Cover Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
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Owners Steven Ticzon and Rob Martin heard their well-heeled clientele and opened a dressier version a stone’s throw away from their original Poblacion watering hole
When Project Vino owner Steven Ticzon launched their first branch in Poblacion, Makati two years ago, he wanted to establish wine as a casual, everyday drink. The space was meant to look and feel like a cellar so people could just show up as they are, have a bottle or two. The food menu gradually expanded from charcuterie to classic bar chow as time went by. Some of their like-minded wino friends south of the metro opined that they needed their own branch closer to home, and so Ticzon and his partner (both in life and business) Rob Martin were eventually convinced to open another Project Vino in Alabang.
Still, the clamour for another kind of Project Vino was too loud to ignore. “As much as we love Poblacion, our friends noticed how it was evolving,” Ticzon explains. “It was becoming more crowded, the scene was much younger, and it is almost impossible to find parking. When we were offered this space in Proscenium, I initially thought it was too big for what I had in mind. But, our friends were quite persistent. They said, ‘if you get offered a space in Rockwell, you should take it. We will be able to visit more often.’ And with that promise, I think I was convinced.”
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
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Project Vino Reserve (PVR) was conceptualised with Ticzon and Martin’s friends in mind, as well as the many wine lovers in the upmarket residential area who would be more comfortable in plusher surroundings. A glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room greets guests as they enter. Your eyes are naturally drawn up towards the high ceiling and a narrow mezzanine where there are more shelves for their wines and just enough room for a DJ table if the event calls for one. The natural wood and deep browns echo the velvety hues of the delicious wines they serve. “We only offer wines that we like,” Ticzon discloses. Whether old world or new world; red, white, or rosé— the bottles are all hand-picked by the owners from their buying trips in wine expos.
Food, of course, is a part of the PVR experience. Ticzon, despite being born and raised in the Philippines, before moving to the US for university and working there for many years in logistics. His wine journey began as a college student, then his palate started to evolve as he continued to taste more and became more exposed to the best winemakers in America and the rest of the world. “When I first opened in Poblacion, I thought it was ok to simply serve wine like they do in America and Europe,” Ticzon explains. “However, I discovered that Filipino drinking culture is also very much about the food that accompanies the drinks.” For PVR, he asked chefs RJ Ramos and Alphonse Sotero (Lampara, Papillon) to come up with a continental menu of familiar dishes that pair well with wine. “Classics done right,” says Ticzon.
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
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For the pre-launch dinner with a small group of friends, guests sampled the crowd-pleasing watermelon tartare served with papadum and paired with Dominio de la Vega cava 2022 to start, followed by their bright and fresh version of a Niçoise salad with Chateau La Grave rosé 2022. A comforting and rich expression of tomato soup was lovely with the fragrant Astoria Taranto pinot noir 2022, and the main course of a classic beef bourguignon cannot go wrong with the 2018 Chateau Montreblant from Saint Emilion. Head chef Carlos Tigas will be in charge of the kitchen most days, and will be drawing from his experience working with Ramos and Sotero plus his background in some of the busiest kitchens in Turin, Italy.
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Above Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
Project Vino Reserve at the Proscenium, Rockwell
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While the space is definitely an upgrade from the original Poblacion digs, Project Vino Reserve stays true to Ticzon’s principles when it comes to drinking wine which is relaxed and unpretentious. Launching in November, it hopes to be the venue for different occasions and to serve its various purposes—whether it be for the young mum looking for a quick escape with her lunch salad and glass of chardonnay, or an evening out in the town for a pack of wine-loving urbanites. Ticzon understands how every mood or occasion calls for different kinds of wine, and he also made sure that we will find them all in PVR.
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Jaclyn Clemente Koppe is a food and lifestyle writer, as well as a consultant to some of the country’s beloved food and beverage brands. Her passion for food and drink is only surpassed by her devotion to her family, most especially to her soulmate, Pepa the poodle.
