Over the course of the last few years, more people have started to regard going out for light snacks and drinks as a bit more of a fancy affair. They don’t mind getting a little dolled up for a fun evening, and some of the main destinations they have in mind are wine bars.
Wine bars are one of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry, and given the great ambience, convivial atmosphere, and rustic nature of these social hotbeds, it really should be of no surprise to anyone. However, if you’re a wine lover, you might find yourself a bit torn about whether or not it’s the proper way to really enjoy wine.
After all, there are centuries-old documentation of some vineyards, and families still take their stewardship of their family’s wine lineage very seriously many generations in. The notion that such a refined beverage as wine could find itself being consumed in a bar seems outrageous.
Then again, who gets to make the rules about enjoying wine? If you’re a wine lover but still on the fence about all of this, maybe you need a bit more insight into what these cool places bring to the table.
Here is a wine lover’s guide to wine bars:
Laid-back and Rustic – Unlike the usual settings we see for wine consumption and enjoyment being made up of sharp edges, stainless steel, and crisp white linens, wine bars are all about the rustic setting. They choose to embody the old-world vineyard spirit of letting the wine do the talking rather than the surroundings.
Not A New Idea – Wine bars actually go all the way back to the 1980s. This was a decade of excess and no restraints, and there was no better time to experiment in the often elite market of wine. The trend continued through the 1990s, though the popularity had waned. The rise of the foodie revolution has certainly been key in the resurgence of the wine bar in America.
Domestic Wine Development Pave the Way – Over the last fifty to seventy years, domestic wine has not only become a thing, it has made an impact on the global wine market. As more stateside wines earn their keep among the best the international community has to offer, the more people in the U.S. want to see what the hype is all about.
Local Flavors Reign Supreme – Wine bars are especially great for the local, small wine maker trying to gain a footing somewhere in the market. They create partnerships with wine bars, which gives them an ‘in’ to a broader audience.
Wine bars are big on the scene right now, but they aren’t anything new. What is new is the interest in wine and the tinge of class it brings to every setting in which it’s found. More and more chefs and restaurant owners are trying to find an edge on the competition, and they have found that the best way to do so is by making even the most luxurious ingredients and offerings more accessible.