New wine room makes its mark

WHEN Doveton Street’s restaurant Underbar would finish service for the night, often staff including Anthony Schuurs would sit up at the bar together and enjoy a glass of wine.

“For a couple of years I thought, how great would it be to open our own little wine bar?” he said.

So when Hotel Vera invited Underbar owner and chef Derek Boath to move the restaurant to their developing premises, and he agreed, the venue became free.

In the space, Mr Schuurs and Boath have created the kind of bar they’d want to head to and relax with friends; Pencilmark Wine Room.

“Walking in here is similar walking into either of our houses for a dinner party. It’s a warm, inviting, fun space with super interesting wines you can’t necessarily find anywhere else locally,” Mr Schuurs said.

Pencilmark is open seven days, is walk-in only for sit-down guests, and operates as a retail wine store, so customers can also duck in and pick up a wine to try at home.

“I’m striving to offer a tailor-made experience for everyone that makes wine less intimidating.

“I can give people a wine they’re comfortable with from a producer or region they may have never tried, or if they want to try something completely different, we’ve got wines that are weird, wacky, and funky,” Mr Schuurs said.

“I always try and push a few interesting styles or varieties of wines that people may not have heard of, but similarities can still be drawn from them to wine varieties people are comfortable with like sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, or Riesling.

“I’m hoping I can expand people’s knowledge of wine, and get them to try something new.”

The Wine Room has a focus on organically and naturally made wines by small producers, stocking brands from Australia, France, Italy, Spain and beyond.

Boath is in charge of the food menu at Pencilmark, utilising local producers including Salt Kitchen Charcuterie, while stocking tinned seafood from Spanish Michelin star restaurant Güeyu Mar.

“It’s a super casual and snacky spot, as opposed to a dining venue. It’s kind of the opposite to Underbar,” Mr Schuurs said.

Local artist Travis Price has created unique, bright, bold artworks for the space that feature people who have been part of the Underbar and Pencilmark stories, and their families and friends.

Mr Schuurs, his partner, their dog, and Boath, are just a few of the faces featured.

“We’re creating a fun and ever-changing space. The artwork will change every three-to-four months, and we want to commission other local artists,” he said.

“One week you could come in, and the next, it could look completely different.”

Mr Schuurs developed his passion for wine while working at Mitchell Harris, and has since gone on write the wine lists for restaurants Ragazzone, Moon and Mountain, Renard and Buninyong’s The Shared Table.

Pencilmark Wine Room is open 4pm to 10pm seven days a week at 3 Doveton Street North.