[Report] 50,000 Won for a Glass of 'Dom P?rignon'... Glass Wine Sanctuary 'Club Korabin'

Lotte Department Store Avenuel Jamsil
Glass Wine Lounge Bar 'Club Coravin'
Holds over 650 varieties, the largest in Korea
Applies Coravin oxidation prevention system... Preservation period up to 3 years

"At Club Coravin, you can enjoy every one of the 650 types of wine we have by the glass without missing a single one. Among places specializing in glass wine, it is the largest establishment not only in Korea but also in Asia."

Opened at the end of last December in Lotte Department Store Avenue L Jamsil Branch, Songpa-gu, Seoul, with about 120 pyeong (400㎡) and 120 seats, 'Club Coravin' is Korea's first Coravin-exclusive wine lounge and the largest glass wine specialty store.

Interior view of 'Club Korabin' located in Lotte Department Store Avenuel Jamsil Branch, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Coravin is a wine preservation system developed in 2011 by Greg Lambrecht, a biomedical scientist and wine enthusiast from MIT in the United States, after eight years of research and development. Coravin works by inserting an ultra-fine needle directly into an unopened cork to inject nitrogen gas and extract the wine. The space previously occupied by the wine is filled with nitrogen gas to prevent oxidation, and the tiny hole left by the needle maintains the cork's original condition without damaging it.

Coravin is designed to pour wine without removing the cork, offering superior oxidation prevention compared to existing wine preservation products. Wine preserved with Coravin can maintain the same condition as before opening for up to three years. Due to its excellent preservation capability, it is actively used overseas by wine producers and experts in over 60 countries, as well as in famous restaurants and wine bars. In Korea, wine importer Ayoung FBC has taken exclusive import and distribution rights starting this year.

At Club Korabin, all wines in the store can be enjoyed by the glass.

Hong Juha, head sommelier met at Club Coravin on the 8th, emphasized that the full adoption of the Coravin system enabled them to implement the largest glass wine list in Korea. In fact, considering that house wines available by the glass at Michelin-starred restaurants in Korea number only about 10 to 20 types, and famous overseas wine bars offer around 300 types, a wine list exceeding 600 types is a scale worth boasting about.

This has led to some unique features in the Club Coravin store. Typically, wines served at wine bars or restaurants are stored lying down in internal spaces hidden from customers' view or in large wine cellars within the store. However, Club Coravin displays a variety of wines lined up throughout the store, including behind the bar area, much like the back bar of a whiskey bar, waiting for the next customer. With various wine bottles with different labels lined up right before customers' eyes, it feels convenient to order and taste wines one by one, like at an ice cream shop, escaping the difficulty of wine lists.

Sommelier Hong also cited the ability to offer customers the fun of selecting and tasting various wines in small amounts at one place as the greatest advantage. He said, "Many people actually come here wanting to try a variety of wines," adding, "Last weekend, we served nearly twenty 75mL glasses ranging from champagne to white, red, and dessert wines to guests who came as couples."

Hong Juha, head sommelier of Club Coravin, is serving wine using Coravin.

Using the Coravin system, wine serving at Club Coravin is quite different from that at typical restaurants. Usually, when wine is ordered, the sommelier removes the aluminum foil with a sommelier knife, opens the cork to check for defects, and then pours the wine into glasses. However, here, the sommelier brings out the wine bottle combined with Coravin, confirms with the customer that it is the correct wine, and then presses the handle lever to pour the specified amount into the glass. Sommelier Hong added, "Some customers find the unfamiliar serving scene interesting, and many who visit without knowing about Coravin ask questions, so we try to provide as detailed explanations as possible."

At Club Coravin, high-priced wines such as French Bordeaux Grand Cru wines known as the 'Five Great Ch?teaux,' famous champagnes like 'Dom P?rignon' and 'Krug,' and Italian super Tuscan wines like 'Solaia' are all sold as glass wines. Since wines priced over one million won can be experienced at about 10% of the bottle price, it offers an incentive for both beginners who have just started to take an interest in wine and enthusiasts to visit. Prices range from a minimum of 6,000 won to a maximum of 253,000 won based on 75mL and 125mL servings.