CP NEWS: Wine and Dine Her

[ddm-news]

-Erin DeJesus

Let's face it: Your favorite outdoor bar has closed its doors for the year, you haven't gone to a poolside party in weeks, and you stopped rocking your white pants over a month ago. Unfortunately, thanks to fall's chilly weather and with Daylight Savings Time ending soon, it's officially time to retire your summery drink staples. But you don't have to commit to hot or lukewarm drinks to get your fall drink on – wine bars, which have never been big on skimpy flutter skirts and summer pop anthems, are a laid-back, appropriate fall substitution. Feign classiness for an evening and sample some of the city's best wine-tasting spots:

Cavatappo

1728 Second Ave. | 212.426.0919

A classic wine bar without the fuss, a typical evening at Cavatappo's includes cheese tastings, walnut bread, and several red and white options on the menu. The international wine menu includes offerings from far away as South Africa and Chile, and finger sandwiches and small plates round out the snacking experience.

Vino Vino

211 West Broadway | 212.925.8510

Imagine how fun it'd be if the nearby liquor store let you sample their goods before you bought 'em – as a combination wine store and wine bar, Vino Vino does just that. Free tastings are the highlight at the low-key bar, and customers can choose from over 20 wines by the glass and 200 available bottles.

Lea Lounge

230 Park Ave. | 212.922.1546

Though it advertises itself as a wine bar, Lea is more of a trendy lounge than an authentic wine bar (last we checked, wine, $12 cocktails, and sushi weren't necessarily a traditional pairing). But the loungue's high-end location (on top of Grand Central station) – not to mention their Ladies-drink-free Tuedays nights – are both good draws, and hot sake is also available to help warm up your fall nights.

Aroma Kitchen and Wine Bar

36 E 4th St. | 866.279.3157

Aroma's homey feel remains authentic in its food and drink, boasting 120 Italian wine options to complement its Italian/Mediterranean menu.

Aroma's version of happy hour gets quite the bang for your buck – for $15, you're treated to three pre-selected flights of wine and all-you-can-eat antipasti.

Rhone

63 Gansevoort St. | 212.367.8440

Rhone valley wine finds its home in NYC, as Rhone combines the best of French wine with a sleek New York, industrial vibe. Their weekly Rue 13 parties mix wine tasting with thumping house DJs, and Rhone's cellar offers 300 wines by the bottle and approximately 30 by the glass.

Vintage New York

482 Broome St. | 212-226-9463

Wines from Italy and Napa Valley may get all the attention, but Vintage New York's goal is to get you to eat and drink local. Most wines on the menu have been homegrown on Long Island or New York State, and selections are paired with local food options. Over 200 wine options are available, and live jazz entertainment spices up the bar's Wednesday nights.

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