It’s official: Natural wine is having a moment in Metro Manila. Gone are the days that you would have to buy a whole bottle of natty wine from a store and just savor it at home: slowly but surely, natural wine is making its way into more menus in our favorite restaurants. Whether it’s Pet Nat, orange wine, or an organic low-intervention rosé, these beautiful bottles don’t just make for excellent pairings: they also present an entirely new way to enjoy natural wine in Manila, in a more social setting.
Check out six of Team Super’s favorite restaurants in Metro Manila that serve fantastic natural wines by the glass and by the bottle:
El Born
We have plenty of Spanish restaurants in the Metro, but few of them have the laser focus on Catalan-Mediterranean cuisine that El Born does. Tucked away on the second floor of a Japanese mall, El Born is actually named after the trendy Barcelona neighborhood that serves as a special place for Chef Chef David Amoros and his wife Ivone before they eventually moved to Manila. Don’t miss their fantastic tapas, Chef David’s signature slow-cooked Arroz dishes, and most famously, the signature melt-in-your mouth El Born Cheesecake—and they actually have natural wines on the menu to go with all these best hits!
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
Many come just for the El Born Cheesecake, and if you want to elevate that experience even further, try it with the Jean-François Ganevat Cremant du Jura. You’re welcome.
El Born is located at 2/F Mitsukoshi BGC, 8th Ave corner 36th St, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Bibio
If there’s any spot in Metro Manila that truly lets natural wine shine with great eats, it’s Bibio. Located on the streets of trendy Poblacion, Bibio embraces all things natural and all things fun: meaning that you won’t just find playful natural wines, but also an equally wild and funky menu featuring plenty of ingredients that are fermented, cured, and preserved—that includes cured yellowfin tuna, beer-battered pumpkin, and their own house sourdough. That said, you can bet the pairings are fantastic. Plus, if you drop by on the right evening, they’ll also have exciting DJ sets and kitchen takeovers waiting for you!
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
We come back to Bibio time and time again for their addicting Chicken Isol Skewers, and they go fantastically with all the spices you pick up in the Le Mazel Cuvee Briand.
Bibio is located at 5659 Don Pedro St corner Jacobo St, Poblacion, Makati.
Tandem
Helmed by chefs Mikee Lopez and Alex Tan (the duo this fine dining restaurant is named after), Tandem has shaken up the fine dining scene in Metro Manila with its very simple focus: humble, seasonal local crops. With their food science backgrounds, they’ve come up with a bold, borderless menu that’s plant-forward without necessarily being vegetarian—all while never showcasing just a single cuisine, but their own personal tastes and star ingredients. That said, Tandem specially features some natural wines in its wine list to cover all the spectrum of flavors that their playful menu covers.
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
If you love Tandem’s handmade Squid Ink Garganelli tossed with mussels and anchovy butter, then you need to try it with a wine with an equally wild energy: the Didier Grappe Pif Purple!
Tandem is located at G/F Greenbelt Hamilton, 151 Legazpi St, Legaspi Village, Makati.
Bolero
Ever wanted to try food by a chef on the Michelin guide? Head over to Bolero in BGC for modern European fine dining fare created by self-taught Chef Fernando Alcala of Michelin-recognized Kava in Marbella, Spain. Each dish looks like art, (don’t miss the skipjack tuna) and will taste like it too, but you’ll never find yourself intimidated in Bolero’s intimate space. And as with many fine dining spots in Europe, you’ll always have the perfect drink to pair with your food: with so much creativity on the menu, it’s no surprise natural wine makes an appearance, too!
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
Bolero’s mind-blowing Iberian Pork Chop is grilled and seared to perfection, and somehow, a glass of dark juicy Judith Beck Beck Ink keeps those explosions of flavor going!
Bolero is located at G/F Verve Tower 2, High Street South, 26th to 27th Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Automat
Located on the second floor of a building in Karrivin Plaza in Makati, Automat describes itself as a “chill little neighborhood restaurant serving good food and good booze.” A little more research will tell you that Automat is actually the sibling restaurant of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants-lister Metiz, and continues to be helmed by chefs Stephan Duhesme and Arlo Gregorio as they now explore the melting pot of modern Manileño cuisine. And you actually get a front row seat to all this, with an open kitchen that lets you see how clever combinations come together—and of course they have a strong lineup of drinks and even natural wines to pair with their spunkier dishes!
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
The easy-drinking Andrea Calek Blonde and its explosion of sweet tropical fruits pairs well with literally any of Automat’s starters (but we especially love it with the Omelette!)
Automat is located on 2/F Building A, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Ave Extension, Makati.
Dr. Wine
You should already have an idea of what you’re getting into just by the name Dr. Wine. But beyond a great selection of bottles that includes organic and natural wines alike, you’ll also find some of the best examples of classic French cuisine in Metro Manila—which is how they’ve amassed a following that’s earned them branches in Poblacion and Bonifacio Global City. Expect generous portions definitely made for sharing amongst good friends in best hits like the Doctor’s Platter (a safe choice with its great cheese and charcuterie) and their steak tartare with fries, all concocted by their head chef Romain, actually hails from Toulouse, France.
Must-Try Natural Wine Pairing:
One of Dr. Wine’s signatures is their Organic maple syrup chicken liver mousse, and the aromatic Sebastien Riffault Akmenine Sancerre takes it to another level!
Dr. Wine is located at 5291 Algier St, Poblacion, Makati and at Parklane, Forbestown Rd, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Where to Buy Natural Wine in Metro Manila
Want to know where to buy natural wine for yourself? You’re already in the right place. Shop natural wine from producers all around the world—including Japan, Austria, France, and Spain—here at (Super)Natural and enjoy same-day delivery for orders placed before 2 p.m.
