You can find wine… and have a fabulous “wine experience”… just about anywhere these days. You just have to know where to look.
We’re here to help with four suggestions — from Los Angeles to Sonoma… and from Chicago to Copenhagen.
- LOS ANGELES — How can a wine bar not have a wine list? Such is at the case at Bar Covell, where some selections are written on window panes, but most are simply in the heads of co-owners Dustin Lancaster and Matthew Kaner, who love nothing more than sizing up a customer and recommending the perfect glass of vino. How do they do it? Visit the bar’s website for an explanation or, better yet, drop by and experience the “process” for yourself. There’s also a nice selection of small plates to accompany the wines. http://www.barcovell.com
- SONOMA — There’s a new way for Sonoma County visitors to savor the fine wines of Ledson, Mountain Terraces and Zina Hyde Cunningham: at the new Zina Lounge at the Ledson Hotel. Fifth-generation Sonoma County winemaker and farmer Steve Ledson has enlisted internationally renowned Chef Yoshiharu Sogi — a wine expert and chef extraordinaire — to create intricate pairings using locally grown farm-to-table products that are designed to excite the palate while elevating the nuances of each wine. 707-538-3823
- CHICAGO — RM Champagne Salon is a 1,500-square-foot space in the city’s West Loop/Fulton Market neighborhood, home to some of the city’s best restaurants. The name comes from the French designation for “grower Champagne,” and the wine list is expertly curated. The by-the-glass list also is inspired, far different than you’ll find anywhere else in Chicagoland, and RM offers dinner, late-night, and cheese-and-dessert menus. www.rmchampagnesalon.com
- COPENHAGEN — On a street that formerly could best be described as sketchy, Manfred & Vin (on Jaegersborggade) serves up small plates in an intimate space with a combination of tables and bar seats. Numerous wines are available, with a focus on natural wine producers. And during Copenhagen’s warmer months, you can even dine alfresco. http://manfreds.dk
