HK’s first sommelier-led wine bar to open in Soho

This September Hong Kong wine lovers will get a chance to enjoy ThinkWine, the city’s latest wine destination co-founded by two French sommeliers.

Set to open its doors in the heart of Soho inside the newly opened LL Tower, ThinkWine is going to be a new addition to Hong Kong’s wine bar line-up, introducing a new, sophisticated “yet affordable” wine and food-pairing experience to serious wine drinkers.

Stocking close to 600 different wines, the extensive drinks menu at ThinkWine showcases an alluring diversity of terroir, appellations and vintages rarely found in Hong Kong.

At ThinkWine, guests will “discover an enhanced wine tasting experience with carefully curated food pairings”.

The brains behind the venture are Romain Loriot and Jean-Benoit Issele, both have a background working in international Michelin-starred restaurants.

Loriot used to be the group sommelier and wine buyer for 12 restaurants under Le Comptoir Group in Hong Kong. Previously, he worked at the Alain Ducasse Enterprise as head sommelier at Rech (Hong Kong), Rech (Paris), sommelier at Benoit (Paris) and The Dorchester (London).

Issele is the former head sommelier of Belon (Hong Kong). He discovered his deep passion for wine service alongside David Biraud and was the sommelier at Thierry Marx in the Mandarin Oriental Paris, after which he worked in high-end restaurants in China and Dubai, before landing in Hong Kong as the restaurant manager of Frantzen’s Kitchen.

Address: 2/F, 2 Shelley Street, Central, Hong Kong