A tasting in Napa Valley might run you $50 as of late, however you will get a glass or flight of one thing sensational for much much less at certainly one of Northern California’s many neighborhood wine bars.
The disruptions of the pandemic didn’t preserve these companies from pushing ahead, as a flurry of pure, Italian, bubbly — you identify it — vino-centric bars have flourished prior to now few years. Becoming a member of the ranks of classics like Residual Sugar and Va De Vi in Walnut Creek, The Punchdown and Perle Wine Bar in Oakland and Velvet 48 in Burlingame are spots together with Locanda Wine Bar in Livermore and The Tasting Home in Los Gatos.
And keep tuned, as a result of there are lots of extra to come back. Walnut Creek is anticipating Fizz, a Champagne bar, to open by 12 months’s finish, and Goodtime, a pure wine bar, is headed for downtown San Jose across the identical time. Additionally within the wine pipeline: Canteen, the all-day wine bar set for Menlo Park’s Springline improvement.
Slug, Oakland
Driving excessive on the excitement of Snail Bar – and pure wines basically – Slug opened this 12 months in downtown Oakland, promising to be its sibling’s party-time equal. With its DJ sales space, disco ball and frequent Champagne-cork pops, it principally succeeds — to the slight chagrin of some Yelpers who appear shocked by the late-night temper lights and pulsing music.
The wines at Slug (accessible by glass or bottle) are, let’s say, eclectic. One dry rosé not too long ago on provide from California’s Shasta Cascade area “rode bareback on a wild mare by means of an alpine valley in bloom,” in keeping with the producer’s description, then “crawled on its fingers and knees into a comfy rabbit den to wind away the evening to the hoots and plucking of a better-than-average woodland-critter jug band.” Relaxation assured all of it comes by means of within the nostril.
The Previous World is touted in extra-brut Champagnes and interesting picks from Italy – a glowing Sicilian rosato, for instance, with a plum pinkness and minerality from Mount Etna’s volcanic vineyards. If unsure, it by no means hurts to order a wine that feels like a DJ named it, just like the “Lounge Lizard” or Willamette Valley’s “Disco Made Me Do It,” a pinot noir/apple mix that’ll have you ever questioning why extra winemakers don’t do fruit hybrids.
The dish: Upscaled European plates make for wonderful wine pairings, together with a country boudin or a fluffy burrata with curls of ham, brown butter and sherry. However for a decadent deal with strive the filet o’ fish that improves the fast-food basic with buttery buns and sauce gribiche.
Particulars: Opens at 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday and midday on weekends at 102 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland; slugbaroakland.com
The Tasting Home, Los Gatos
For years, Silicon Valley oenophiles flocked to 368 Village Lane for classy sips. And they're once more, since new homeowners Denise and Mike Thornberry reworked and reopened the house lengthy related to Cin-Cin because the Tasting Home, a classy restaurant and wine bar with a glance straight out of the sixth arrondissement, from the honeycomb flooring tile to the bistro tables.
And whereas the Tasting Home is a wonderful identify for this French-centric bistro, an applicable tagline may be an American-inspired one, Pairings R Us. That’s as a result of the sommeliers right here — sure, there’s multiple somm — have really useful pairings for each single dish listed on the in depth menu, from the Crispy Brussels Sprouts (a French sauvignon blanc, the 2019 Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy, $28) to the Chocolate-Chocolate Cheesecake (the 2016 Tommaso Bussola Recioto della Valpolicella from Vento, Italy, $18).
All the time baffled by what to order with a salad? The Bacon, Tomato & Roquefort Salad ($20) with bacon batons meets its match in a 2020 German riesling, the Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Butterfly ($14). What if you're craving the brie-topped Beef Wellington ($32) however don’t wish to shell out $30 for the really useful Bordeaux mix? No downside. Belief the inhouse specialists to make one other suggestion from the spectacular listing of 65 wines by the glass.
The dish: Apart from a recent French menu, government chef/sommelier Ryan Fillhardt’s kitchen seems Roman-style pinsas just like the Brie & Solar-Dried Cherry one ($22) and Asian-inspired plates reminiscent of Yellowfin Tuna Poke ($22). Weekend brunch options Croque Monsieur ($14) and Fried Rooster and Belgian Waffles ($18). And for those who discover a wine or cheese on the menu that you simply determine you could have for house, stroll subsequent door to the Tasting Home’s well-stocked market.
Particulars: Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday at 368 Village Lane, Los Gatos; www.tastinghouse.com
Locanda Wine Bar, Livermore
This new alfresco-centric Italian wine bar on Livermore’s essential drag — it’s a part of the native chain of Locanda eating places in Danville, Campbell, Pleasanton and Lafayette — has an enormous wine program, with 25 choices by the glass (beginning at $11) and a dizzying 75-plus by the half or full bottle ($22-$305). Collectively, they rejoice the breadth of varietals from this Previous World area. Add within the Italian tile signal, blue umbrellas and bistro chairs, and simply cue the Positano vibes.
Have interaction the pleasant, Italian-speaking servers to assist drill down on classics — wine descriptors would make this listing a vine-cyclopedia — in addition to lesser identified wines, together with dry Sicilian bianco made out of the carricante grape. Or attain for the leather-bound specials menu, which rotates to focus on what they’re consuming, like a 2017 Frassinello Tremendous Tuscan ($16), which “succeeds in combining energy, depth and class.” Sì grazie.
In contrast to Locanda’s full-blown restaurant menus, the wine bar’s meals program is smaller, with a deal with antipasti, together with flatbreads, meatballs and cheese and charcuterie plates, to go together with your vino. (There are just a few pastas and secondis, in case you’re hungrier).
The dish: Polpette Della Mamma, marinara-slathered meatballs with crostini ($19.95) would rise up properly to that Tremendous Tuscan, and the rotating collection of cheese and charcuterie on the Antipasti for Two ($23.95), which comes with Sicilian marmalade and olives, was a house run with our crisp, mandarin-scented vermentino.
Particulars: Open from 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday and from 3 p.m. Monday, at 2293 First St., Livermore; www.locandawinebar.com.
Lamella Tavern, San Jose
What’s a darkish, smooth vacation spot that comes with wine, oysters — and an architectural lesson?
Lamella Tavern, the stylish lounge that opened final winter on Willow Glen’s Lincoln Avenue. The wine specialists right here provide a curated, ever-evolving listing that options 21 choices, evenly divided amongst reds, whites and bubbles, chosen to pair properly with the menu of raw-bar delights (as much as 10 recent oyster choices a day), flatbreads and shared plates.
The brilliant 2020 Kobal Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia ($12) pairs properly with the Anchovy Antipasti ($17), normal supervisor Synnova Bjerke says, and he or she recommends the 2019 Chateau la Borie, a 50/50 syrah/grenache from Vin de France, for these ordering the bestselling Fig & Cheese Flatbread, a decadent quantity with stracchino, gorgonzola, caramelized onion jam and dried figs, all drizzled with balsamic. Bubbly cocktails embrace the signature Lamella Spritz, an Amaro/Benedictine/Lillet mix with Poema glowing wine ($13), and a citrus-y Fairest of Them All ($13).
As for the promised architectural lesson, you want solely search for. The Lamella identify refers back to the vaulted, barrel ceiling of the circa 1940 constructing, a cool discovery made when the constructing was being retrofitted. Seems that’s an uncommon type developed in 1908 in Dessau, Germany, by metropolis architect Friedrich Zollinger.
The dish: Proprietor-restaurateur Jim Stump has simply launched Sunday brunch with a menu that includes Salmon Tostadas (with sashimi-grade salmon, $18) and Bacon & Egg Flatbread ($16), with arrabiatta sauce and broccoli rabe. Naturally, there shall be mimosas (the great things, not bottomless ones).
Particulars: Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at 1109 Lincoln Ave., San Jose; www.lamellatavern.com.
Cordial Cellar + Lounge, Castro Valley
This subterranean lounge in Castro Valley is the quintessential European-esque wine bar. For starters, it’s hidden and off-the-beaten path — within the basement of the Castro Valley Market — and classy with out attempting to be, from the hammered copper again bar to the framed residing moss paintings made by the proprietor’s mother (aww).
Cordial’s wine program, which incorporates flights of three 2.5-ounce pours ($18-$20), come by way of its well-stocked bottle store inside the marketplace. However right here, tucked right into a black tufted nook sales space the place the WiFi is powerful and the pours are beneficiant, you may simply neglect concerning the hustle and bustle of the market upstairs.
Our tasting attendant poured a complimentary splash of one thing French whereas telling us about his latest travels to Naveran, a cava home in Spain. What we most appreciated about Cordial, moreover his heat, was the manageable listing: about eight wines among the many whites, sparklings and reds, together with a quick, zin-based mix referred to as The Entire Shebang ($8) from a heritage winery in Sonoma.
The dish: Cordial’s meals program can be concise, with just a few bar bites, boards, salads, flatbreads and chef’s specials. These tangy Marcona Almonds with Oaktown Spice Store’s shimichi togarashi ($5) possible by no means met a wine they didn’t like. For one thing heavier, don’t miss the 5 Spice Quick Rib Ragu served on creamy polenta ($19).
Particulars: Open from 2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and from midday Friday-Sunday at 3295 Castro Valley Blvd., #B100, Castro Valley; www.cordialcellarandlounge.com
Be Bubbly, Napa
Open since mid 2020, this downtown Napa bubbly spot with a good-looking navy bar, velvet chairs and gold accents has rapidly develop into a locals-heavy hang around for sipping home and worldwide glowing wines in the course of wine nation.
With its indoor-outdoor vibe and comfortable parklet, proprietor Erin Riley’s Be Bubbly is the right neighborhood spot to tuck into salty snacks paired with a flute of Champagne, Schramsberg or Slovenian rebula. Did we point out the accompanying actions that vary, relying on the season, from dwell music to witch-themed bingo and what ought to be an epic Halloween get together. It virtually appears like your favourite community-oriented brewery and vineyard had a child.
Be Bubbly provides about 15 glowing wines by the glass ($13-$34), with an emphasis on Champagne and different French bubbles, and greater than 60 by the bottle ($58-$480), together with choices from Italy, Tasmania, California and the most recent New World — from a wine perspective — a mineral-driven reserve blanc de blanc from Kent, England. Champagne magnums faucet out at $750 (2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon).
The dish: With names like Be Fancy and Be Playful, the eight menu objects at Be Bubbly vary broadly in temper and worth, from truffle-salted tots ($8) to an oz of Regiis Ova supreme caviar ($95). Go for one thing within the center, just like the grilled havarti and cheddar on Le Paris Bakery brioche with housemade honey Dijon mustard ($18).
Particulars: Open from 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from midday Fridays-Sundays at 1407 Second St., Napa; www.bebubblynapa.com
Epernay Bistro & Champagne Bar, Los Gatos
This charming and historic house on Los Gatos’ Principal Avenue strip, with its brick partitions and excessive ceilings, is now within the fingers of two veterans of the Bay Space bar scene. Enterprise companions Adam Chick (Cin-Cin, Scratch, 4 Seasons) and Josh Allen (Scratch, Slanted Door, Absinthe), who personal Sidecar Tavern a few doorways down, are persevering with the bubbly custom began right here in 2021.
Six Champagnes from prime French homes, together with Billecart Salmon, Louis Roederer, Gaston Chiquet and Charles Heidsieck, lead the menu ($24-$42 by the glass), with sparklers from the Burgundy and Alsace areas and Germany becoming a member of the array ($14-$18). All advised, the wine cellar of bubblies, reds and whites numbers greater than 1,000.
Naturally, the bar makes a beautiful effervescent cocktail. There’s the Thyme for a Spritz ($14), with sauvignon blanc, ginger and bubbly; the Orange Fizz ($14), Cremant with Amontillado sherry; and one not often seen as of late, the basic Champagne Cocktail ($12), with its Angostura-tinged sugar dice.
The dish: It’s a basic French menu — assume Confit de Canard with chasseur sauce ($30), Moules Frites ($27) — with chef Patrick Cabaluna now including Italian- and Asian-influenced entrees to the each day specials. And you may at all times cease by for Truffle Pommes Frites with a glass of Champagne. For weekend brunch, there are egg entrees, fruits de mer and a lineup of salads that features Salade Nicoise ($25) with seared, chilled ahi.
Particulars: Opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and 11 a.m. on weekends for brunch at 29 E. Principal St., Los Gatos; www.epernaylosgatos.com
Solo Vino by Enoteca La Storia, San Jose
Wine experts-turned-restaurateurs Mike Guerra and Joe Cannistraci have determined to return to their roots at their Little Italy location — and carried out so simply in time for the San Jose Sharks season at close by SAP Heart.
The enterprise companions, who've 40 years’ value of professional wine experience between them, have rebranded their enterprise as Solo Vino — that means solely wine — to deal with that zeal. They’re pouring 30 wines by the glass, plus sommelier-selected flights, and providing a retail collection of home and worldwide labels that numbers 200 and rising.
Attention-grabbing Italian varietals abound, naturally. One wine that Guerra, a complicated sommelier and wine educator, likes to introduce to clients is the Lambrusco ($10, non-vintage) from Cantina di Santa Croce in Emilia-Romagna. It’s a barely glowing (“frizzante”) pink that's served chilled in a daily wineglass, not a flute.
Wine-tasting occasions are held twice a month, with plans to extend that schedule.
The dish: Proper now it’s charcuterie boards, however search for an expanded menu of small plates and pizzas within the coming weeks. (For those who’ve been a fan of the ELS meals menu downtown, head to their Los Gatos restaurant for Lasagna Lorenzo, Eggplant Parm or the spicy Calabrese Lo Riscaldo panini.)
Particulars: Opens at midday Tuesday-Saturday at 320 W. St. John St., San Jose; www.fb.com/elsdowntown/
Barnyard Epicurean, Danville
The Barnyard Epicurean is a museum of recollections dedicated to wine. Opened this 12 months by Lisa and Will Dickson, it attracts from the couple’s experiences touring round California sampling the oenological bounty from Sonoma to Santa Barbara and past, whereas having fun with all the good meals, music and camaraderie the wine nation has to supply.
The very first thing that may hit you concerning the Barnyard is its shady, picturesque setting that gives aid from Danville’s warmth. Subsequent may be the service: The employees is super-friendly and greater than beneficiant at offering samples from the wine listing – after which some after which some extra. You may order by the glass, bottle or flight. There’s a “Rosé This Means” flight ($20) that includes wines from Carmel and Livermore, a “Sip Sip Hooray” ($23) with creamy whites from the Russian River and Paso Robles, and a “Name for a Cab” ($26) that takes you on a psychological journey to Napa and the Central Coast.
It’s straightforward to spend just a few hours attempting numerous issues within the spacious, rustic tasting room, which might be what the Dicksons are going for by way of establishing a neighborhood hub. Attempt occurring weekends when there’s dwell music from artists who lean closely on acoustic guitar (hey, that is Northern California).
The dish: The ample cheese and charcuterie boards have numerous sizes however you most likely don’t want greater than the “barn skewers” – even the smallest possibility is sufficient to fill your abdomen. Attempt the French macaron plate if you'd like a mattress of chocolate cash to pair together with your reds.
Particulars: Open from Tuesday to Saturday at 4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday, at 400 Sycamore Valley Street West; barnyardwinebar.com