K'nB Wine Cellars in Del Cerro...

VESPER VINEYARDS has a new tasting room in Escondido...

BARRIQUE

461 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
415.421.9200

We sought out Barrique because we're interested in the ecological and cost-saving potential of serving wines straight from the barrels. But we didn't realize that Cellar Master Matt Weese has a hand in production too; all of the barrel wine is private labelled. With six reds and three whites on tap, ordering two flights was the perfect way to get a sense of what Barrique has to offer.

The 2010 Russian River Chardonnay tastes of oak but not butter and fruit but not sweetness. According to Matt, "This is what Chardonnay tastes like. It's all about the grape." Who would argue? Another Chardonnay from Yorkville Highlands was mildly spicy, with a tantalizing nose. We moved on to a toasty 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir - mid-range in weight and a bit sweet at first, with tannins that emerge slowly, and a 2009 Arroyo Seco Syrah - bursting with black cherry and peppery on the finish, and a special treat: 2003 Bordeaux style Merlot. There's an element of surprise in these wines. The first burst of flavor doen't tell what's coming next, yet in every case we noted an exceptional finish.

Matt studied winemaking in college and is clearly following his passion to offer high-quality wines at reasonable prices via a business that's sustainable for people and the planet. Barrique is a wonderful venue for tasting and learning, or just relaxing after work or on weekends. In addition to the barrel selections there's a nice list of Northern California and French wines by the glass or bottle and a well curated snack menu.

Barrique is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 12am, Sunday & Monday 3pm - 10pm

CORKBAR

403 W. 12^th St., Downtown Los Angeles

213.746.0050

In Corkbar's roomy downtown space, guests can choose from more than fifty wines by the glass – all from northern and central California. The general palate is quite fruit-forward, but we encountered a couple of Pinot Noirs to our liking: 2009 Foxen (Santa Maria) and 2009 Morgan (Monterey). There are also whites from Alma Rosa, one of our favorite Santa Barbara County wineries.

The prices may seem a bit steep, but pours are generous and our bartender Rob was happy to offer a few tastes.  There’s also beer and food worthy of a snack or a meal. We'd love to see some SoCal wines here!

FINCH'S WINE BAR AND BISTRO

7644 Girard Ave, La Jolla
Open Tuesday-Saturday 11:30-10
858.456.4056

We didn't quite know what to make of a wine bar without any wine on its website, but were very pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to Finch's. There are 29 wines by the glass; our server knew them and was happy to pour a few tastes. The selections come from all over the map, but there's clearly a palate here, and one we liked. Thoughtfully assembled three-wine flights are also an option.


Behind the bar at Finch's

Guests can enjoy a full meal or just snack. In the latter category, the musroom paté is excellent. Next time we'll sit at the bar - a pleasant spot totally hidden from the street. There's also a very nice patio.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE COMPANY tasting room & wine bar

Vintners Nathan, Sandy, and Garrett Marsh have just opened a friendly, comfortable tasting room and wine bar right in downtown Ramona, exclusively featuring San Diego County wines and beers. Their place is in the rear of the antique store at 369 Main St. Currently six wineries are represented: Lenora, Mahogany Mountain, Orfila, Pamo, Salerno, and Shadow Mountain. This list is already quite good and will only expand as the Marshes continue to reach out to area wineries.

In a few years the Marshes will be pouring their own El Tesoro wines too. According to Nathan, "If it weren't for Alex and Shadow Mountain we wouldn't be doing this." A visit there is what inspired Nathan and Sandy to plant vines on their twelve acres in Ranchita. Nathan explains his family's leap into vinticulture quite simply: "I just like wine!"

Guests of SoCal Wine Co. may choose five tastes for $8 or purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Bottle prices are the same as at the wineries. The menu below is a sample; offernings change.

760.518.1229 760.518.0296

BROOKLYN WINERY

Co-owner John Stires did some extracurricular winemaking before he and Brian Leventhal, linked by their stints at ExpoTV, took it to the next level and founded the Brooklyn Winery. The 6000 sq. ft. winery, restaurant, and event space opened its doors in October 2010. The winery’s immediate predecessor in what, from the street, resembles a warehouse was a seedy nightclub called “Supreme Trading.” Only a disco ball remains of that iteration. The winery is a comfortable multi-level space with a courtyard that doubles as a dock for receiving and crushing climate-controlled truckloads of grapes.

The Disco Ball

We sampled the three house-made wines on tap, especially liking pleasantly dry “Untitled” Finger Lakes Riesling and a jammy Zinfandel from Lodi, CA fruit. Bartender Greg told us that there’ll be a new-release Merlot in about two months. The printed menu showcases an international selection of wines by the glass that offers very good value for price, plus thoughtfully chosen, high-quality food offerings. One can order a yummy snack or a satisfying meal.

In 2011 Brooklyn Winery’s Finger Lakes Riesling and Chardonnay won gold medals at the New York State Food and Wine Festival. Winemaker Conor McCormack brings a Northern California sensibility to what he does, specializing in boutique custom crush operations and micro-lot fermentations. He likes to experiment, e.g., by aging the same wine in steel plus two different wood barrels. McCormack aims not only to produce the best wine possible from the best fruit available, but also to demonstrate the different styles of wine that can be made from the same fruit.

Clients' Wines

Brooklyn Winery offers an array of winemaking packages tailored to clients’ budgets and the degree to which they want to participate in the process.

213 N. 8^th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (about a 10-minute subway ride from Union Square)  M-Th 5pm – 12 am, F 5pm – 1 am, Sa 1pm-1am, Su 1pm-12am. The kitchen closes an hour early. 347-763-1506

THE BARREL ROOM AT CITY WINERY

This is our kind of place! We’d barely removed our hats and gloves when friendly bartender Saida brought us tastes of City Winery’s Petit Syrah. Soon we were sipping out way through the lineup, guided by Raul Mesias, Director of Wine Sales. Soothed by gentle rumblings from the No. 2 subway below, we tasted ten wines on tap: two featuring New York State grapes, the rest from California. Our favorites were Finger Lakes, NY Cabernet Franc; Lake County, CA Barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc; and Lodi, CA Petit Syrah. The comprehensive wine list offers much more by the glass and around 500 bottles representing the best of what just about anyone could want to drink.

The Bar

Bottle Lamps, Streetside at Dusk

The Barrel Room restaurant and tasting bar is a very recent addition to this 21,000-foot space, which Michael Dorf of Knitting Factory fame opened as an urban winery and nightly music venue in 2008. City Winery specializes in barrel ownership, offering hands-on experience in the winemaking process and of course private labels to document the results. Winemaker David Lecomte hails from the Rhone Valley, but he’s open to working with grapes from anywhere, provided that they can be properly transported. A barrel (average price around $8000) yields 252 bottles – quite a lot of a single wine, but barrel owners automatically become “members” in the winery and are invited to classes and private events where they can informally trade wine amongst themselves.

In August 2012 City Winery will open a new spot in Chicago’s West Loop. Meanwhile, check here for current information about the NYC winery's hours and events. 155 Varick St. between Spring and Vandam 212.608.0555

UNCORKED Wine Bar - Orange County

22342 El Paseo
Rancho Santa Margarita
949.589.1156

Bar Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 4:30-9, Thursday 4:30-10, Friday-Saturday 4:30-11, Sunday noon-6. Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday 4:30-6:30.

We decided to branch out a bit and explore some wine venues in the OC (Orange County).  UnCorked is a wine shop and bar with an excellent selection of global wines, offering good value for price, regardless of whether you intend to spend $18 or $200 on a bottle. In the back there's a very friendly wine bar with a thoughtfully crafted list by the glass or in flights, plus a bit of food. We enjoyed tastes of Tobin James Chardonnay (Monterrey, CA), Mud House Pinot Noir (Central Otago, New Zealand), and Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz (Clare Valley, Australia). According to owner George Riviere, “If I don’t like it, I don’t buy it.” This straightforward philosophy seems to be working quite well.

AMAZING GRAPES Wine Bar - Orange County

Amazing Grapes

29911 Aventura Suites D, E and F
Rancho Santa Margarita

949.888.9007

Bar Hours: Monday-Tuesday 5-7, Wednesday-Saturday 5-10

Amazing Grapes is an expansive wine store with something for everybody, including a “wines under $10” section. There’s a tasting area with a bar and tables; the food menu accommodates guests who want to dine as well as those who just want a nibble with their wine. About fifteen wines are offered by the taste (2 oz.); selections change every two weeks. Or, choose a bottle from the store and enjoy it at the bar with no corkage fee. There are $10 flights on Wednesdays and winery tastings on Thursdays.

THE ROSE WINE PUB

South Park, 30^th between Juniper and Ivy

Closed Mondays

The Rose is named after its location in the historic Rose Grocery Store building. To construct its tasteful, functional interior the owners almost exclusively used reclaimed materials. Featuring small-producer/Terroir-focused wineries from around the world, this place is a newly minted neighborhood gem. The food menu features well composed salads (a rarity at wine bars) and crispy flatbreads with tasty toppings.

On a recent visit we especially enjoyed the 2009 Falesco Merlot from Umbria, recommended by bartender/wine enthusiast Jason.

BACCHUS WINE MARKET AND TASTING ROOM

Gaslamp, G Street between 6th and 7th

Open daily

Proprietors Jeff and Karin have beautifully remodeled this basement wine bar and retail store. It’s a stone’s throw from the madness of the Gaslamp, but atmospherically miles away. The music is quiet; the mood is warm and inviting.  Karin is a certified wine educator; Jeff’s an expert on California wines. They insist on tasting before they buy, only stock wines that are not available in chain stores, and usually procure only a case or two of any given vintage. In the course of a year, the store offers 1200-1500 different wines!  Visitors to the wine bar can choose from at least 14 wines by the glass. Corkage is only $5 for bottles under $20 and free for more expensive bottles. There’s also an impressive list of craft beers by the bottle and a short menu of wine-friendly snacks.

On Fridays and Saturdays Bacchus offers themed tastings, e.g., seven Spanish and Portuguese wines, Pinot Noirs, wines rated 90 or above by Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate… on a walk-in basis. Jeff and Karin partner with Venissimo Cheese to put on pairing workshops and are happy to host private tasting/pairing/wine education events.

CAFE BLEU

Mission Hills

807 W. Washington Street
Open Daily

On a recent visit we were very impressed with Café Bleu’s eclectic international wine list and enjoyed talking with bartender Robin. There were 27 wines available by the half-glass, glass, or bottle. The setting is welcoming and invites conversation with bar or table seating options and good acoustics. In the mood for reds, we tried (and liked!) a 2009 Fedriani Laffite from Valencia, Spain, 2004 Mankas Cabernet Sauvignon from the Suisun Valley in NoCal, and 2009 Marques Reinosa Gardenos Rioja. The happy hour menu (3:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily) features ten wines at $5/glass and a nice selection of food – from cheeses and small bites to a burger or croque monsieur. Bottles of wine are half price on Mondays; Tuesday – Thursday there are specials on beer and wine flights. Café Bleu has a full kitchen serving weekday lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner nightly.

THIRD CORNER WINE SHOP AND BISTRO

Ocean Beach, 2265 Bacon (from Sunset Cliffs, turn right on Voltaire and just follow the road)

Closed Mondays

This place meets our wine bar criteria even though the wine-by-the-glass menu, though adequate and very affordable, is not something we’d detour for. The tiny (full) bar is a mellow local hang, but serious wine drinkers should browse the well curated collection of over 1000 bottles. Give a few clues about what you like and someone will help you navigate. Stay for appetizers or a meal; the food is good and corkage is only $5. Or just shop. A recent foray in search of Santa Barbara whites yielded an impressive array of choices.

VOYOU

Hillcrest, 5^th & Pennsylvania, west side

Closed Sundays

Voyou is a comfortably trendy cocktail and wine lounge with service that makes us feel like guests in owner Renaud’s home. The wine-by-the-glass list (dry to a fault) is international and well priced. In a city with limited late-night dining options, it’s noteworthy that Voyou’s kitchen stays open as late as the bar. Get the tuna tartare.

THE WINE LOVER

Hillcrest, 5^th between University and Washington

Open daily

This is probably the oldest wine bar in town. Visitors can choose flights, half-glasses, glasses, and bottles from a well selected list of U.S. and international wines. The indoor-outdoor setting is classy and conversation-friendly. There’s a limited menu of wine-friendly snacks and sweets. On a recent visit we noticed that the prices seemed much more reasonable, suitably adjusted to the current economy. During happy hour (4:30-6:30 daily) there are even $5 glasses and $20 bottles.