Wine Bars for Date-night, Late-night + After-work Nights
Benjamin Franklin had it right when he said, “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” Surround the glass with a Colorado wine bar and the tensions are few and far between. Denver Life ventured out to sip and nosh in some well-known and lesser-known wine bars.
Here are a few of our faves…
The Cellar Wine & Salumi Bar {editor’s choice | late-night wine bar}
2556 15th St., Denver | cwbon15th.com
It was a quiet night at the Cellar Wine Bar when I arrived, which was good news for me because I had Evan Williams all to myself. Who needs Robert Parker when you have an oenophile like Williams? The guy can talk wine. His talent is evident in the wine list, from the rare to the eclectic, the menu speaks to Williams’ vast knowledge with 34 wines by the glass or bottle and another 10 carefully selected as bottles only. A tick-off menu, (think sushi bar), allows you and your tablemates to sort through and decide from a nice array of locally sourced meats and global cheeses. Williams suggested we try the empanadas, made by a local woman. A great choice, as they were light, crisp and filled with a hearty potato and braised-beef filling, drizzled with chipotle aioli. Though we didn’t try them, the sake infusions looked like reason enough to come back. Infusion choice include rose petals, lychee, lemon grass and espresso. Social hour, (aka happy hour), offers $5 wine, wine cocktails and sangria from 5 to 7 p.m., and a late night pour for $5 is on Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to close.
The Village Cork {editor’s choice | date-night wine bar}
1300 South Pearl St., Denver | villagecork.com
I expected wine and small plates at The Village Cork. This South Pearl establishment is more than a wine bar, it’s a wine restaurant with full-on plates and local fare that more than respects the notable wine list. With cork walls and violin music, the hominess reminded me of old-school Napa days, when my husband and I would meet there for a romantic getaway—long before California cool and minimalist became the fashion. Chef Samir Mohammad got his early start in the coast guard with what he calls “combat cooking.” As a Navy wife, who is more than familiar with such fare, he has sailed far an away from those shipboard days. I was very impressed with the creative and extensive dinner menu. At the time, the menu was transitioning from summer to fall, I was on the summer end and tried two year-round menu items, Duck Prosciutto and the Artisan Cheese plate, very nice. The new fall menu looks amazing with a Bison Sirloin au Poivre, Cauliflower Gratin, topped with Kale and Moody Blue Streusel and Olive Oil and the Veal and Foie Gras Meat Loaf with Roasted Butternut Squash, Turnips, Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries and Walnuts and Sage Gravy. The wine choices were a good mix of worldly and domestic. A 4 Knots Pinot Noir from the Central Coast; a Super Tuscan, Di Majo Norante from Aglianico, Italy, and Denver’s own Infinite Monkey Theorem, Syrah were the table favorites. If by chance you are looking for a night cap, after 9 p.m., Monday – Thursday and after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Village Cork will pour a glass of any open bottle (under $12) for $5, ask for the open bottle special.
Your Place or Vine {editor’s choice | after-work wine bar}
2020 Ionosphere St., Longmont | yourplaceorvine.com
Wine bars are known for having, well, a reputation for pretense. On some occasions, that is part of the fun, but there are times when you just want a good glass of wine without all the fanfare. Your Place or Vine is that kind of place. Owner, Dave Smith, believes wine drinking is about pure pleasure not pretentiousness. He admits that, even today, wine and food pairings intimidate him, so he set out to create a wine bar for the people by the people. He buys wine based on three criterions, “Will I like it? Will my staff like it? Will my customers like it?” Smith even takes requests from his customers—if he can get it, there is a good chance it will end up on the menu. The décor, the menu, the wine and the staff friendliness reflect Smith’s casual attitude for all things crushed, fermented and aged. Located in the hip, cool neighborhood of Prospect (northeast of Longmont), this venue’s dark wood floors, walls of windows, long patio and open salumi and appetizer bar means every table has a front row seat to the passersby. Our server was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu and took the time to walk us through our flight choices. I opted for Bruschetta with olive tapenade and tomato and cheese plate, which was pure, simple and very good. My flight of three included: Bocchino’s Langhe Nebbiolo, Roccabella, 2008a new artisanal wine named for the steep hill in Roddi, near the border of the Barolo DOCG (dried black cherry and anise flavors); Pinot Noir Sass 2009 from the Willamette Valley and an amazing 2009 Malbec, Bodini from Mendoza Spain (formerly Büdini). All in all, my experience at Your Place or Vine was just what I needed, an after-work, come as you are, relaxing spot for a good glass of wine.
More DL Wine Bar Recommendations
Caveau Wine Bar
450 E. 17th Ave. Suite 110, Denver, CO 80203
303.861.3747, caveauwinebar.com
Cork House
4900 E Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220
303.355.4488, corkhousedenver.com
Cru Food & Wine Bar (Larimer Square)
1442 Larimer St. Denver, CO 80202
303.893.9463, cruawinebar.com
Cru Food & Wine Bar (The Vistas at Park Meadows)
8433 Park Meadows Center Dr. Suite D-155, Lone Tree, CO 80124
303.708.8084, cruawinebar.com
Indulge Wine Bar
1601 Mayberry Dr. Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
303.991.1994, indulgewinebar.com
Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria
410 E. 7th Ave. Denver 80203
303.861.9463, lalaswinebar.com
Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar
891 14th St., Ste. 100, Denver, CO 80202
303.825.0100, row14denver.com
Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates
3422 E 12th Ave. Denver, CO 80206
303.355.2202, siennawinebar.com
Solera Restaurant
5410 E Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220
303.388.8429, solerarestaurant.com
Vines Wine Bar & Tapas
19501 E. Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138
303.736.VINE, vineswinebar.com
Vinue Food and Wine Bar
2817 E Third Ave
Denver, CO 80206
720.287.1156, vinuewinebar.com
The Wine Loft (Downtown)
1527 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202
303.284.3493, wineloftdenverlodo.com
The Wine Loft (The Landmark)
7600 Landmark Way #107, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
720.328.3810, wineloftdenverlandmark.com
Holiday Food + Wine Guide
DL’s Food Wine & Spirits Editor, Kimberly Stewart, recently visited the new Wine Annex at Cook Street Cooking School of Fine Cooking. Here’s her take on why you too should make a visit soon!
Cook Street Cooking School of Fine Cooking is pairing up good food and wine with its new Wine Annex. The Denver culinary school fills a much-needed gap in culinary education, how to pair food with wine and demystify what is in your glass or on the label. Sommelier Thomas Allen offers classes on tips for wine buying at your favorite wine shop, selecting from a restaurant’s wine list, and helping you pair wine with a favorite homemade dish. Here are few November classes to raise a glass to:
Beaujolais Nouveau
Celebrate France’s rich wine tradition at Cook Street’s first annual Beaujolais Nouveau wine tasting. The November wine class celebrates a centuries old tradition in France. At one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, over one million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through France to Paris for immediate shipping throughout the world. The class will include a variety of seasonal appetizers and will pour Beaujolais Village and Cru Beaujolais in addition to classic Nouveau. Beaujolais Nouveau on November 17 from 6 to 9pm, $75
Cheese and Wine Pairing
Great things come in pairs. In this hands-on class students will learn the ins and outs of cheese as it is paired with wine. Cook Street will offer tasting guidelines, recommendations and flavor profiles of cheeses with wines to match. Sample six to nine cheeses, then pair them with three to six delectable wines. Cheese and Wine Pairing, November 16 from 6:30 to 8:30pm, $60
