Em's Flingo on Wine
For some reason, I'm obsessed with the idea of wine bars. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I grew up in the Sonoma Valley, surrounded by wineries. Maybe it's because I spent my elementary school years snacking on sour grapes with my best friend in her dad's vineyard. Maybe it's because I associate beer with dive bars and sleazy men. Wine is more classy. What more could you ask for?-- I mean, it's a bar! But for wine!!
The coolest thing about Vinum Populi is its lack of pretentiousness. Oh, and its shiny chrome wine dispensers. You walk in, buy a card, press a button, and start drinking. No need to deal with snooty sommeliers. Insert your card into the shiny contraption and select a variety of wine (which starts at 75 cents an ounce!). The machine automatically deducts the cost from your card. Vinum has mostly Italian and Spanish red wines, with a few whites to choose from as well. And if you feel the need to know what a $200 bottle of wine tastes like, you can even spring for the $12.00-an-ounce varieties. In my opinion, $10 on the card is plenty enough to try a bunch of different wines (and get a little buzzed in the process).
At 9pm on a Tuesday night, the crowd was a pleasant mix of college students and working professionals. I didn't feel too young or too old (or too poor, for that matter). It's the kind of place that would make a perfect date, I think. Vinum serves food too, but why bother? In-n-out's right down the street! A wine bar and a cheeseburger? That's the way to my heart.
Vinum Populi
3865 Cardiff Avenue
Culver City, CA 90232
For some reason, I'm obsessed with the idea of wine bars. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I grew up in the Sonoma Valley, surrounded by wineries. Maybe it's because I spent my elementary school years snacking on sour grapes with my best friend in her dad's vineyard. Maybe it's because I associate beer with dive bars and sleazy men. Wine is more classy. What more could you ask for?-- I mean, it's a bar! But for wine!!
Despite my penchant for wine bars, I had never actually been to one. Until last week, when I ventured down to the "sacred corner" of Culver City (a Trader Joe's and an In-n-out within a few meters of each other? That's sacred in my book.) to visit Vinum Populi. It's a wine bar, and it just so happens to be the hippest place I've even been to. Which isn't saying much. But still.
The coolest thing about Vinum Populi is its lack of pretentiousness. Oh, and its shiny chrome wine dispensers. You walk in, buy a card, press a button, and start drinking. No need to deal with snooty sommeliers. Insert your card into the shiny contraption and select a variety of wine (which starts at 75 cents an ounce!). The machine automatically deducts the cost from your card. Vinum has mostly Italian and Spanish red wines, with a few whites to choose from as well. And if you feel the need to know what a $200 bottle of wine tastes like, you can even spring for the $12.00-an-ounce varieties. In my opinion, $10 on the card is plenty enough to try a bunch of different wines (and get a little buzzed in the process).
At 9pm on a Tuesday night, the crowd was a pleasant mix of college students and working professionals. I didn't feel too young or too old (or too poor, for that matter). It's the kind of place that would make a perfect date, I think. Vinum serves food too, but why bother? In-n-out's right down the street! A wine bar and a cheeseburger? That's the way to my heart.
Vinum Populi
3865 Cardiff Avenue
Culver City, CA 90232
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