Decisions, Decisions: Favorite Wine Bars

My Favorite Wine Bars!

Photo Source: 

http://www.janesgourmetdeli.com/Restaurant/TheWineWall.aspx

Dear Enthusiasts! I am shocked to learn that I have not yet shouted out my favorite wine bars! We have covered my favorite places to grab

drinks in NYC

and we have considered what to consider when

choosing a wine bar

for your evening - but - now I will give you all my insider tips!

New York.

  Let's start with the greatest city in the world. NYC! There are so many options here, frankly too many. Below are my top 5 favorites, places that I could go to night after night and always have a good time. I am

sure

 there are tons that I missed, if so, just shout out your favorite place in the comments section.

1. Amelie (Greenwich Village).  

I have probably shouted out this wine bar multiple times. But this place deserves it! The ambiance is great - sleek and modern, yet cozy. But what's even better is the food and drink. All the snacks are delicious, but the wine list is extensive. Added bonus - the servers are super fun! 

2. The Immigrant (East Village).

  I walked by this place most days for almost six months before I actually stopped by, but I was oh so glad when I did! This place exudes simple, rustic charm. The wine list is short, but full of complex choices. Go for drinks and snacks, but don't expect dinner!

3. Terroir (East Village).

  Go for the Riesling selection, stay for the snacks! But an insider tip - one of the best happy hour deals I have seen in Manhattan. 

4. Cork Buzz Wine Studio (Union Square).

  If you want to experience great wine served by a truly knowledgeable staff - this is the place to go! Co-founded by one of my favorite Master Sommeliers (and 1 of only 20 women), the wine list really offers a great selection. Tons of familiar wine styles and even more interesting new glasses to try. Plus the food is delicious!

5. Murray's Cheese Bar (West Village).

  Wine + cheese = happiness. Need I say more?

Photo Source: 

http://www.allposters.com.au/-sp/

L-Instant-Taittinger-posters_i421309_.htm

Boston.

  Now some New Yorkers wouldn't dare admit that there is life outside of the city, but I love exploring new places. One of the first things I do when I visit

a new city is find a great wine store and wine bar within the neighborhood. So this summer when I lived in Boston, I quickly found 

Belly Wine Bar

 in Cambridge. Rustic style wine bar with a very creative wine list. I wouldn't head there for a filling meal, but the snacks were definitely delicious.

Baltimore.

  (No, it's not just like The Wire). I lived in Charm City for over a year and in that time I learned that Baltimore is not really a big wine town. No matter! I still stumbled upon

13.5% Wine Bar

 in Hampden. The wine bar has a extensive list and fun snacks. But just in case you needed another reason, Hampden is a must visit neighborhood all on its own - hon fest, hipsters, great food! (Plus my favorite wine store of

all time

 The Wine Source). 

Annapolis.

  I may love living in the City, but I actually grew up in Maryland (aka the mid-atlantic,

not

 the South for you Northerners). One of my favorite places to visit when I'm back in town is

 Red Red Wine Bar

 on Main Street. It a relatively new addition, but well worth the wait.

Wilmington (Delaware that is).

I recently visited family in the Wilmington area, so true to form, I researched the wine bars. My favorite is 

Pochi,

 a wine bar featuring wines and food from Chile. Delicious!

Cheers!

The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: A Night Out on the Town

"Life is too short, and I'm Italian. I'd much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size zero."

                                                                                              ~ Sophia Bush 

Photo Source: 

http://www.hampshirewineschool.com/catlist.php?cat=64

Hey there Enthusiasts! This week the wine club is in search of a change of scenery. Well, in search for a great wine club really. This month, the wine club will explore what makes a great wine bar!

As usual, what makes a great wine bar is whether it suits your personal taste. If you like it, then it's a great spot. However, if you are looking for something new, I usually consider the following:

1. Formalities:

 I know its unromantic, but its the lawyer in me to start with logistics. Does the wine bar your looking at take reservations? Do they have an awesome happy hour? Sometimes having a reservation and some piece of mind is worth it.

2. Ambiance:

 Are you looking for a place that is small and off the beaten path. Somewhere where you can see and be seen? Or somewhere with dimly-lit tables and a low key atmosphere. If any of the above is important to you, you will want to focus your search on specific types of bars.

3. Wine Region:

 Now - finally to the wine! Do you want to try something from a specific region or do you want to visit a place with a diverse wine list? Some bars will focus only on Italian or French wine - so if you are craving a creamy California Chardonnay, you may want to narrow your search accordingly.

4. Wine Selection:

 Similarly, if you are looking to try something new and different - I recommend looking for a bar with a diverse list of wines by the glass. This way you can try wines from many different regions without breaking the bank (or your liver for that matter).

5. Food Options:

 You may be thinking - duh! what wine bar doesn't have food? But don't over look this step. I've been caught at a great wine bar, craving something for dinner, and turning to bread and cheese for dinner alone (which is great - but expensive).

Just a few things to think about when choosing a wine bar! My ultimate recommendation - try something new!

Cheers!

NYC Favorites: Drinks

So it's no secret - I love a good glass of wine. With this interest in mind, I spent the better part of my time in NYC hunting down some of the best places to grab drinks in the city. May fun times be held by all!

1. Dead Rabbit.

 My all time favorite bar in NYC, ever (as of 2013)! For me a favorite has three key components: excellent drinks, distinct ambiance and quality service. DR has all of these and then some! Think historic five points NYC (circa The Gangs of New York movie) with creatively mixed drinks and none of the violence. Grab a table on the second floor - it is worth the wait. There you can choose from a vast range of traditional drinks popular throughout history or go for a modern special. The only downside - this bar is about as far downtown as you can go. Solution -just grab yourself a gentleman (or lady) who works on Wall Street as a date.

2. Corkbuzz Wine Bar.

 A favorite classic wine bar. I first discovered CB when I read an article about the owner, she was the youngest female Master Sommelier in the field. Naturally, as a supporter of Accomplished Ladies, that alone was enough for me to check it out. I was not disappointed - the decor is warm and classic, the service was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable and the wine was great. The list itself is very diverse. Only downfall is that is a bit pricey but worth it for special occasions.

3. Terroir Wine Bar.  

If a wine bar was worthy of my "friendly neighborhood wine bar" Terroir would win hands down. It's a cozy bar with awesome staff - just a great place to hang out during the week. Full disclosure - the list is Riesling heavy - but there are plenty of alternates on the list as well.

4. The Ginger Man.

 Finally, a bar featuring beer! The bar reminds me of classic NYC with  modern twist. There is plenty of room at the bar with couches in the back to lounge on. The beer selection is HUGE. A must see for beer lovers in midtown.

5. Balkanika.

 Now some of you may be wondering why I would suggest heading to Hell's Kitchen near the heart of Times Square and the Theater District. The reason - diverse wines. This wine bar features wines from Eastern Europe including Croatia and Estonia. The food is decent and the service is usually lack luster. But I kind of enjoyed the sassy waitresses. It made me feel like I was in Croatia for a bit. Not worth a long commute, but its something different.

6. Le Bateau Ivre.

 If you want to feel like you left NYC and landed in France for a night, head to LBI. I found it one night on a whim but it has an extensive wine list featuring French wines. Best on nights where you could sit outside.

7. Elsa.

 Solid cocktail bar in East Village. A must see if you love gin based drinks.

8. Middle Branch.

 A midtown cocktail bar brought to you by the owners of Little Branch. 

9. Pegu Club.

 If you want a more high end cocktail experience in NYC, PC is a good choice. While I am sure there are fancier establishments, I enjoyed my experience at PC without feeling like I wouldn't be able to buy groceries for the rest of the month. 

10. The Biergarten at The Standard.

 If you find yourself in Chelsea craving a beer al fresco, this is the place to go. For those of you who have been to The Black Forest in Germany, this place may remind you of there, minus the forest and plus one overpass. Sure, it may not seem so magical to be sitting under an overpass while drinking beer, but its a nice alternative to the pricey club scene in Chelsea. (And you will be thankful if it rains). 

Bonus -- While I wanted to cap the list at ten, these two places were favorite neighborhood spots. First,

Pierre Loti Wine Bar

, a cute bistro with outdoor seating and a vast wine list. Second,

Zum Schneider,

 small but authentic bavarian beer garten.

Also, check out any of my favorite

Speakeasy bars

. 

Finally, if you are looking for a bottle of something to share at home, here are some Wine Stores worthy of a shout out:

 Union Square Wines and Bottlerocket Wine and Spirit. 

Cheers!

A Place to Wet Your Whistle: Speakeasy Style!

While the prohibition era is long gone, 

many drinking establishments in New York City channel the speakeasy style. As a fan of golden eras,  old New York, and the good ol' days, I have made it a mission to find the best speakeasy style bars in town.

Photo Credit: Photofest via NYTimes,

available at

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/06/02/dining/20090603-speakeasy-slideshow_3.html

For those who love history... the prohibition era grew out of an anti-alcohol movement from the 1830s-1840s. Abolitionists fighting slavery frequently criticized alcohol as a similar evil worthy of destruction. After the Civil War, several organizations began to lobby against alcohol, including, the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League. In fact, the Anti-Saloon League became one of the most successful single issue lobbying groups in America. After Congress ratified the income tax amendment in 1913, the government no longer depended on liquor taxes as a source of revenue. Eventually, under the pressure Anti-Saloon League's highly successful lobbying campaign, both houses of Congress ratified the 18th amendment. It became effective on January 17, 1920. For more information on the rise of Prohibition, check out PBS's film by the same name

here.

The result of prohibition... hidden bars supplied by bootleggers, frequently known as speakeasies. Common features of these places included, no signs, unmarked doors, dark spaces, and hushed voices. Despite prohibitions relatively swift demise, these hidden gems still remain popular places to grab a drink. While I'm no expert, below is a list of my favorite speakeasy style spots:

5. Little Branch.

 This was the first speakeasy I ever visited in New York. I was such a beginner, that I had literally walked by the door multiple times and never noticed the place. To this day, I still use that as a factor in determining my favorite places. What I love ... ambiance and drinks! Once downstairs, the space really takes you back in time. The bartenders dress up and people are speaking in hushed tones around candlelit tables. Furthermore, the drinks here still remain some of the most creative drinks available in the West Village. I am excited to try another location owned by the same group called Middle Branch.

4.

Amor y Amargo.

 For those of you who have been turned away from Death & Co. due to the long wait, Amor y Amargo is a hidden treasure worth stopping by. It's just two minutes from D&C, but after one drink you may almost forget about its popular neighbor. The space is beyond small, but the drinks are worth it. The bartenders use a variety of bitters to give their own spin on traditional favorites like gin & tonic, the manhattan, and the cosmopolitan. However, my drink of choice is the Francois Four-Play (no longer on the menu - but they will still make it for you).

3. Death & Co.  

D&C earned the third spot on my list due to its awesome decor and extensive drink list. The space is dimly lit but somewhat spacious (as far as speakeasies go). The servers are dressed in 1940s style clothing and very friendly. The last time I came here I ordered a champagne cocktail and something with calvados (apple brandy) - both excellent. The one downside - its nearly impossible to get in here due to the long wait list. But if you are in the area, it is a must see.

2. Pouring Ribbons.

  New location, but experienced bartenders. I almost wanted to exclude PR from the list just to keep it a secret from the masses - but it is that good, I had to share. PR has a simple entrance, located on Avenue B, but its actually on the second floor. Once upstairs, you will notice the decor is simple yet classic and very spacious. I sat at the bar when I last visited - which is great because you can watch the drink making process and chat with the bartender. My group probably tasted half the drinks on the menu that night, and each was better than the last. What kept PR from the #1 spot you may ask? -- lack of comfy couches. 

1. Raines Law Room.

  RLR is my favorite speakeasy style bar in NYC for one key reason -- decor. From beginning to end, my experience at RLR exudes speakeasy style. From the gentleman who answers the door, to the overstuffed couches, to the interesting wallpaper (look closely next time) - everything is romantic, classic and cool. And the drinks, they are the perfect blend of technique and creativity. I have not had a drink there that I did not like.

Please let me know if there is a speakeasy style location you think I missed. I will happily visit it and let you know! 

Cheers!