Drinking wine: New, popular trend for Indonesian yuppies

A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sitting at a corner in her favorite cafe in Cilandak Town Square, South Jakarta, writer Djenar Maesa sips a glass of red wine while staring at the passersby. She was apparently contemplating new ideas for her next book. Inspirations come from many places and situations.

While admitting that she was not a wine expert, Djenar said she often drank wine while discussing many things, especially literature and books, with her fellow writers, mostly until midnight.

"I only drink red wine. I love the taste, not sweet. I don't like sweet taste," the mother of two told The Jakarta Post recently.

She first acquired a taste for wine at the age of 14, and Djenar admitted that she visited cafes two or three times a week and would drink two to three bottles of French red wine in a night.

The 32-year-old novelist said the price of red wine she normally drank was about Rp 150,000 a bottle.

Djenar is not the only one in town who now spends the evening drinking wine. More and more people from various professions -- writers, politicians, business executives and artists -- have fallen in love with the drink.

In the past, drinking wine was associated with older people. But now many younger people have become addicted to the drink.

They spend their nights after work meeting friends and relaxing at dozens or maybe hundreds of bars and restaurants in the country's cities, which offer various selections of wine.

There are now dozens of cafes in Jakarta that only sell wine.

Lots of five-star hotels also have set up their own wine -- and cigar -- bars, in addition to providing wine in their restaurants and coffee shops. Among them are the Hotel Nikko Jakarta on Jl. MH. Thamrin and Hotel Borobudur on Jl. Lapangan Banteng. They provide a vast selection of wines from Australia, Chile, California, Argentina, Italy, Spain and France with prices ranging from Rp 198,000 to Rp 3.5 million a bottle.

While some people like Djenar have been accustomed to drinking wine without having meals before, many people prefer enjoying the drink after dinner. For the latter group of people, wine is closely related to food -- the flavor of food affects the taste of wine and tasty wine will make food more delicious. The term "wine and dine", which is now getting popular among Indonesians, refers to the practice of drinking wine after dinner.

Hotel Nikko's director for food and beverages I.B. Ardana said red wine would be tasteful while eating beef steak.

"The aroma of the red wine is suitable to the taste of red meat. It's a harmonious blend," Ardana said recently.

Meanwhile, many people believe that white wine is best served with white meat like fish as the wine will add to the freshness of the fish dish.

Wine is also getting popular among local businessmen as the drink to entertain business partners.

"Many Indonesian businessmen now love to serve their business partners with wine, just as their foreign business partners do to them," Culinary expert William Wongso, who runs Artistik Cafe in South Jakarta, said.

Churchill Wine and Cigar Bar at the Hotel Borobudur is one among many wine bars and cafes in Jakarta that has many loyal clients among businesspeople, both Indonesian and expatriates.

The bar's captain, Mohamad Aziz said the number of Indonesian people frequenting the bar is almost the same as the number of foreign residents and traveling businesspeople. The bar is open from noon to midnight.

"Many Indonesians have fallen in love with wine. Our Indonesian guests include many businesspeople who come here with their partners," Aziz elucidated.

As the number of wine lovers is increasing, a handful of "wine clubs" have been established for folks to enjoy their drinks as well as to deepen their knowledge about the drink.

One of the clubs is the Jakarta Wine Society. The club regularly holds monthly meetings where its members can share their knowledge about the beverage and discuss various topics on wine, including the philosophy of wine, the history of wine, how to match wine and food and many other interesting tidbits, according to the club's chairman William Wongso.

Drinking wine is a trend now. It also illustrates the social prestige of someone. That is why many people enjoy it.

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Wine, prices and comfortable bars .....

Wine is probably best consumed in a calm ambience where music plays softly.

Among the dozens of wine bars, cafes and restaurants in Jakarta, that provide such an atmosphere are the wine bars in Hotel Nikko Jakarta on Jl. MH. Thamrin, and Hotel Borobudur, on Jl. Lapangan Banteng, both in Central Jakarta.

Visitors should be impressed at seeing hundreds of bottles of wine placed in rows of glass racks in front of Nikko's Olive Tree Restaurant. Certainly, the restaurant has a vast selection of wines to offer for visitors.

Located in the hotel's first floor lobby, the restaurant, which opens around the clock, also offers delicious steaks and other dishes to accompany the wine.

Sipping wine while looking at the water fountain and traffic around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle until midnight is a preferable moment at Nikko.

Similarly, the imperturbable circumstances can also be found at the Borobudur's Churchill Wine and Cigar Bar. Big soft seats and couches with tender colors are the highlights of the bar, which is located in the hotel's lobby.

The bar, which is open from noon to midnight, also provides large collections of wine from many countries.

The following are some selections of wine and prices at Hotel Nikko and Hotel Borobudur:

Names kinds price per bottle

William's Blend Australian white/red wine Rp 200,000 Edward Joseph Reserve Rp 270,000 Firestick Rp 475,000 Arbor Mist Californian red wine Rp 215,000 Quatros Vientos Chilean white wine Rp 210,000 Gato Blanco Chilean red wine Rp 330,000 Orvieto Dry Classico Italian white wine Rp 210,000 Santa Cristina Toscana Italian red wine Rp 250,000 Cabernet Sauvignon French red wine Rp 160,000 St Emilion Rp 310,000 Chateu Les Graves De Barrau French red wine Rp 380,000 La Fleur de Chateau Lichard Rp 450,000 Croix du Mayne Rp 500,000 Chateau de Francs Rp 570,000 Chateau Duc D'Arnauton Rp 600,000 Chateau La Cheze Rp 650,000 Chateau Franc Guadet Rp 700,000 Chateau du Ha Rp 845,000 Chateau Dillon Rp 900,000 Chateau Les Landes de Cach Rp 1,060,000 Chateau Hautes Graves Beaulieu Rp 1,100,000 Chateau Bois Martin Rp 1,150,000 Frank Phelan Rp 1,175,000 Cheval des Andes Rp 3,900,000

--A. Junaidi