Ottawa Foodies
Connecting you to Ottawa's best food
Foods from DiVino Wine Studio
Reviews
Sign in to add a commentShowing comments 1 to 5
Aug 8
Marno - Interesting about the "pre-paid" card for the Enomatic wine dispenser, I was unaware there was a "Service Charge" for this card. But I suppose it makes sense considering that the idea is that one can walk in (supposedly aimed at locals), pour a glass and sit and read a book etc. The "Service Charge" must be in someway the compensation for the fact that self-serve would otherwise leave the wine bar without a tip... although lets face it if you "serve yourself" one isn't technically receiving service (so why tip). But then again, one does occupy a seat.
Aug 7
We have been to DiVino twice now. Once for some small plates and wine; the other time, for a wine tasting. Our overall conclusion is that its extremely overpriced for the Ottawa market. Don't get me wrong -- I am from Chicago, and have lived in NY and London, and my husband is from Toronto, so we are accustomed to paying insane amounts of money for the right experience. DiVino does not live up.
In short, lovely space. Wine machine is cool, but beware that if you get a wine debit card to use in the machine, there is a $5 fee just for the card -- and -- it doesn't go toward the wine. So, I asked for a $20 card (0h, foolish me, thinking that would pay for 1.5-2 glasses of wine). The bill was $28.75-ish. $20 card, $5 card purchase fee, $3.75-ish tax.
When I inserted the card, I was given a spending value of $20. I then realized that this got me a 3 oz. pour (literally, by the measurement) of an amarone. Woo hoo. I guess okay in the 3 sips I had, but for $28.75, not that great.
Other time I went we had some food, which was good but some element of it was just "okay", as in, blander or less authentic or well-executed than expected. Anyhow, we could have lived (sort of) with paying $12-$15 for every sharing plate of a few noodles or bites, but the wine list, definitely favoured high-end priced wines -- there were a few $30-$50 wine, which we of course were very quickly steered away from. On top of that, the sommelier is a very nice, but incredibly obnoxious/cheesy/annoying person who feels a strong desire to inordinately push wines on you until you feel you must just say yes so that he'll leave. Also annoying was that he gave us the option of selecting food, and he'd select the wine, or vice versa. I told him I'd prefer to select both, to which I got a roll of the eyes, followed by a sad face, followed by a weak "You really should consider what I recommmend". Anyhow, bill that dinner was $190 for 2, which included 5 shared "small plates", a bottle of montepulciano (apparently a "cheaper" bottle in the cellar, and an odd bread plate that came at the end of the meal, and was clearly destined for the beginning of the meal.
Would I go back? The wine prices are not in line with what most Ottawans are willing to pay (particularly given the stark, half-casual atmosphere and less-than-stellar service), so with an expense account colleague, perhaps. On my own, never, ever again. I can spend $190 on far greater things than pasta small plates and some olives/cheeses/charcuterie. And if I'm going to spend close to $29 on 3oz. of wine, it had better be fantastic and well-poured (the wine machine shot it out of a spigot, resulting an an unbecoming 1/2 inch of purpleish foam atop the pour).
In short, lovely space. Wine machine is cool, but beware that if you get a wine debit card to use in the machine, there is a $5 fee just for the card -- and -- it doesn't go toward the wine. So, I asked for a $20 card (0h, foolish me, thinking that would pay for 1.5-2 glasses of wine). The bill was $28.75-ish. $20 card, $5 card purchase fee, $3.75-ish tax.
When I inserted the card, I was given a spending value of $20. I then realized that this got me a 3 oz. pour (literally, by the measurement) of an amarone. Woo hoo. I guess okay in the 3 sips I had, but for $28.75, not that great.
Other time I went we had some food, which was good but some element of it was just "okay", as in, blander or less authentic or well-executed than expected. Anyhow, we could have lived (sort of) with paying $12-$15 for every sharing plate of a few noodles or bites, but the wine list, definitely favoured high-end priced wines -- there were a few $30-$50 wine, which we of course were very quickly steered away from. On top of that, the sommelier is a very nice, but incredibly obnoxious/cheesy/annoying person who feels a strong desire to inordinately push wines on you until you feel you must just say yes so that he'll leave. Also annoying was that he gave us the option of selecting food, and he'd select the wine, or vice versa. I told him I'd prefer to select both, to which I got a roll of the eyes, followed by a sad face, followed by a weak "You really should consider what I recommmend". Anyhow, bill that dinner was $190 for 2, which included 5 shared "small plates", a bottle of montepulciano (apparently a "cheaper" bottle in the cellar, and an odd bread plate that came at the end of the meal, and was clearly destined for the beginning of the meal.
Would I go back? The wine prices are not in line with what most Ottawans are willing to pay (particularly given the stark, half-casual atmosphere and less-than-stellar service), so with an expense account colleague, perhaps. On my own, never, ever again. I can spend $190 on far greater things than pasta small plates and some olives/cheeses/charcuterie. And if I'm going to spend close to $29 on 3oz. of wine, it had better be fantastic and well-poured (the wine machine shot it out of a spigot, resulting an an unbecoming 1/2 inch of purpleish foam atop the pour).
May 26
“The Man” and I have been excited to try out this new spot, ever since we first read about its impending opening in the Ottawa Citizen. On Friday evening we had a dinner reservation somewhere else on Preston Street, and decided to drop in beforehand for a glass of wine, and get a feel for the place.
DiVino’s markets themselves as an Enoteca, which is the equivalent to a wine bar in Italian towns and villages. A casual place where locals gather, drink wine and chat. In that essence, DiVino’s is definitely bringing something new to the Ottawa market, as an Enoteca they will be much more than a wine bar or restaurant, they will be a touchstone to Italian culture.
There is an open kitchen, surrounded by a wrap around counter where patrons can sit and watch the action, or learn from the chef during many of their interactive dinners. There is also a smattering of tables upfront in the wine area… one wall here is a giant wine rack displaying Italian wines from all regions, the other wall features the enomatic wine dispenser. Unlike other wine bars, here at DiVino’s you can sample wines in 1 – 3 – or 5 ounce portions. There is also a Sommelier on duty who can answer your wine questions, or suggest wines to match with food, or food to match with wine (whatever your preference).
Our drop-in visit “just for a glass of wine” turned into so much more than we expected! From the friendly greeting at the door by Antonio, to the fact that while seated at the wrap around counter we were introduced to various members of the staff. Martin our Sommelier was great, we told him that unfortunately we had reservations elsewhere, and were just checking out the joint. He explained the Wine List, which featured 12 wines (4 White and 8 Red) available in the measured amounts, as well as countless bottles listed by their Region of origin. We decided to each have a 5 oz glass (and share). “The Man” chose the Umbria IGT Trescone 2006 ($ 3 - $ 7 - $ 11) while I selected the Monile Ripasso DOC Salvalai 2005 ($ 3 - $ 7 - $ 11.50). These two wines were mid-range, the most expensive wine was $ 30 a glass.
We were most impressed with the service. Having come unanounced, and dressed very casually, and not having dinner, we were still treated as if we were spending big bucks. A particularly nice touch was that Martin having noticed that we were sharing wine (switching glasses back and forth) came over with water so that we’d be able to cleanse our palates between sips. He also also suggested an appropriate small plate from the menu (in case we changed our mind about eating). Both wines were wonderful. I enjoyed my Ripasso immensely, it filled my mouth with dark berries and had no severe after taste. I found the Umbria also good, but not quite as intense… and the tannins a little more harsh IMO. “The Man” liked them both.
Although we didn’t eat, we did check out the food that was being prepared in the open kitchen in front of us. Everything looked tasty, and well presented. In addition to a variety of side plates ($ 5 - $ 14), they also have Chef’s Daily Main Specials ($ 15 and up).
Apart from the individual attention, what sets this Wine Bar apart from everything else is the variety of cultural activities offered. There are Chef’s Themed Dinners, Cooking Lessons, Olive Oil / Cheese Seminars. Most events are teamed with wine flights. In addition, they also offer Italian Language Lessons, Organized Tours of Italy, etc.
They also have a back room that doubles as a conference room that is available for rental… in fact they say on their website that the whole restaurant in one format or another is available for functions. For more info on their upcoming events see their website at www.divinowinestudio.com
All-in-all a great experience, unlike anything else I’ve encountered in Ottawa. Reminded me of the wine tutoring that I enjoy so much on my visits to Niagara vineyards. We were impressed, we will be back!
DiVino’s markets themselves as an Enoteca, which is the equivalent to a wine bar in Italian towns and villages. A casual place where locals gather, drink wine and chat. In that essence, DiVino’s is definitely bringing something new to the Ottawa market, as an Enoteca they will be much more than a wine bar or restaurant, they will be a touchstone to Italian culture.
There is an open kitchen, surrounded by a wrap around counter where patrons can sit and watch the action, or learn from the chef during many of their interactive dinners. There is also a smattering of tables upfront in the wine area… one wall here is a giant wine rack displaying Italian wines from all regions, the other wall features the enomatic wine dispenser. Unlike other wine bars, here at DiVino’s you can sample wines in 1 – 3 – or 5 ounce portions. There is also a Sommelier on duty who can answer your wine questions, or suggest wines to match with food, or food to match with wine (whatever your preference).
Our drop-in visit “just for a glass of wine” turned into so much more than we expected! From the friendly greeting at the door by Antonio, to the fact that while seated at the wrap around counter we were introduced to various members of the staff. Martin our Sommelier was great, we told him that unfortunately we had reservations elsewhere, and were just checking out the joint. He explained the Wine List, which featured 12 wines (4 White and 8 Red) available in the measured amounts, as well as countless bottles listed by their Region of origin. We decided to each have a 5 oz glass (and share). “The Man” chose the Umbria IGT Trescone 2006 ($ 3 - $ 7 - $ 11) while I selected the Monile Ripasso DOC Salvalai 2005 ($ 3 - $ 7 - $ 11.50). These two wines were mid-range, the most expensive wine was $ 30 a glass.
We were most impressed with the service. Having come unanounced, and dressed very casually, and not having dinner, we were still treated as if we were spending big bucks. A particularly nice touch was that Martin having noticed that we were sharing wine (switching glasses back and forth) came over with water so that we’d be able to cleanse our palates between sips. He also also suggested an appropriate small plate from the menu (in case we changed our mind about eating). Both wines were wonderful. I enjoyed my Ripasso immensely, it filled my mouth with dark berries and had no severe after taste. I found the Umbria also good, but not quite as intense… and the tannins a little more harsh IMO. “The Man” liked them both.
Although we didn’t eat, we did check out the food that was being prepared in the open kitchen in front of us. Everything looked tasty, and well presented. In addition to a variety of side plates ($ 5 - $ 14), they also have Chef’s Daily Main Specials ($ 15 and up).
Apart from the individual attention, what sets this Wine Bar apart from everything else is the variety of cultural activities offered. There are Chef’s Themed Dinners, Cooking Lessons, Olive Oil / Cheese Seminars. Most events are teamed with wine flights. In addition, they also offer Italian Language Lessons, Organized Tours of Italy, etc.
They also have a back room that doubles as a conference room that is available for rental… in fact they say on their website that the whole restaurant in one format or another is available for functions. For more info on their upcoming events see their website at www.divinowinestudio.com
All-in-all a great experience, unlike anything else I’ve encountered in Ottawa. Reminded me of the wine tutoring that I enjoy so much on my visits to Niagara vineyards. We were impressed, we will be back!
May 26
I finally paid a visit to DiVino Wine Bar on Saturday night in honour of my birthday. It's located next to the Sala San Marco on Preston Street. I had a reservation for our group of 7 and we were seated in the back room, which is used for their classes and seminars. They take reservations for groups of 6 or more. I admittedly know nothing about Italian wine, so I was excited to try it.
The 'bar' itself is quite new, though everyone there was very keen, knowledgeable and friendly. This is Ottawa's first Enoteca, which is the Italian name for a wine bar. I was absolutely blown away by the service, from meeting Antonio to our very friendly sommelier on duty that night, Martin. Everyone made sure we were well taken care of and were willing to answer any questions we had.
They have a selection of 12 wines sold by the glass in their 'Enomatic' - which is a machine that seals the bottles and dispenses the wine in various-sized servings. You can buy wine in 1, 3 or 5 ounce glasses. The Enomatic is also operated by cash card, which is reloadable, so if you want to stop by in the middle of the afternoon to read and sip a glass of wine, you can do so at your leisure. The wines are rotated through the Enomatic as bottles are finished, so the selection is always changing. And there are wines by the glass at various price points.
Wine is also sold by the bottle - they are listed in the wine menu (which is longer than the food menu) and are organized according to region. Again, there are various price points, from $29 a bottle to upwards of $600 a bottle.
As I mentioned earlier, there's also a sommmelier on staff to help you choose a wine based on your personal preferences and also to help you match it with your food.
The food is sold mainly in the tapas style of small appetizer plates, so that you can share or order several different ones. We started with the cheese plate, which featured two Italian cheeses and a triple crème brie from Quebec, which were accompanied by pepper crostinis. I also had the meat-stuffed olives, which were stuffed with pork and lightly deep-fried. I ordered the dessert (they have one per day) of a poached pear with a white sauce and strawberry coulis. All the food was AMAZING. The pear was perfectly poached so that it was still firm, yet soft to eat. The olives were crunchy and hot. The cheese went perfectly with a sweet white wine.
I can't gush enough about how amazingly good and wonderful DiVino is. I can't wait to go back.
The 'bar' itself is quite new, though everyone there was very keen, knowledgeable and friendly. This is Ottawa's first Enoteca, which is the Italian name for a wine bar. I was absolutely blown away by the service, from meeting Antonio to our very friendly sommelier on duty that night, Martin. Everyone made sure we were well taken care of and were willing to answer any questions we had.
They have a selection of 12 wines sold by the glass in their 'Enomatic' - which is a machine that seals the bottles and dispenses the wine in various-sized servings. You can buy wine in 1, 3 or 5 ounce glasses. The Enomatic is also operated by cash card, which is reloadable, so if you want to stop by in the middle of the afternoon to read and sip a glass of wine, you can do so at your leisure. The wines are rotated through the Enomatic as bottles are finished, so the selection is always changing. And there are wines by the glass at various price points.
Wine is also sold by the bottle - they are listed in the wine menu (which is longer than the food menu) and are organized according to region. Again, there are various price points, from $29 a bottle to upwards of $600 a bottle.
As I mentioned earlier, there's also a sommmelier on staff to help you choose a wine based on your personal preferences and also to help you match it with your food.
The food is sold mainly in the tapas style of small appetizer plates, so that you can share or order several different ones. We started with the cheese plate, which featured two Italian cheeses and a triple crème brie from Quebec, which were accompanied by pepper crostinis. I also had the meat-stuffed olives, which were stuffed with pork and lightly deep-fried. I ordered the dessert (they have one per day) of a poached pear with a white sauce and strawberry coulis. All the food was AMAZING. The pear was perfectly poached so that it was still firm, yet soft to eat. The olives were crunchy and hot. The cheese went perfectly with a sweet white wine.
I can't gush enough about how amazingly good and wonderful DiVino is. I can't wait to go back.
Wine [2]
Sign in to add a commentShowing comments 1 to 1
May 26
When it comes to wine, the first impression here is BIG… From the Big Greeting by the Host, Past the Big Wine Rack that covers one wall as you come in the front door, thru to the Big Wine List (there has to be over 200 wines by the bottle), to of course the main event, the Big Flavourful Wines that come from Italy.
Many things set this wine bar apart from others… to start with the individual attention. A Sommelier gladly helps you thru the wine list, and answers questions, and explains the differences between grapes and regions.
Another, is the Enomatic wine dispenser. This allows one to purchase wine is premeasured sizes, 1 – 3 – or 5 ounces. And as Nanoonk has stated, you can even purchase a pre-loaded cash card to make the experience even easier. But, I think the fact that wine is available in a variety of sizes is pure genius. This allows you to sample a wine (1 oz), enjoy a flight of wines with a meal (3 oz) or settle into one (5 oz).
The third element, that says this is not your average wine bar… you can self-serve a portion of wine and sit by the windows reading a book, but you can also get right in there and learn about wine, food and Italian culture. The staff are friendly and outgoing, and eager to share. Sign up for a wine tasting course, or a cooking class, an olive oil seminar, attend a Chef’s Dinner (each one themed on a different region), or learn to speak Italian (comes in handy if you decide to take one of their tutored trips to Italy).
Yes when it comes to Italian Wine, this is one BIG Experience!
--- --- ---
And oh ya another BIG Plus... say you are a wine collector in your own right, and you happen to have a very nice Italian that you've been cellaring for awhile, and would like to open it but the thought of your own cooking and a great wine leaves something to be desired (Captain Highliner and $ 100 bottle from Tuscany just don't match up somehow)...
DiVino's will charge you a moderate corkage fee... and be pleased to make suggestions from their menu on possible food matches. And, chances are pretty good that you'll also learn something about the wine you've been storing so carefully at home for just the right moment, and of course the region of Italy where your precious bottle of vino is from.
Many things set this wine bar apart from others… to start with the individual attention. A Sommelier gladly helps you thru the wine list, and answers questions, and explains the differences between grapes and regions.
Another, is the Enomatic wine dispenser. This allows one to purchase wine is premeasured sizes, 1 – 3 – or 5 ounces. And as Nanoonk has stated, you can even purchase a pre-loaded cash card to make the experience even easier. But, I think the fact that wine is available in a variety of sizes is pure genius. This allows you to sample a wine (1 oz), enjoy a flight of wines with a meal (3 oz) or settle into one (5 oz).
The third element, that says this is not your average wine bar… you can self-serve a portion of wine and sit by the windows reading a book, but you can also get right in there and learn about wine, food and Italian culture. The staff are friendly and outgoing, and eager to share. Sign up for a wine tasting course, or a cooking class, an olive oil seminar, attend a Chef’s Dinner (each one themed on a different region), or learn to speak Italian (comes in handy if you decide to take one of their tutored trips to Italy).
Yes when it comes to Italian Wine, this is one BIG Experience!
--- --- ---
And oh ya another BIG Plus... say you are a wine collector in your own right, and you happen to have a very nice Italian that you've been cellaring for awhile, and would like to open it but the thought of your own cooking and a great wine leaves something to be desired (Captain Highliner and $ 100 bottle from Tuscany just don't match up somehow)...
DiVino's will charge you a moderate corkage fee... and be pleased to make suggestions from their menu on possible food matches. And, chances are pretty good that you'll also learn something about the wine you've been storing so carefully at home for just the right moment, and of course the region of Italy where your precious bottle of vino is from.
Sign in to add a comment
This entry is here thanks to Nanook
Vote for DiVino Wine Studio
| overall [1] | ||
| Wine [2] | ||
| Sommelier Food & Wine Pairing [0] |
Marno
silver
Anyway, I suspect the $5 charge is a way of 1) making additional profit, perhaps to offset the significant capital likely spent on purchasing the machine and 2) a way of getting you to return, as you've now paid for the card, so it seems silly to just throw it out after one visit (which I did anyway!).
I'd be much more amenable to the charge if either it went toward your first glass of wine, or if you had the option to return the card when you finished, and could receive back your $5 deposit. Paying a fee for a restaurant to lock in your money to be spent at their restaurant in the form of a card just doesn't agree with me. After all, restaurants don't charge you to purchase gift cards, right? Similar concept.