Red lips, purple teeth and the giggles can only mean one thing
By Robin Lee, Special to Metromix
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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
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.
This cozy Los Feliz gem pours French and Californian wines at its 14-seat bar. Don't worry about not having the brain of a sommelier; the staff is all about its tastings and will open up any bottle for your consideration. For those who arrive with an appetite, the copper-topped bar also offers a menu that’s heavy on the frites.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Vinoteque isn't just your average wine bar. It’s a place for wine lovers to drink, eat and watch live music. The wine selection is more than average too—their international list includes your usual French vineyards to up and coming regions like Croatia, Slovania and South Africa. Stop by for a glass alongside some pan-rustic tapas-style snacks and get to know sommelier Larry Lanzett. The venue also hosts nightly acoustic jazz and blues sets during the week and classical piano on the weekends. Eventually, the bar plans on hosting a Sunday brunch menu and opening retail space so wine lovers can shop while they sip.
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.
Robin Lee is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
