-kind self-serve wine bar, dedicated to making the world of wine completely approachable to even the most novice consumer. Through the technology of self-dispensing wine machines from Italy, Splash provides customers with the opportunity to explore and expand their palate through tastings from a select offering of 72 international flavors.
Here’s how it works: First, head to the bar and purchase a tasting card. Decide the dollar amount you want to purchase, and pay. Grab a glass and go. Each pour, or “splash,” is one ounce and costs anywhere from 99 cents to $10.
I entered Splash late one Monday evening, joined by two girlfriends, on a mission to boost my knowledge and delve into the rarified world of red wine. Traditionally a white wine aficionado, I decided that Splash would serve as an idyllic location to investigate foreign territory. I restricted myself to samples of only reds, diving in headfirst and occupying the role of red wine scholar for the evening.
Three wine-dispensing machines line the center of the room, with the least expensive in the front, leading progressively to the most expensive right before the bar. Chilled white wines line the back wall. The selections change regularly, and new offerings can be anticipated with each visit. Splash also offers wine by the glass and bottle.
Owner Traci Smith first saw the self-dispensing machines in a restaurant in Florida and loved the idea. After seeing that San Diego had nothing like it, Smith brought the $10,000 handmade Italian machines to the North Park neighborhood last December. She is still the only local drinking establishment with such technology.
I began my edification with a $15 pre-paid card at the first machine, where all splashes were $1.60 or less. Argentina was my destination – the 2007 Elsa Bonarda – a medium to full bodied vino with floral and strawberry aromas.
Splash’s plush leather sofas are part of the wine bar’s warm and inviting ambience. Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland tracks echoed softly off the brick walls and coffee-colored ceilings. Oil on canvas paintings of fruits, vegetables and foliage decorate the room; they were for sale, too. The setting is cozy, ideal for romance or just conversation with friends. They even have board games like Bunco and Yahtzee to play as you imbibe.
After splash numero uno, I decided on a California native grape from Ballentine Vineyards in Napa. The 2006 Old Vines Zinfandel maintained a balanced flavor and tasted of red apples and fruits.
My third taste was the 2006 Simon Hackett Old Vine, winner of an “Editor’s Choice” rating from Wine Enthusiast with a score of 90 points. I indulged in three splashes after my initial experience of the luscious blend of flavors.
As 9 p.m. neared (Splash’s closing time on Mondays), I began to feel sad that my global wine tour was ending. Traci stopped by our table to ensure we had enjoyed our evening. She surprised us with the remains of a bottle of Chateau Liot, a white Bordeaux dessert wine. and we gladly accepted. She also explained that the wine debit cards are good for one year, so if any money is left you can just bring it back the next time. You can also donate the remaining value of your card to Splash’s selected monthly charity. How fantastic!
Splash Wine Lounge is a special addition to North Park’s ever-growing social scene, offering a matchless wine bar experience. Splash brings you tastes of a variety of wines that may otherwise be outside your budget, making it possible for both fervent oenophiles and eager wine apprentices to indulge in multiple samples before selecting a bottle to take home.
Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur, or just beginning your exploration, take the plunge into new wine territories at Splash Wine Lounge.
