{"id":3956,"date":"2025-04-16T17:05:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/inside-divine-vintage-l-a-s-coolest-new-wine-bar-and-shop\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T17:05:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:05:47","slug":"inside-divine-vintage-l-a-s-coolest-new-wine-bar-and-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/inside-divine-vintage-l-a-s-coolest-new-wine-bar-and-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Divine Vintage, L.A.\u2019s Coolest New Wine Bar and Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to Divine Vintage. Divine Vintage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Santa Monica\u2019s Divine Vintage,<\/a> it\u2019s out with the new, and in with the old. Helmed by Jennifer Rush<\/a> of Blue Plate Santa Monica<\/a>, Divine Vintage started as a shop for all things wine, jewelry and clothing, but has recently upgraded to become the Westside\u2019s coolest new wine bar. Upon walking up the red brick steps and through the front door of this cozy green cottage on Montana Avenue, guests are immersed in the shop\u2019s whimsical charm. Marble checkered floors are surrounded by library-like walls of wine (most of which are organic or biodynamic), but as you venture further into the store, gorgeous coats and glass displays of glamorous jewelry catch the eye, while a shimmering, ship-shaped chandelier hangs above.<\/p>\n

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Though Rush has been in the hospitality industry for years, this project in particular stemmed from a more personal place. \u201cMy love for vintage started in my childhood,\u201d Rush tells Observer. \u201cGrowing up, we were basically forbidden from buying new clothing, so I was always going to swap meets or thrift stores\u2014it felt like a treasure hunt.\u201d While New York-born Rush focuses on the style and aesthetic aspect of Divine Vintage, her partner in love and life, New Zealand native Nick Dumergue<\/a>, is the expert on all things vino.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured out pretty early on that wine was what I wanted\u2014when I was 18, to be exact,\u201d Dumergue says. \u201cRather than take the traditional sommelier route, which is more hospitality-based, I really wanted to learn how to grow grapes, how to make wine and how to sell it around the world.\u201d Since then, Dumergue has had a successful career, with highlights like running the wine program at Harrods and producing Gordon Ramsay<\/a>\u2019s signature collection of California wines. He is also a certified Diploma Educator for the WSET and teaches an immersive five-day course in France, where students partake in everything from vineyard pruning to bottling their own wines.<\/p>\n

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Jennifer Rush and Nick Dumergue. Divine Vintage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Together, this dynamic duo has created a gathering space for Westside locals<\/a> looking to upgrade both their wine cellar and wardrobe. Though Divine Vintage started exclusively as a shop, it has now evolved to become an actual wine bar where guests can sip rotating flights while nibbling on shareable snacks. The brand-new patio, which officially opened at the end of March, boasts a cozy, quaint and chic vibe that is enhanced by Gucci wallpaper, a Chinese Art Deco rug, lush greenery and antique lanterns\u2014entirely curated by Rush herself. \u201cI was kind of going for cool, granny-chic,\u201d explains Rush. \u201cThe Gucci wallpaper, which we also have in the bathroom, was my starting point, and I wanted it to feel warm and cozy, but also like you were on vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspired by their own travels, Divine Vintage carries more than 250 unique bottles of wine, all of which are hand-picked by Dumergue. \u201cWe\u2019ve realized that the locals here are very intimate with California wine. They often have their favorites and are pretty well-versed in their chosen varietals,\u201d Dumergue tells Observer. \u201cWith Divine Vintage, we saw an opportunity to expose customers to other wines of the world. From Sicily to South Africa and New Zealand<\/a>, we\u2019ve opened people up to the beautiful wines found in these more unusual places.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Rush decorated the space herself. Divine Vintage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When traveling together, Rush and Dumergue seek out goods to bring back to the shop. While Dumergue seeks out the best bottles that reflect the region, Rush takes herself vintage hunting. \u201cThis past winter, I went to the U.K. and brought back all these great coats from Scotland,\u201d says Rush. \u201cSometimes I\u2019ll go to an estate sale in Palm Springs and find all kinds of glam jewelry. It really depends on where I am, but there\u2019s a whole fun world of special finds out there.\u201d From Tokyo to Thailand, Rush prides herself on finding the rarest of gems that customers can\u2019t get anywhere else in L.A.<\/p>\n

With the opening of the back patio and new kitchen, guests can shop till they drop before sitting down for a flight and bites. \u201cWe\u2019re working with some fabulous cheese importers that I met at the Fancy Food Show, and right now we\u2019ve got a great goat cheese and the most indulgent truffle cheddar,\u201d says Rush. \u201cOther menu items include cured meats, truffle potato chips and marinated olives\u2014kind of like Italian bar snacks.\u201d Divine Vintage also hosts an array of pop-up specials ranging from oyster and lobster night to taquito night, with the help of her teams at Blue Plate Taco and Blue Plate Oysterette.<\/p>\n

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The patio area at Divine Vintage. Divine Vintage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it comes to their wine club, guests receive two specially curated bottles per month for $70, but rather than simply picking up their bottles and going home, guests can partake in educational and immersive pick-up parties. \u201cNick is just so approachable. He\u2019s so fun in his delivery, and when he explains something, even if it\u2019s complex, you walk away being like \u2018Oh, I totally understand,\u2019\u201d explains Rush. \u201cHe\u2019s just very relatable.\u201d In addition to getting personal face time with Dumergue at these club pick-up parties, guests walk away with a scroll that explains the theme of that month\u2019s club picks along with the varietal\u2019s origins, history and significance. Club members also receive 20 percent off of wines by the glass and flights in-store, and when dining at any Blue Plate restaurant\u2014Blue Plate Oysterette, Blue Plate Taco and Tacolina in Silver Lake.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t join the club, Divine Vintage hosts a variety of interactive events like sushi and sake pairings and hands-on wine blending courses, providing plenty of opportunity to learn more about the world of wine with Dumergue and other experts. \u201cWe really want to cater to the whole neighborhood,\u201d explains Rush. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a couple of cool beers for people who don\u2019t drink wine, and if anyone is pregnant or simply taking a break from drinking, we have some delicious non-alcoholic options.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Divine Vintage hosts interactive events within the space. Divine Vintage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you\u2019re a Westsider looking for a new place to sip wine this summer or an East L.A. local wanting to support Santa Monica business following the Palisades Fire, Divine Vintage is a true treasure chest in the heart of Montana Avenue. \u201cSince the space is like a little jewel box, we\u2019re able to have so much direct contact with everyone who walks in our door,\u201d Rush tells Observer. \u201cFor me, there\u2019s nothing better than making deeper connections over a great glass of wine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Sip<\/p><\/div>\n