Our Favorite Wine Bars Around the Country
Check back often for updates and
new places to visit!
Our Wine Bar Reviews:
Weekly Wine Notes definition of a "Wine Bar":
An establishment focused primarily on a variety of by-the-glass wine offerings, accompanied by snacks and small plates;
it is NOT a restaurant with a long wine list.
Reviews:
All reviews on this site will be positive, informative wine bar reviews, with possibly with some enhancement opportunities. We are critically reviewing each establishment we visit, however, for those wine bars that did not review well, we did not include here. The world has enough critics as it is.
Cheers!
GEORGIA
- Wine Bar on the River - Savannah, Georgia
- 208 Wine Bar - Savannah, Georgia
This is what a wine bar should be! Upon walking in, you instantly sense the relaxing, comfortable and peaceful, neighborhood spot atmosphere. Everyone is happy to be there, between a few tourists enjoying their vacation and the locals catching up over a glass of wine. As a single patron that day, and a new visitor, I enjoyed myself immensely chatting with everyone.
The bartender was very engaging, knowledgable and professional, walking me through their wine menu and by-the-glass and flight options. As it was Spring rosé season, I opted for his suggestion of a rosé flight, plus one Albariño that also sounded interesting. Very fun and informative. With over 30 wines by-the-glass, from over eight different countries, there is something for everyone! This is what a wine bar menu should look like - a large number of wines with geographic variety. All the wines were also available by the bottle for purchase, to drink in the bar or take home. One note: The food offering is a charcuterie tray that looks very impressive. A couple other simple small plates would do very well there - would love to see more options.
With the very professional and engaging staff, great atmosphere and excellent by-the-glass wine list, I will definitely be back to the
Wine Bar on the River!
208 Wine Bar - Savannah, Georgia
For several years now the 208 Wine Bar has been my go-to on every Savannah visit. They have an incredible 80+ wines-by-the-glass list! From over 13 different countries! This wine bar is for every wine palate, ranging from the 90% just wanting to try good easy wines, to those wanting to learn more, and then also for those who are more knowledgable, looking for a serious education. I'm always the one asking for the most obscure glass of wine for my continued education. The bartenders are extremely knowledgable, which is a must for this massive wine list. Menu offerings include several different wine flights and small plates of food.
208 Wine Bar is located in a historic 160 year old building on the riverfront. The tables are made from reclaimed wood and the columns from 1800's ship masts. There are always other parties at the bar also "pouring" through the wine list looking for the next interesting glass, adding to the fun, engaging atmosphere. Two requests for this establishment: 1) Bring back the blind tastings! That was so fun (and always educational) for those who dared to blind and as entertainment for the other patrons, and 2) Love the added small plate menu, but the quality needs to be a little better to match the great quality of the wine list.
The quality and variety of this massive 80+ wines-by-the-glass wine list makes the
208 Wine Bar a
must on your next Savannah visit!
MASSACHUSETTS
- Nathálie - Boston, Massachusetts
Finding a true wine focused bar in Boston was more difficult than anticipated, until we got to the Nathálie Wine Bar. As soon as we entered, we knew a great experience was finally waiting for us. Nathálie has a local, hip vibe, their wine focus is on small production, natural and female-owned wineries, and they are known for their unique "half-bottle" concept. Order any bottle from their extensive wine list, and if you only drink half of it, you only pay half the price! This concept also allows for many off-menu, by-the-glass options depending on what half-bottles have been ordered that day. What a great idea!
We lined up on the barstools and, after learning about Nathálie's half-bottle concept pace-of-play, we started with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Slovakia and sat back to people watch and enjoy the cool vibe of this place. Nathálie is located in the vibrant Fenway area of Boston with a diverse crowd. On this Wednesday afternoon, into the bar came a group of college students on a "pub golf" crawl. Not the typical clientele for Nathálie's, which previously felt more like a quiet escape on a weekday afternoon, but the staff handled it tremendously, opening a bottle of wine for the group, ensuring they had a good time, and then on to the next bar they went, relatively quickly. Everyone had a good laugh.
The focus here is on the very diverse wine list, with offerings of sparkling (including a sparkling Korean rice wine), whites, reds, several orange wines, rosé wines, and fortified wines. It was a fun list to pour through, and the staff had great knowledge of each wine. Though the focus is on the wine, the small food plate offerings deserve a special note. Chef Isaac Reyes has created an amazing menu of small snacks, charcuterie, vegetables, and the most delectable hot items like "Sexy Hashbrowns" with yogurt, caviar and chives, "Slow-Roasted Pork Empanadas", with guava-fresno chili jam; "Lamb Meatballs"; and "Steak Skewers"; something for every person and to pair with every wine.
Additional Expert Reviews of the Bar and Owner: Owner Haley Fortier opened the Nathálie Wine Bar in 2018 and has since received much local and national recognition. Haley was recognized by Food & Wine Magazine as one of 2019's Somms of the Year. The Nathálie Wine Bar has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a semifinalist for Best Wine Program, along with additional awards from Food & Wine Magazine, Imbibe Magazine, Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, and others. Credit also to Katherine Stevens, the General Manager we met on our visit, who was a great source of positive energy and an experienced, and supportive hospitality leader for her team.
Next time you're in Boston, add Nathálie Wine Bar to your list of great wine bars to visit!
NEW JERSEY
- Cree Wine Company - Hampton, New Jersey
On my latest East Coast road trip I happened upon the most unexpected wine oasis in Hampton, New Jersey?! In 2021 Chris Cree, New Jersey's only Master of Wine, established this incredible wine bar in his home town which has subsequently earned Wine Spectator awards. His mission: To make wine more enjoyable, accessible and less intimidating. This wine bar hits all metrics on my Wine Bar checklist: The quality and geographic diversity of wines; the number of by-the-glass options; the food; the experienced/engaging staff; the atmosphere.
I chose a White Burgundy flight from one of their 16 different flight options. This flight included an Aligoté and two Chardonnay wines, one from Côtes de Nuits and one from Côtes de Beaune. What a unique, educational side-by-side comparison tasting. Other flights included red burgundy, Rhône varietals, Spain & Portugal, Bordeaux, Orange wines, Rosé wines, sweet wines, and premium whites and reds. I could spend an entire weekend there, calling it an "Educational Weekend"! They also offer 1, 2, 3 and 6 oz pours, perfect for enjoying and learning. All wines are available by the bottle, and are charged a flat $35 fee above the retail price, versus restaurants which add a 200% + markup on their wines.
Cree Wine Company offers a selection of small plates along with suggested wine pairings. We ordered a charcuterie board and also the toasted sourdough with warm ricotta, garlic evoo and rosemary. Larger plate options are available in the wine bar, or go to their separate restaurant area for a full dinner.
On my final quality wine bar metrics, regarding the atmosphere and staff: all the staff were very approachable and engaging, including Chris Cree who was available and came to chat with us. As a Master of Wine, he clearly knows his wine but was very fun, informative and unpretentious, wanting everyone to learn about and enjoy his wine selections. The wine bar itself was a beautiful space, filled with large format artwork, hip (but quiet) background music, and clean, modern, comfortable seating areas. Did I mention I could spend an entire weekend here?
I've been on countless long road trips in my life and this experience is a classic example of why I love them - the most interesting and unexpected people, places and experiences you happen upon that were not planned. Please add the Cree Wine Company to your must-visit destinations!
North Carolina
- Sixty Vines - Raleigh, North Carolina
Sixty Vines - Raleigh, North Carolina
Driving up to my Raleigh, North Carolina hotel recently on a work trip, I realized there was a Sixty Vines Wine Bar right next door. After my fantastic visit to the Sixty Vines in Reston, Virginia, I couldn't wait to try out this next location.
The Sixty Vines wine bar is so named as it offers 60 different wines from a sustainable tap system. The wine taps feed directly from kegs underneath the bar, in a glass, temperature controlled cabinet. The kegs are sealed from oxygen, eliminating the need for glass bottles, corks and labels. This system is more environmentally friendly and also provides for a wider selection of wines at great values. I love the concept, though they are not very appealing to look at while sitting at the bar. The Reston location has their kegs hidden behind a wall, resulting in a more clean, visually appealing bar. Reston also has very pretty tile wine labels posted over each tap, whereas at the Raleigh location, I watched as the staff appeared to be struggling to read the labels, apparently written on the counter somewhere next to each tap, trying to find the wines for each order. That said, Sixty Vines does have a great concept, and I love the large selection of by-the-glass options.
Wine offerings are from many different countries; different styles including orange wines, dessert wines and sparkling; and different pour sizes (2.5 oz, 5 oz, 8 oz and carafes). The menu provides great ideas for different wine flights for fun side-by-side tasting/education. I've been struggling on my blind tastings recently, distinguishing between Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño, so I took this opportunity to practice again. The staff gave me 2.5 oz pours of each, without telling me which was in each glass. I called them correctly! Very much appreciate the staff for their assistance and engagement. It was a fun evening.
Sixty vines has a bright, fun atmosphere with upbeat music and different areas to sit based on your mood/company. This Raleigh location is different from the Reston location in that it has a beautiful rooftop area with a long bar and additional, casual seating areas. Like Reston, the Raleigh Sixty Vines also has a great selection of charcuterie, light bites and larger dishes.
Sixty Vines has 16 different locations around the country, with continued expansion underway. Please try a location near you.
To the Sixty Vines owners - Please make Atlanta your next location addition!
South Carolina
- Ram Cat Cellars Wine & Craft - Seneca, South Carolina
On a weekend trip to beautiful Lake Keowee, we dropped in to Ram Cat Cellars in nearby Seneca, a very popular place for both locals and vacationers. The entrance is speakeasy-like as you walk down a flight of stairs to the basement of this historic 1917 building. It then opens up into a larger, fun space to mingle, explore, sit at a table for dinner, or just hang out at the bar watching sports on their televisions. Grab a glass and a chip reader card and start pouring yourself 2, 4 or 6 ounces from the 32 different wines on tap. Wines offered were from the U.S., South Africa, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Spain, France and Italy. I especially loved the option of four different wines from Washington state, an under appreciated wine region! A good wine bar must have a diverse country/region selection like Ram Cat Cellars. The printed wine menu offers more bottle and by-the-glass selections, along with four different wine flights to choose from. Additionally, there's a full bar, nine beers on tap, and a large menu of different bourbon/rye/whiskeys - something for everyone in your group.
The over-the-top experience at Ram Cat Cellars was their 500 degree cooking stone at your table. Select from many different beef, wild game, lamb, and/or seafood options. The meat and seafood all come from Ram Cat Cellars' owned Stock & Barrel Butcher shop next door, another must visit while you're there. For our cooking stone we chose the "Big Three Steak Flight" - 3oz each of Ribeye, Tenderloin and NY Strip, adding the 4oz shrimp option, which was accompanied by three dipping sauces: Korean BBQ, blue cheese fondue, and white wine garlic butter. The hot cooking stone, sauces and protein are all delivered to your table for you to cook to your desired temperature. So delicious and so fun. There are also many additional small plate, charcuterie, salad and flatbread options. The staff were all very quick, knowledgable and helpful in ensuring a great experience, including providing information on food/wine menus, and explaining wine tap and important hot cooking stone procedures.
Fun fact: A barber shop operated from the 1940's to the 60's in the Ram Cat Cellars space. The granddaughter of the barber shop owner donated to Ram Cat Cellars shears from the barber shop which are displayed on the wall.
Ram Cat Cellars
hits on all marks for wine, food, service and atmosphere. I was here to visit beautiful Lake Keowee, but am coming back for this fabulous wine bar!
VIRGINIA
- The Tremolo Bar - Middleburg, Virginia
- Sixty Vines - Reston, Virginia
Sixty Vines - Reston, Virginia
On a Sunday afternoon, I spent several hours at the beautifully designed wine bar of Sixty Vines, Reston, VA, tasting wines from their selection of 60 taps, eating great food and making new friends with the wine staff, which won me an inside tour of their huge tap room in the back! What a fabulous space to learn more about wine with friends.
The Sixty Vines wine bar is so named as it offers 60 different wines from a sustainable tap system. The wine taps feed directly from kegs hidden behind the wall in a huge, chilled refrigeration area. The kegs are sealed from oxygen, eliminating the need for glass bottles, corks and labels. This system is more environmentally friendly and also provides for a wider selection of wines at great values. What a great concept! Wine offerings are from many different countries; different styles including orange wines, dessert wines and sparkling; and different pour sizes (2.5 oz, 5 oz, 8 oz and carafes). The menu provides great ideas for different wine flights for fun side-by-side tasting/education, though with the great wine diversity, I was anxious to build my own wine flights. I spent a couple hours there ordering 2.5 oz pours of wines, including a Grüner Veltliner, Albariño, Ridge Zin, Côtes du Rhône GSM, and a California Cab Franc. This is what a true wine bar is all about, where the major focus is on the wine.
Sixty vines has a bright, fun atmosphere with upbeat music, different areas to sit based on your mood/company (high-tops, long bar, lounge), and professional and engaging staff. Their motto is "...a pinkies down approach to wine culture that makes fine wine approachable and fun for everyone." There's also a great selection of charcuterie, light bites and larger dishes.
Sixty Vines has 16 different locations around the country, with continued expansion underway. Please try a location near you.
To the Sixty Vines owners - Please make Atlanta your next location addition!
Tremolo Bar - Middleburg, Virginia
On our weekend escape to the quiet Virginia countryside, the Tremolo Bar was an incredible find in this small, historic town of Middleburg. Jarad Slipp, a Master Somm who has worked at Michelin-star restaurants around the world, including Gordon Ramsay in London, and who also earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, created this unique wine bar in 2022. Tremolo is a dichotomy; a first-class wine bar with over 70 wines by the glass, paired with small bites, each a culinary masterpiece, in a beautiful space, yet at the same time casual, relaxing, and unpretentious. It's a perfect respite mid-day, taking a break from local shopping, or in the evening, enjoying the peace of the countryside, in fine style.
A great wine bar is focused on the by-the-glass wine list. Jarad says, "We're pouring wines that you don't find anywhere in the world by the glass, but I do it because it's cool and interesting to me." Love that! From discussions with their experienced, friendly staff, we selected several unique glasses of wine from the massive wine list which, in addition to the sparkling/white/red sections, included sections for "Baller White Wine (Mostly Burgundy)", "Baller Red Wine", and "Fortified / Stickies". Selections are also available by the bottle at Tremolo, and by the bottle at his wine shop down the street, "Knead Wine", so named as apparently it's the best place in town to get a fabulous carry-out pizza.
The food menu has a vast selection of small plate options, from lighter snacks and charcuterie, to vegetables and more substantial meat and seafood. For fun, we ordered the white and black truffle popcorn to pair with our white wine, and then an amazing Hanger Steak with Chimichurri sauce with a glass of red. Though a more substantial item on the menu, the steak was served as manageable, small plate slices. I'm still fondly remembering today the taste of that delectable sauce.
Pretty great life in the peaceful countryside, drinking fine wine, paired with 5-star culinary food, in a clean, casual, minimalistic decor bar, with Steely Dan and Bob Seger playing quietly in the background. Make Tremolo Bar your next destination spot, with also a nod to the exquisite Salamander Resort for your overnight stay.
