(Credit: Barbara Davidson)
There’s no avoiding the fact that wine bars have taken over L.A. Some set out to educate “wineabees”; others cater to educated oenophiles; and then there are those for people who…just want a drink.
Wine bars guide
Red lips, purple teeth and the giggles can only mean one thing
By Robin Lee
Special to MetromixSeptember 26, 2008
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Corkbar
403 W. 12th St. - Los AngelesWith an easygoing approach to wine, Corkbar aims to create an unpretentious tasting experience for aficionados and newbies alike. Inspired by California wine country, the bar serves a rotating selection of 40 wines by the glass and many more by the bottle in a relaxed, communal setting. Corkbar also features a selection of craft beers and farmer's market fresh food that can be enjoyed inside or on the patio. Close your eyes and it's almost like you're in Napa.
City Sip
2150 Sunset Blvd. - Echo Park213-483-9463
Que Syrah, Syrah at this charming Echo Park wine bar that's as "in the know" as the people that live in its zip code. Rather than carrying varietals that’ll dent your pocketbook, City Sip specializes in value-priced boutique wines that are tasty, unique and have a story to tell (for instance, it carries wine created by dog enthusiasts that donate a percentage of their proceeds to animal charities). It just screams perfect first-date-place.
55 Degree Wine
3111 Glendale Blvd. - Los Angeles323-662-5556
Atwater’s fancification continues with the opening of this snazzy little wine shop. Tastings are held in the brick basement; bring your sweater, as the temp is kept at 55 degrees. Wine flights are always available and usually change nightly, but the focus is on Italian wines and French sparklers.
AOC
8022 W. 3rd St. - Los Angeles323-653-6359
It's tough to get reservations at this sleek, perennially packed eatery and wine bar. But if the stars are aligned and you can squeeze into a seat at the posh bar, you'll be in people-watching, wine-drinking heaven.
Air Conditioned
2819 Pico Blvd. - Santa Monica310-829-3700
Named after a leftover sign from a former climate-controlled business, this retro-hip wine lounge has a changing seasonal selection. What never changes is the chilled-out neighborhood vibe.
Barrel Malibu
23715 W. Malibu Rd. - Malibu310-456-8777
Watch what you taste: Like its Malibu customers, Barrel ounces can get expensive. Sample over 50 different wines, each one varying in price, or order a glass with a cheese plate at the bar. After a few merlots, the nearby beach is perfect for a stroll or a quick nap in the sand next to Robert Downey Jr.
Bodega Wine Bar
260 E. Colorado Blvd. - Pasadena626-793-4300
If you ask the Bodega bartender for “something fruity and sparkly,” he’ll not only understand your language, he’ll translate it to Wineglish for you. This is a lounge where you can hang out like it’s your own living room. The food is casual and meant for sharing, and the wine prices will have you ordering more of that fruity, sparkly something. They also offer wine specials throughout the week, such as Andrew Jackson night (when all bottles are $20).
BottleRock
3847 Main St. - Culver City310-836-9463
Here you can open any bottle, as long as you drink at least two glasses. This isn’t a problem for seasoned drinkers, but could be a catch for those who are prone to sulfite-induced headaches. To avoid such mistakes, go to one of their Saturday tastings and learn which wine is best for you.
Campanile
624 S. La Brea Ave. - Los Angeles323-938-1447
Drink with Charlie Chaplin's ghost—Campanile's bar is housed in one of the silent film star’s old buildings. Patrons here sip glasses of 2004 Malbec while munching on fancy bar snacks, such as gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. The Friday Flight Nights include a weekly selection of three wines and paired food priced from $36 to $42. Flight Night conveniently starts right after work and continues on through the evening.
Coco Noche
1140 Highland Ave. - Manhattan Beach310-545-4925
You always hear about wine and cheese, but what about wine and chocolate fondue? That's what you'll get here. In addition to 10 different flights served daily, they have weekly drink specials and themed tastings once a month.
Colorado Wine Co.
2114 Colorado Blvd. - Los Angeles323-478-1985
This place is a wine store/wine bar hybrid. In the front are racks of wine and owners who are more than accommodating to rookie and veteran wine buyers. In back, there's a cozy lounge complete with seating, a bartender shining barware and specialty selected wines available by the glass. They also host tastings throughout the week and special events every month.
Eastside Luv Wine Bar y Queso
1835 E. First St. - Los Angeles323-262-7442
Not sure where Boyle Heights is? This wine bar is a good reason to find out. In addition to wine and homemade sangria, they also offer queso, Chicano art shows and mariachi karaoke.
La Poubelle
5907 Franklin Ave. - Los Angeles323-465-0807
A staple among young Hollywood and their assistants, La Poubelle offers a long wine menu, loud music, and a nice view of the Scientology Centre and its disciples.
Left Coast Wine Bar and Gallery
117 E. Harvard - Glendale818-507-7011
A place for people who love wine to meet people who love art and talk about it. Drink and discuss Picasso brush strokes in the dimly lit, arty space, or get Euro and grab a table outside. The bar hosts monthly dinners, art shows and tastings. For serious collectors, Left Coast also offers wine storage.
Lou
724 Vine St. - Hollywood323-962-6369
Lou is a Hollywood wine bar that specializes in overlooked vineyards and cranky grapes. Translation: Most of the wine served is grown using natural, organic techniques and made from grapes we’ve been misled into believing aren’t very good. Lou also hosts themed tastings every Tuesday night, when flights are poured until the wine runs out.
The Nose Wine Cellar
696 E. Colorado Blvd. - Pasadena626-666-6991
The geek in us loves the erudition of this place—the emphasis on sensory perception, the high-falutin’ wino vocabulary and the obvious snobbishness of the store’s illustrated icon. As with most oenophiles, the good people with the Nose are passionate about imparting their wisdom and love for the good grape. The wine bar within also pours a different tasting flight each week, which should help you develop your nose in no time.
The Otheroom
1201 Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Venice310-396-6230
This lofty, candlelit brick space attracts Abbott Kinney locals for wine by the glass. It gets crowded on the weekends, so go early to nab a spot by the window, good for watching the long line of people waiting to get inside.
Primitivo Wine Bistro
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Venice310-396-5353
This Mediterranean wine bar in Venice offers tastings and tapas in addition to a full menu of wine-pairable eats. Wine aficionados from the neighborhood take advantage of monthly events, which include wine, tapas and vineyard talk
Red White + Bluezz
70 S. Raymond Ave. - Pasadena626-792-4441
The best way to end of successful day of shopping? A glass of wine (so you can toast yourself) and some live music. This Pasadena restaurant and bar also offers wine-tasting classes and a daily happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stop in for a drink, a full meal or a flight—or just pop in for the entertainment. Every third Wednesday of the month, the bar offers Flight School, hosted by the restaurant’s sommelier, Russ Meek.
V-vin Wine Bar
3115 Pico Blvd. - Santa Monica310-829-4313
Located inside Valentino Italian restaurant, V-vin is a spot for people who want to delicately snack and sip. It’s a little chichi, but every now and then it’s fun to get dressed up and blow a lot of money on drinks.
Vertical Wine Bistro
70 N. Raymond Ave., 2nd. Floor - Pasadena626-795-3999
For those who like to drink wine but can’t remember what kind they prefer, the folks at Vertical were thinking of you when they created their tasting notes. Record your thoughts, then file them away for next time. The bar offers over 400 varieties, 100 of which are available by the glass.
Vinoteca Farfalla
1968 Hillhurst Ave. - Los Angeles323-661-8070
This wine bar, attached to sister restaurant Farfalla next door, has a wine list for days and an extensive food menu. The bar offers a wide variety of cheese, olive and salami plates. In addition to their love of Italian cuisine, the owners are also fans of Central and South American food, so you can pair your Chianti with an empanada if you so desire.
Ugo Wine Bar
3865 Cardiff Ave. - Culver City310-204-5645
Meet wine tasting of the future. You want to taste that $127 bottle of wine? You can, for about $5. Fill up an automated debit-like card, and go to town tasting an ounce of any wine that piques your interest. After you’ve tasted more than you’d normally drink, order a whole glass and then a small plate of snacks to sober you up.
Bacaro L.A.
2308 S. Union Ave. - Los Angeles213-748-7205
Bacaro is like a wine bar you’d see in Venice—only you don’t have to hop on a plane to get there. The downtown bar offers small-production Italian wines that don’t forego taste for their reasonable price. And to make your wine drinking experience as authentic as possible, the owners went to great measures “studying” various bacaros in Italy. Their research found that small glasses of wine matched with fresh homemade snacks make for a good time. We totally agree.
Coral Tree Wine Bar
17499 Ventura Blvd. - Encino818-789-8733
The Coral Tree Wine Bar is Encino’s yet another addition to the wine bar circuit, but don’t expect any snobbery or ‘tude here. The bar is actually located inside the Coral Tree Café—how down to Earth can you get? There’s free valet and super nice staff to boot and, better yet, all wines are available by the glass and by the bottle, which you can purchase and enjoy at home.
Venice Beach Wines
529 Rose Ave. - Venice310-606-2529
Spearheading the Rose Ave renaissance, this wine shop seems to focus just as much on their cheese selection: pairing food with drink is a passion here, and private tastings and light meals can be catered. Or pick up your own selection to try at home... or eat here. The patio area, completed during...
Must Wine Bar
118 W. 5th St - Los Angeles 213-627-1162
A downtown wine bar that caters to locals, the Must is all about affordability. Wines were selected to be accessible, and the food, which includes classics such as chicken pot pie, is reasonably priced from $5 to $8.
Robin Lee is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
