Hi

I enjoy my red wine these days and I'm mainly into Italian and Spanish reds at the moment. Are there any good wine bars in NYC where they have a good selection of wine by the glass?

What are the prices of a bottle like at a restaurant by the way? Is American wine generally cheaper than European wine? I had a quick look at Gramercy Tavern and I was a bit shocked when I saw a bottle of Spanish red wine that I normally buy at the airport for 25$ was sold for 85$ in the restaurant.

quote:

I was a bit shocked when I saw a bottle of Spanish red wine that I normally buy at the airport for 25$ was sold for 85$ in the restaurant.

This article in the July 2007 issue of Food & Wine magazine deals with the high markup of wine in US restaurants. There are letters to the editor about the article here

Bill

Hi

Thanks for the interesting article. The restaurants here at home do the same...the wine is 3-4 times the retail price and it is a bit of a shame that they do this as most people end up picking the cheapest wine...or not buying wine at all. But lately there are a couple of restaurants here at home that offers wine at a more reasonable rate...but still...the best value is to buy it in the store :-)

I was in a a small restaurant / wine bar in Apalachicola, Florida this summer that also had a wine store. Sort of the equivalent of a vineria/enoteca in Italy.

They served wine by the glass, or you could go browse through their wine selection and choose your own bottle at store prices. They charged a few dollars corkage on top of the bottle price. They had a very good selection and kept at least a bottle or two of each of the whites in the cooler. It was great and the food was really good.

I wish I could find more places like that.

Bill

There are some great wine bars in NYC but they are not inexpensive! There are less expensive ones in Brooklyn, which is where I'm most familiar...but here are some to check out in Manhattan.

http://www.morrellwinebar.com/winebar/index.asp
This is attached to a high-end wine store; right by Rockefeller Center so it will be fun around the holidays. Sip your wine and view the holiday tree and skaters at the rink. Definitely crowded, but they do take reservations. Fantastic wine list, but pricey.

One of my faves for wine by the glass isn't exactly a wine bar, but a full bistro-- Artisanal. What makes it great is that EVERY wine on their list is available by the glass. I love this place...check out this wine menu. Their food is great too.

http://www.artisanalbistro.com/pdfs/menu-wine.pdf

Downtown, there's 'Ino and 'Inoteca for primarily Italian.

Now, if you want to come to Brooklyn, there D.O.C. Winebar (williamsburg), Stonehome, Total Wine Bar...to name just a few..

Here's a good list of Manhattan wine bars, with a google map...yeah there's a few!

http://www.drvino.com/nycwinebars.php

Also, if you are into Spanish then definitely Casa Mono and Bar Jamon (tapas bar) have a great selection of Spanish wines by the glass...but good luck getting in, they are very small! I think Casa Mono does take reservations but try well in advance (like NOW!)

Otto, which I believe you had on your restaurant list, is a pretty good choice for Italian wines, and fairly priced too...just sit st the bar. I Trulli also has a very good Italian selection, probably a bit more expensive, it is a bit sleepy at the bar since its main focus is the restaurant. Morrells will make Gramercy look cheap. Bar Veloce may be fun, decent selection with a downtown vibe.

Note most lists of wine bars are typically restaurants with a bar, and most are fair.

ciao...ed

Another wine bar which I've heard good things about, but haven't been to, is this one:

http://home.invino-ny.com/

Hi

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have already marked some of them on my Google map. The map is starting to get a bit messy so I guess I eventually have to narrow it down :-)

Gard,
Although I said earlier that Morrells is one of the most expensive wine bars, I have changed my mind and think it is worth going. The reason is that it is Christmas Season, and Morells overlooks "the" Christmas tree in NYC which is in Rockeffeler Center. I went during Christmas Season stood at the bar and had a couple glasses of wine, the place was packed, but the window looked out over the tree, it began to snow and it was special memory. So, spend $20 on a nice glass of wife and Have a Merry Christmas!!

http://www.bottegadelvinonyc.com/media/bottegadelvino.html

I think this is the best one

Not a wine bar but a wine shop, I am often jealous of those that live in the area.They have tastings regularily scheduled.

Italian wine merchants RR

one of my favourite is Bar Jamon http://www.barjamonnyc.com Excellent tapas bar with a great wine list including lots of sherries. It's a great place to go with a bunch of friends.

There are hundreds of wine bars in NYC, my favorite Italian Wine Bars are:

Inoteca 98 Rivington St (Lower East Side - the new hip place) and In Vino 215 E 4th St ( the East Village). Both have knowledgeable staff, quiet enough to hear yourself think, and are fun places to visit.

Regards,
sheryl
sharawitz@earthlink.net

There is a great place in midtown manhattan called AYZA Wine & Chocolate Bar. They have a great selection of wines and chocolates. The wait staff is very friendly. You can find more information at AYZA Wine & Chocolate Bar