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First time here and I can see why this place has such raving reviews. Sat at the bar and was warmly greeted by Dena, the owner of Vino Nostra. Love the ambiance and atmosphere of this little wine bar; just overall a really good vibe. Everyone is super friendly here and really felt like such a happy bunch. Seems like lots of regulars here which is always a great sign. I don’t know much about wines; so wherever I go, I always go for flights. We also got a glass of Rosè (since you know, all the cool kids are drinking it), along with a charcuterie plate. Everything was delicious, Dena and the rest of the staff made sure to always check up on us. Overall, it was a lovely evening (earthquake and all). Definitely will become one of the regulars here. Place fills up fast; so get here early!

Vinology Bottle Shop + Tasting Bar – Menu with Prices – 2314 Bissonnet St, Houston

This is such a good spot to learn more about wine, particularly wines that may not have broad distribution (i.e., not wines you can get at a grocery store). Vinology is part store and part wine bar. The place is curated and stocked by someone who clearly knows wine – most everything here is small production and difficult to find in this town. Prices are good too, and definitely in line with other smaller retailers in town. They will occasionally have a wine producer or distributor offering tastings. The best part of this place is the wine bar. You can order by the glass or in flights. The flights change frequently, and feature unusual and exciting themes. For example, last time I was there, they offered an entire flight of South African Chenin Blanc and another of all red wines from Sicily aged in amphorae rather than barrels. I mean, come on. That’s so dang cool. Staff is super knowledgeable about everything too, so if exploring some of these lesser-known wines and regions scares you, don’t hesitate to ask. They will pour and chat and find you something excellent. I do wish they had a kitchen… I honestly would be here a lot more if they did. But everything else is so good, I couldn’t drop down any stars. Check it out!

Holme Estate Cellars – Menu with Prices – 216 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside

I’m not the biggest wine drinker but I do appreciate good wine and they have that here at Holmes. I was very surprised to see a wine tasting room in Oceanside. So when I heard about it I had to try it out. They’re not in a big location and I kind of like that because you get that personal touch. Scott who is the man is very helpful, very knowledgeable about the wines and doesn’t look down on you because you don’t know your wines. I’ve been here twice now and each time I really enjoyed myself. The tasting room is very well put together and they have a wonderful lounge area as soon as you walk in the front door. They offer flights, tastings, glasses of wines and of course bottles. A friend of mine bought a bottle of Rosé which is my favorite wine here at Holmes. I can’t wait to come back because the wine is great, Scott is excellent at his job and the prices aren’t bad at all. This just may become my spot!

SPiLL – The Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 4800 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh

We stopped in to see what this brand new wine bar was all about – always exciting to have someplace new to try out! I learned that Spill has a special license that allows them to carry special wines from a few limited release wineries in Italy and Australia. Basically, they have some really unique options. The owner, Robin, is delightful, and helped us sample several of the offerings they had available. We were instantly smitten with the decor – rich leather chairs, bright airy big windows, a cozy bar at the back. The first wine we tried was a montepulciano grape rose. It was dry, lightly fruity, and crisp, hitting every mark without being derivative. Next, we sampled a Sauvignon Blanc, which was so unusual – all fruit and melon on the nose, but bone dry and light. We ended with two reds, a Rosso and another Italian wine I can’t spell (sorry! It was really tasty too!). The Rosso was intense and piney in aromatics, but clean and light in flavor. The final wine was rich, dark and intense, but still not as hit-you-over-the-head as most American cab sauv’s. We ended up splitting a glass of rose (perfection) while nibbling on some pistachios and picking out a box of six more wines to go. The prices are not “cheap” ($16-45ish/bottle, $6-$9ish/glass), but the quality is outstanding, and the proprietors are fantastic. It feels like a little piece of “old Bloomfield” with it’s old school decor and authentic Italian wines, even though it’s brand new. Do yourself a favor and start or end your night here – you’ll be glad you did.

Vora Restaurant European – Menu with Prices – 3252 E Douglas Ave, Wichita

Food was terrible and the wine list is mediocre. I’ve been here several times already and every time, I keep hoping the food will have improved. It hasn’t. These five star ratings are very suspect for me… First time I went, ordered the Grilled Cesar salad and the lamb chops. The only edible thing for me was the grilled Romaine lettuce… I chalked it up to being opening week and perhaps they are still getting their act together. The second time was several months later for a business dinner. We ordered pizzas to share and our friend proclaimed that it was probably the worst pizza he’s had in Wichita. It tasted like cardboard. The last time I went, I ordered a charcuterie and a glass of wine because surely they can’t screw that up… it was probably the saddest charcuterie I’ve ever had. The cheese selection was unvaried, flavorless and minimal. I didn’t care for any of the wines I sampled, but felt bad so I just ordered a glass of the one I could tolerate the most. On a positive note, the ambiance and patio are nice. If I ever go back here, and that’s a big IF, it’ll be just for a simple cocktail on the patio because it’s within walking distance for me. Otherwise, there are other places in Wichita that are way more worth my money!

Tailfeather – Menu with Prices – 581 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn

Tailfeather is a wonderland for people who appreciate natural wines and craft beers. I’m fairly new to natural wines but after a few months of tastings and glasses and bottles I can say that it’s nearly ruined me for traditionally processed wines. The owner, Autumn, has lovingly crafted an extensive selection of wines, many by the glass, that’s sure to please connoisseurs as well as newbies like myself. I love how she highlights Women Winemakers! The space has an uber cool, unique style that balances sleek minimalism with flashes of art deco glam (who knew a gold foil print wallpaper could be subtle?). It’s spacious with plenty of seating at the bar, high top tables and an outside patio for some prime people watching. The staff are always upbeat and responsive without being pushy or the slightest bit snobby. If you’re lucky and catch Autumn there she loves to talk about the stories behind the wines and give you tastings of things you wouldn’t have ever thought of trying. So happy to have them in the neighborhood!

Hop Street Lounge – Menu with Prices – 7215 E 22nd St Suite 101, Tucson

The place is really nice and has a great vibe. I tried the beer flights but was not impressed by any of my choices. I chose all the sours, cider, fruit beer, and a few pale ales. I am not a big beer drinker so I thought my choices would be okay but I didn’t love any of them. Out of all my choices I liked the rose cider the most but still it wasn’t the best. I will be back to try the wine and some of the beers in the fridges they have. Its a really nice place but the beer flights just didn’t do it for me.

Meraki Handmade – Menu with Prices – 230 S Elm St A, Greensboro

Cool spot on Elm featuring lots of local items (soaps, jewelry, shirts, and the like), but more importantly they have lots of coffee options in addition to beer and wines! We popped in here to wait out a rain storm and enjoyed glasses of rose. The gal at the bar/counter was friendly and helpful. Will definitely pop back in during future visits to Downtown Greensboro to pass the time.

lee’s wine bistro – Menu with Prices – 24510 Town Center Dr, Valencia

The staff is amazing here. And the owner Lee is there every night I have been. The whole place is smiling drinking fantastical wines. I highly suggest you order something off the menu for a bottle. We had the Austin Hope 2015 which was sooooo good for a younger Cab. The cheese plate was amazing, the tuna tartar was perfect. If you want the tuna spicy it comes with a mango sauce that’s got a kick. And Lee’s meatballs with either marinara or creamy pesto are amazing. But the best part of all is Lee. He spends all his time sitting with his tables getting to know them and spinning tales of happy wines. This is a must go for high society not look to gorge their face on giant dishes. Just clean, tasty, and made with pride.

Margaret & Maxwell – A Wine Salon Menu with Prices 5 All Souls Crescent, Asheville

Wow. I dig this place a lot. Combining a very meticulously and carefully curated range of wines from around the world with a super cozy and intimate wine bar, Margaret & Maxwell could be my new go-to spot for wine – even though I’m a beer guy. They have a respectably wide range of well selected wines – from Austrian Gewurztraminers to Finger Lake Dessert Wines – you’ll find something you’ve never seen – and you can easily strike up a conversation with the owners who definitely know wine. On a recent visit, my wife and I grabbed a spot on the couch in the wine bar and ordered two glasses of wine and a meat and cheese plate – very reasonably priced at $12 for two amazing soft cheeses and mortadella served with honey and crackers to spread upon. Oh and we go to sample a couple of new wines as well. It’s clear that the proprietors know food and wine. My glass was a soft and velvety Pinot Noir from Oregon that was just delicious. The ambience of the wine bar – set back from the shop – is nicely mellow, dim lighting with a custom art-nouveau fashioned bar, a large velvety couch and chairs and various pictures and interesting things to look at – I felt like I could be in some funky cafe in Brussels. This would be a pretty nice place for a first date or ‘date night’ with your S.O. One of the owners was attending the wine bar and mentioned they were hosting a “3 course” wine tasting the next day so my wife and I were all in. The wine tasting featured three wine representatives who DID NOT skimp on quality or originality. I tried one of the best white wines I’ve had – an unassuming white bordeaux that I would never have known about. Oh and they splashed out with an $80 bottle of rose champagne (“Don’t mind if I do”) as well as an amazing Cabernet Franc from California. If they organize these regularly, count me in. We walked away with a bottle of the Cab Franc for dinner. I wish our local wine shop/bar were as cozy and well curated as this place. Tucked away down in Biltmore Village, it’s a bit of a trek for us, but we certainly know its worth it.

Taste and Savor Wine Bar – Menu with Prices – 3581 E Harmony Rd Suite 130, Fort Collins

I just moved to Northern Colorado recently from Denver, and I must say that Taste and Savor exceeds any wine bar even in the Denver area. Their wine flights are on point, each with a perfectly matched cheese. As I was by myself I chose to do the A La Carte Charcuterie option, the cheddar was crisp and matched perfectly with my Chardonnay. The rosemary ham was unbelievable with the Rose. Finished the experience with a 20 year tawny port and homemade truffles. Taste and Savor is EXACTLY what a wine bar should be! A culinary experience! Bonus! They had and incredible live artist in tonight who made the entire experience THAT much better. The live artist really bridged the gap between the prominent “brewery” scene and the classic wine bar scene. A true Fort Collins experience I absolutely cannot wait to do again! I found my home wine bar!!!

The Miller’s Table – Menu with Prices – 514 S Coast Hwy a, Oceanside

What a fantastic little gem in Oceanside! I’ve been here only for the taste of Oside, but I’ve been wanting to try it for awhile. I’m so glad I finally had the chance. The space is small, but it’s cozy, inviting and really comfortable. The menu is small, but has so many good options. We started with flights of wine and charcuterie. They make your charcuterie board based on your wine selection! How cool is that? The board came with two meats and three cheeses and were filled with little goodies like dried fruit, honey, jams, nuts, breads and crackers. Everything was very tasty. We also got the roasted carrots, the leek and zucchini frittata, the roast beef sandwich with chips. Everything was delicious but the sandwich was beyond! I will be back just for that sandwich. And the chips that came with it were so perfect. Paper thin, perfectly seasoned and crispy. Just great! Then to finish, we ordered the bread pudding. Holy cow was it good! It was so good, my friend actually screeched! It was chocolatey, decadent and smooth in the middle yet crisp and crunchy on the outside. We were fighting over every last bite. Honestly, one of the best desserts I’ve had in awhile. Such a great spot and I can’t wait to go back!

Cross Creek Cafe – Menu with Prices – 4210 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville

Iâ??ve been eating at the Gators Den for years – every time Iâ??m in Gainesville in business. Itâ??s connected to the Best Western so its very convenient to have so close after a long day of business meetings. Very tasty food (and Iâ??ve tried pretty much everything on their menu).My favourites are the â??smothered chickenâ? and their chilli. The wings are good as well.For desert try the raspberry cheesecake – itâ??s good!The service is actually fantastic! The wait staff are all young – probably college kids – and they are very motivated to ensuring that each customer is happy… it works! I always tip large because the kids that work there try so hard – thatâ??s important.Itâ??s always a pleasure eating at the â??Denâ?? and I recommend it whenever you happen to be in the Gainesville Florida area.