My “job” is a lot of fun — and a lot of work (although no one ever believes me). I get to taste countless wines each year to figure out which ones offer the biggest bang for the buck. While I have to kiss a lot of toads to find the princesses, in the long run, it’s worth it. However, not everyone has the luxury of opening bottle after bottle of wine in the name of research. Enter the new breed of wine bar.
For the last decade or so, many wine-centric restaurants and shops in the D.C. area have starting offering tastes of wines so that consumers can hone their palates without having to purchase an entire bottle. And the best part is that someone, usually a sommelier or wine buyer, has already narrowed the field down. All you have to do is let your palate enjoy the ride.
Here is a summary of some of the top spots in our area to taste a variety of varietals. Prices are approximate.
Northern Virginia
Wine from a vending machine? At Evo Bistro in McLean, restaurant patrons can purchase a debit card and use it to help themselves from a list of more than 50 wines. Guests insert their card, select a wine, and receive a one-ounce, three-ounce or five-ounce pour.
EatBar in Arlington has one of the most eclectic wine-by-the-glass programs in the area. With more than 50 wines available in three-, six- and 10-ounce pours ($4 to $25), the list will keep any palate busy for many visits.
Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro in the Westin Hotel in Reston is named after the grape species that most wines are made from. The wine menu boasts more than 30 wines by the glass served from a special Cruvinet system that keeps the wines fresh and at the perfect temperature.
Maryland
Grapeseed in Bethesda was one of the first restaurants to bravely go where no restaurant had gone before — offering high-end wines by the glass, where the liquor laws are a bit quirky. But chef/owner Jeff Heineman persevered and now offers more than 25 whites and 25 reds and a variety of sparkling and dessert wines either by the glass or sample pour ($5 to $20).
The Wine Harvest, with two locations in Montgomery County (Kentlands in Gaithersburg and Park Potomac) is a specialty wine shop that offers sandwiches and light snacks along with samples of wines by the glass ($4 to $9).
Florida-based Seasons 52’s newest outpost landed in the Rockville area, and offers guests up to 60 different wines by the glass (six-ounce pours ranging from $6 to $15).
District
Mark Culler has been collecting wine for more than 25 years, so when he launched Proof, wine was a major focus. He purchased a state-of-the-art wine storage system that serves 16 white wines and 16 red wines. The temperature-controlled system uses gas to keep the bottles fresh for up to three weeks, but they rarely last more than a day or two. In addition to the two-, six- or 8.5-ounce pours of reds and whites (ranging from $7 to $22 per glass), there are eight sparkling wines and eight dessert wines available.
If you’re looking to see the world through wine, then take the tour at Cork Wine Bar near Logan Circle. Cork offers more than 50 wines by the glass, from big and small producers from around the world, and prides itself on making wine-tasting approachable by providing easy-to-understand descriptions of each wine. In addition, Cork offers flights of wine so you can sample different regions and varietals. No passport necessary.
