Bacchanlian haunts in Jakarta Wine appreciation is no longer the preserve of the older generation. Many younger customers now hang out at cosy wine lounges. Antonius Martono reports. “Currently, Jakarta is not only a melting point of all Indonesians, but is stamping its identity as the capital of entertainment in Southeast Asia,” says JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta’s marketing & communications manager Ina Ilmaviatta. The wine and cocktail business has huge potential since the thirst of wine-lovers to become more knowledgeable is continually growing. So says Yohan Handoyo, an acknowledged wine expert and the first person to write an award-winning book on wine –  Rahasa Wine (The Secret of Wine) – in Bahasa Indonesia. Their statement is no an exaggeration. At present, two wine lounges and two cocktail bars in Jakarta meet the demands of this new target market. Since the first day of its operation, Decanter has been the topic of wine connoisseurs’ gossip. Cork & Screw’s second boutique in one of most prestigious malls in Jakarta claims it is one of the few wine lounges that can actually provide a huge selection of wine. While Potato Head enjoys surprising people with its contradictions, Untitled Bar at JW Marriott has been gaining acclaim from Jakarta imbibers.