(Credit: Philip Ross)
Holiday wine guide
Wine bars that let you sample a glass before you buy the bottle
By Michelle Lanz, Special to Metromix
November 14, 2007The Wine House
2311 Cotner Ave., Los Angeles310-479-3731
This Costco-sized warehouse must be like the equivalent of what a wino sees after entering the pearly gates of heaven. It sells so many varieties of wine that it would take hours to browse through everything; and, for the amateur, like yours truly, everything looks the same. That’s where the salespeople come in. When I was here, they recommended a Poppy pinot noir from Monterey County, which costs about $12. It’s dry and slightly fruity, leaving hints of cherry and raspberry on the palate—perfect with a holiday ham or turkey.
WineStyles - Pacific Palisades
970 Monument St., Pacific Palisades310-454-6863
Hidden within the depths of a whitewashed strip mall, this unassuming wine bar and tasting lounge is the cream of the crop for those on a budget. On a recent visit—or shall I say booze fest?—I tried ten wines with owner Thierry Oliva before finding two amazing selections, both under $15. (Take that Trader Joe’s!) The first is the Sweet Pea, which ironically is actually made of apples, not grapes…or peas. It’s delicious, and at $6.99 a bottle, it’d be crazy not to try it. But if you’re looking for something more traditional, there’s the Portuguese 2001 Quinta de Terrugem for $13. It has subtle hints of fruit and wood and, with 14-percent alcohol, one bottle goes a long way.
BottleRock
3847 Main St., Culver City310-836-9463
This hip Culver City bar and restaurant doesn’t just offer wine by the glass. Taste something you like and you can buy the bottle! There are more than 200 wines to choose from and many of them fall in the $10 to $15 price range. If you’re looking for a bottle of white, go with the 2006 Cline Cellars Viognier for $10. It’s not as woody as a chardonnay and not as sweet as a Riesling, making it a good choice for picky palates.
Ugo Wine Bar
3865 Cardiff Ave., Culver City310-204-5645
This place has class written all over it, but fortunately not every wine here will empty your wallet. The very tasty 2001 Delheim Pinotage, Stelllen Bosch, for instance, is a steal at $15. Plus, Pinotage originates from South Africa, so you can show off your fancy imported wine to your dinner guests. If you want some good bubbly for your buck, you might not be able to do better than the subtly sweet Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut, which costs less than $20.
Vertical Wine Bistro
70 N. Raymond Ave., 2nd. Floor, Pasadena626-795-3999
We love any place that puts booze at the center of a meal, so therefore we love Vertical Wine Bistro. Most of their wines are way, way out of our price range, of course, but there is one affordable gem. The Baron Sauvignon Blanc from the Touraine region of France only costs $21. It’s at once sweet and tart and has a crisp, clean finish. Isn’t that how everything French is described?
Bodega Wine Bar
814 Broadway, Santa Monica310-394-3504
This place is great because it takes the pretense out of enjoying wine. Instead of filling their menu with descriptions like “tastes like a mossy stone” or “fresh ground wood chips,” they describe the wines in real-person terms. But there is a drawback. Every bottle here costs $30, meaning you won’t find the same type of “steal” you would at the places listed above. After a sip of the Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll gladly fork over the cash. This light, white wine from New Zealand, pairs so nicely with poultry, you’ll wonder how you ever ate mom’s famous turkey without it.
Michelle Lanz is contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
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