Localeur’s Guide to Wine Spots & Breweries
When winter extends longer than desired, grabbing a beer or bottle of vino from your local brewery or wine bar may be exactly what you need to warm your spirits in this admittedly dreadful pandemic era – and we’re especially grateful to have so many diverse, welcoming establishments from which to choose. Whether you’re venturing out or hunkering down, embracing the natural wine movement or relishing the arrival of fresh-hopped beers, we think you’ve earned a handsome drink. Our latest guide has a few suggestions on what to sip.
From brewpubs to bookstores, staycations to road trips, a subscription to Localeur can help you safely navigate these unusual times – without sacrificing your sanity.
Champagne Socialist
Milan, Italy
Champagne Socialist was one of the first wine bars to herald the arrival of natural wines as a worldwide trend, and it’s a perfect location to grab a glass in the afternoon or evening. With its characteristic minimalist, unfinished industrial style, head here for a a large selection of natural wines coming in from all over Europe. Select a glass of by having a look at their daily menu, or decide on a bottle plucked from the shop’s many shelves. Pair with charcuterie for the perfect nosh.
Cascade Brewing Company
Portland, Oregon
This iconic purveyor of barrel-aged sours is a must in Portland, a place that claims to have more breweries than any other city in the world. While the verdict is still out on that claim – and on what will become of Cascade Brewing in the wake of its recent sale to another local brewery – we’re positive that everything they’ve tapped and bottled in the last several years is fantastic. Sours here are fruity without being sweet; always complex; endlessly sippable. You may momentarily balk at the prices, but think of the brews more as wines to savor rather than beers to glug. (Oh, and we’re optimistically confident that Cascade’s new owners won’t mess with success.)
624 Changle
Shanghai, China
In Shanghai, the way to enjoy a beer is on the street: Head to a local street beer shop, pick your bottle(s), and park it on the curb outside to sample your brew in the good company of local youngsters. 624 Changle is probably the most popular place in Shanghai to have a street beer these days, thanks in part to the local skate community whose tendency to head here caught on among the general public. While there is no law about drinking beers in public, there are laws about sitting on the sidewalk and making too much noise – yet somehow, the owners of 624 Changle have figured out a way around that, and the crowd is known for overflowing into the street. Don’t ask how; just have fun with it.
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Napa, California
Pine Ridge is a no-nonsense, great wine-producing establishment. Upon arriving at their tasting room, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff who get down to business and start pouring without much in the way of rote preamble. While they’re very knowledgeable and will gladly answer your questions, they won’t tarnish your experience with sales pitches or unnecessary distractions. While you may have seen their Chenin Blanc-Viognier blend at your local grocery store, try the Onyx red blend for a complex, earthy option.
Two Hands Winery
Barossa Valley, Australia
Two Hands Winery's cellar door, situated in Marananga in the Barossa Valley, is a 19th-century stone cottage called Kraehe House. Here they not only provide in-house wine tastings six days a week; they also offer the option of sitting out on the deck at the back of the building overlooking their gorgeous vineyards. Two Hands are pros at letting visitors, from first-timers to regulars, enjoy a tasting experience that is at once intimate and structured, informative and fun. It’s also a steal at just $10 a person.
Wicked Weed Funkatorium
Asheville, North Carolina
If you've done any research on breweries in Asheville, you've likely found Wicked Weed. But here's the rub: so has everyone else. Skip the main location of this formidable brewer and opt instead for the Funkatorium, where you’ll find a long list of incredible sour beers, more locals than tourists, and a way cozier ambiance. For a crash course in all things Wicked Weed, order a beer flight and follow it up with an easy walk to many of the other breweries in the South Slope area.
City Winery
Nashville, Tennessee
As Nashville's first urban winery, City Winery is the perfect spot to pick up Nashville-centric wines that are locally made. Wines like 615 Sauvignon Blanc, Music City Pinot Noir, Grand Ole Grenache, Rockabilly Red, and more await you on this oasis of a patio, as does a killer brunch special. Located near downtown, this winery/live music venue/restaurant is the perfect pitstop on a day of exploring for the wine lover looking to support local.
Sidellis Brewing
South Lake Tahoe, California
Located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe, Sidellis is a local watering hole known for its creative brews and selection of board games. Though the brewery maintains a core set of beers like the Cluanie Farmhouse Ale, a traditional French-style Saison, and a big-flavor Brewocracy “Red Tape” IPA, Sidellis sets itself apart with its out-of-the-box beers. To really get the full experience, try the Nut’hella, a nutty amber ale, or the Mangonada, a spicy mango and habanero white ale. Sidellis also serves up a mean selection of sandwiches, salads, and wraps. For a quick bite, go for the Bavarian-style pretzel.
Vina
Stockholm, Sweden
This little gem of a bar is hidden around the corner from buzzing Nytorget in Södermalm. Vina is owned by two sisters, and they’ve really gotten a cozy ("mysigt" in Swedish) atmosphere going, best enjoyed as a destination for a low-key, weeknight-friendly sort of excursion. Food is of the simpler variety, best paired with a unique wine from one of several small producers. From quirky, fresh wines to biodynamic hipster juice, the subtext here is to make sure to come in with an open mind.
8000 Vintages
Tbilisi, Georgia
This stylish wine bar in the trendy Vake district has made not one but every single list of Localeur’s recommended wine spots in Tbilisi, boasting a huge selection of Georgian creations. Don’t fret if you’re new to the country’s unique brand of wines; the staff here are experts at making the unfamiliar feel approachable and help you taste a range of options before settling in on a bottle. 8000 Vintages is the sort of place where you can make a meal out of small plates and spend an entire evening, or simply pop in to pick up a bottle to take home.
Other Spots We Love
P. Franco
London, England
Tool Shed Brewing
Calgary, Canada
Circa 1875
Savannah, Georgia
Pedal Haus
Tempe, Arizona
Cometa Pla
Barcelona, Spain
Roadhouse Brewing Co.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
M Salumeria
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Factory
Rome, Italy
Amigoni Urban Winery
Kansas City, Missouri
Podrum Wine Art
Belgrade, Serbia
Wynwood Brewing Co.
Miami, Florida
Night Shift Brewing
Boston, Massachusetts
Perennial Artisan Ales
St. Louis, Missouri
Jabeerwocky
Warsaw, Poland
Woods Beer & Wine Co.
San Francisco, California
Constantia Glen
Cape Town, South Africa
Shipyard Brewing Co.
Portland, Maine
Tribeca
Dublin, Ireland
Freetail Brewing Co.
San Antonio, Texas
The Island Elizabeth Quay
Perth, Australia
A subscription to Localeur is about more than just travel. It’s also the key to exploring the city where you live (or even for planning the perfect staycation). Whatever your travel sights are set on, we can help get you there.
