In an effort to offer more expensive wines by the glass, wine bars with self serve enomatic wine systems are cropping up everywhere. Last year I wrote post about The Hostile Grape and since then it seems this type of wine bar is becoming the standard.
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| Wine Garden |
When I heard about the Sonoma Wine Garden in Santa Monica in Santa Monica Place, I had to check it out. A wine bar in a mall? What makes this different is the open air bar, beautifully designed wine garden, and gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean at sunset.
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| Enomatic Wine System |
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| Wine Bottle Chandelier |
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| The View |
I had a beautiful pour of 2008 Amuse Boucche -- Napa Valley offered at $30 for 3 ounces. Also St. Estephe Chateau Petit Bocq-Bourdeaux Fance offered at $15 for 3 ounces. There are smaller and more affordable pours available. For example, a 2008 Pinot Noir Coup de Foudre—Santa Rita Hills, CA offered for $5.20 per ounce.
Service was a little slower than I appreciate, but I gave it a pass since it had just opened and there were some left kinks to work out. However, the small plates were so tantalizing, perfect sized portions perfect for wine parings – well worth the wait.
Service was a little slower than I appreciate, but I gave it a pass since it had just opened and there were some left kinks to work out. However, the small plates were so tantalizing, perfect sized portions perfect for wine parings – well worth the wait.
Worth going back for:
- Pommard Clos des Epeneaux Domain de Comtes amand-Burgundy France 1996 offered at 1 oz for $12, 3oz for $30.00
- Langhe Ross costa Russ Gaga –Piedmont Italy 2004 offered at 1 oz for $19.80 and 3oz for $49.50
