No sooner did I finally write (yesterday) about the closing of natural wine bar 17 Cafe than I heard (today) about a grand opening being held (tomorrow) at its new project.

The new venue–Tap Bar a Vin–is on Xinyuan Li West, due north of Sanitun-Gongti and east of the Jingshan complex that is home to places like Turkish Feast, Pachapapi, Q Mex, Bottega and Boxing Cat.

The current list covers a half-dozen wines by the glass and 200 by bottle, says owner Lin Moumou, who adds that number will rocket to 300 or 400 bottles over the next few weeks.

“Busy times!”

Tap Bar a Vin will open from 3 PM to late, says Lin, with the tomorrow’s launch a steady lineup up of foods.

Helene Ponty, who imports her family’s Bordeaux brand in China and checks out wine venues around the city, praised the former 17.

“17 Cafe had a pretty good wine list and it wasn’t too expensive,” she said. “And a much more interesting selection than most other places.”

Beijing’s wine bar scene is more modest in size and success than its cocktail and craft brew ones, thus any venues that can pique interest and give wine aficionados a reason to open a few more bottles is worth celebrating.

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