Wine lover, or just curious? Join the 'Vinism' move

Yang Di

For casual dining my first choice would have to be Vinism for the simplicity of the Asian plates, but most of all for the wine.

Small, relaxed, informal and convivial, Vinism is a lovely intimate wine bar tucked on Zhuanbang Road E. The wine selection is rarely seen in a commercial city like Shanghai: A wonderfully eclectic selection of natural, organic and biodynamic wines. There’s plenty to explore by the taste, glass or bottle.

Owner Owen Shen is a passionate wine guy who has successfully run wine schools in the Chinese mainland for eight years. 

And now, he is determined to spread the philosophy centered on respecting the soil, environment and character of the wine with minimal intervention from the farm to the cellar. 

The self-created brand name “Vinism” represents a new “wine movement,” composed of “vin” (wine in French) and “ism” (movement). The quirky, homey wine bar presents a relaxed atmosphere, yet a bigger ambition behind. Shen would like more wine lovers to appreciate the philosophy of Vinism and the wines they’ve selected. What all selected wine labels here have in common is a purity and honesty of expression as well as low volume of production.

Vinism provides usually about 10 to 15 types of wine by the glass, ranging in price from 35 to 90 yuan. The purpose of providing a large “by glass” selection is to encourage discovery of new wines and share the Vinism philosophy.

The cellar inside Vinism features a selection up to 150 labels from 15 countries geared toward the brand’s core wine philosophy.

For the open-minded and curious palate, the Vinism team introduces talented well-known or little-known winemakers through its ever-changing “Wine of the Month” and “Glass of the Month” selections and organizes monthly wine tastings, wine courses and winemaker dinners enabling wine lovers to fully appreciate the art of wine making and wine pairing.

Vinism also effortlessly combines innovative food pairing with quirky, exciting wines. Head chef Holly Lian with years of experience in Michelin starred restaurants in France has created a fun and flavorsome tapas menu fusing Chinese ingredients and French cooking techniques. 

Several interesting plates include pig ear, peanuts and chive oil (60 yuan), beef tongue, mushroom, bread powder (65 yuan), and pork belly, peas and wild rice (60 yuan). And there is cheese and a cold cut selection. 

For those still confused by the definitions of “natural, organic and biodynamic” wines, visit and have a chat with the professionals behind the bar. For those who are familiar with natural wines, each visit would be a unique experience with new wines to discover.

Info

Open: 4pm-midnight (Monday to Friday); 2pm-midnight (weekends)

Tel: 3212-0759

Address: 57 Zhuanbang Rd E.

Average price: 150 yuan