5 of the best with something for everyone.
I’ve lived in Austin for some 30+ years and I’m pretty sure there was not a wine bar of note when I moved here – except for Jeffrey’s. Thank goodness that has changed and now Austin is home to many new wine bars and wine-focused restaurants offering something for everyone – whether you are looking for something eclectic, an old favorite, a natural wine selection or a specific region (South Africa maybe?). It’s refreshing to see wine bars and restaurants that change out their lists with some regularity so you can keep exploring this fabulous world of wine.
Here’s a look at some new places and old favorites you should check out.
Tucked behind Breeds in Westlake, Neighborhood Vintner is what you wish would end up just down the street from your neighborhood. The new “it” place in town with a modern, yet comfortable aesthetic, it’s a great place to hang and enjoy a glass (or two) or stop in and pick up a bottle to take home. Sommelier Paul Ozbirn (a badass sommelier who has helped me, among others, pass their wine certifications) offers a terrific selection of wines from the world, organized by variety, not by region, so if you’re looking for Chardonnay, you can find beauties from France, Australia, California and other regions all together. Speaking of Chardonnay, I enjoyed a pretty Chablis (my go-to white) with a cheese and charcuterie board during a recent visit. Of course, I always look for the Texas wines and loved seeing some of my favorite CL Butaud wines on the shelf.
This little restaurant at the bottom of an apartment complex on east Seventh is a wine enthusiast’s heaven. Intimate, but not stuffy, with a small, fabulous menu prepared by Chef Charles Zhou (formerly Barley Swine) in the tiniest kitchen ever, Apt. 115 offers an extensive and delicious wine list that covers every corner of the globe. What’s really interesting is the by-the-glass wines that change daily. Daily…that’s right. I enjoyed Loimer Extra Brut sparkling from Austria to start and, if you remember my Memorial Day wine recommendations, I love the whites from Savoie, so ordered the Domaine Charles Gonnet, a perfect pairing with the cauliflower fondue, steamed tilefish and duck leg ssam (probably the best duck I have ever had). The wine menu includes some Texas selections from Southold Farm + Cellar, CL Butaud and William Chris.
Formerly a home décor retail shop, Aviary owners converted the South Lamar shop in 2017 into a full-service restaurant and wine bar that is one of my go-to wine places. Beverage Director Alex Bell (who can describe wines so magically) offers a fun, playful wine list that is crazy diverse and sure to delight. Recently, I enjoyed a sparkling Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire Valley that paired beautifully with the fried chicken, a dry Croatian white with a hint of salinity that complemented the shaved brassicas salad, and a rustic red from Lebanon that was perfect with the roasted carrots and beef short rib. Chef Andre Molina kills it with his seasonal menu. I was happy to see a couple of Texas wines on the list such as Vinovium’s Sketch Red Blend and The Austin Winery’s Piqette Rosé.
While Lenoir the restaurant has been a fan favorite for years (owner/executive chef Todd Duplechan and sous chef Monique Santua kill it every day), I love how they built out and really expanded the outdoor wine garden space during and post-pandemic (which also gave them the space to serve guests while the indoor restaurant was remodeled). Offering their full menu of locally inspired dishes, the Lenoir Wine Garden has a small all-natural, grower-producer wine list, including its own private label Lenoir pet-nat, a delightful sparking Texas wine with notes of black plum and cranberry.
As a cyclist, I have to include Meteor on the list with its restaurant and wine bar on one side and Chain Lube bike shop on the other. The menu offers pizzas, salads and bowls; the Meteor Logical Bowl is fabulous with greens, rice, avocado, carrot and Shawarma chicken. I have to say Meteor’s mostly natural wine list can be a bit intimidating, because you probably won’t recognize many labels. I opted for some Francoise Bedel bubbly, a biodynamic wine made by a female winemaker with slightly oxidative notes of overripe yellow apple and citrus. I was happy to see wines from two Texas producers: Southold Farm + Cellar and The Austin Winery.
This is just the start of some great wine places in Austin. Will do another round-up soon after I get back from my cycling trip in the Dolomites and winery visits in Alto Adige. Ciao!
Denise Clarke is an avid wine enthusiast who loves sharing and teaching people about wine. She is a Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier, WSET Advanced graduate and an expert on Texas wine. Owner of Denise Clarke PR, she currently represents Texas Fine Wine and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Wine Marketing Program. She has lived in Austin for more than 30 years and when she is not swirling and sipping wine, she can be found on her bike, climbing every hill she can find.
Follow Denise on IG at @deniseclarkeTX for more wine recommendations.
