Wine is a libation that has no season – summer, fall, winter, spring – there is a wine for every season and every occasion. Yet, there is something about cold weather that has us popping the cork on more and more bottles of wine. While getting cozy and drinking a glass of wine at home on the couch after a long day is a welcome way to unwind, we suggest heading out to a local wine bar or eatery. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or not, there’s something to be said about a stellar wine paired aptly with an appetizer or entrée. Check out a few of our favorite wine spots, from Salisbury to Rehoboth…
9301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD
410-524-7037
Take one step in the door and you’ll quickly discover that this place takes their wine seriously. The walls are lined with bottle after bottle (after bottle) of wine, from whites to reds to sparkling to dessert wines. Prices range, as is to be expected, but the staff is well-versed and always friendly, so if you give them an inkling of what you’re looking for, they’ll find it. For the finicky wine drinker, peruse the extensive wine list, or better yet, pick your poison from the seemingly endless number of wine bottles lining the walls. What’s more, Liquid Assets has a serious cheese and charcuterie menu. Wine and cheese? Yes please.
Sobo’s
1015 Eastern Shore Drive, Salisbury, MD
410-219-1117
www.soboswinebeerstro.com
SoBo’s Wine Beerstro is one of those places we find an excuse to go to Salisbury for. Not far off the beaten path, this place consistently delivers, with delicious food and the perfect ambiance for sipping on a glass of wine. Owners and brothers John and Tom Knorr know a thing or two about good food. These are the guys responsible for The Red Roost, Boonies, Evolution Craft Brewing Company, and Specific Gravity…pretty much all of our favorite Salisbury eateries. The dynamic duo opened SoBo’s in 2006, with the focus being on great food and wine with a bit of an upscale flair. For the wine enthusiast, SoBo’s was a welcome addition to the typically chain-laden Salisbury dining scene. SoBo’s features a progressive wine list, with 100 New World wines. SoBo’s underwent a name change in 2009 from SoBo’s Wine Bistro to SoBo’s Wine Beersto to reflect the restaurants’ wine and beer selection.
The Maryland Wine Bar
103 North Main Street, Berlin, MD
410-629-1022
We are always looking for a good excuse to head to Main Street in Berlin, whether it’s to visit the local sweets shops, grab a bite to eat, or sample some fine Maryland wines at the Maryland Wine Bar. This quaint spot is focused entirely on wines – reds, whites, sparkling wines, hard ciders, dessert wines and ports. There are also frequent wine tastings to enjoy. The cozy space is the perfect spot for enjoying a glass of wine. Simply divine.
Galaxy 66 Bar & Grille and The Skye Bar
6601 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD
410-723-6762
Galaxy 66 is one of those unique places that one really has to experience to understand. From the décor to the ambiance to the unparalleled rooftop Sky Bar, it’s easily one of the more metropolitan establishments in Ocean City. We go for the food and the rooftop hangout, but we also recently discovered their stand-out list of wines. Seriously, the list of wines by the bottles goes on for days. The staff is well-versed, which is always a plus for those of us that are a far cry from being sommeliers. What’s more, the raw bar at the Skye Bar. While most people on the Eastern Shore typically think beer and oysters, wine and oysters are an equally beautiful pairing.
West O Bottle Shop & Bar
12611 Ocean Gateway
410-213-2079
The West O Bottle Shop & Bar affords us the best of both worlds – bar and wine store. We’ll start with the bar. The bar area is a cozy yet modern mix of beach meets metropolitan chic, replete with wines, cocktails, beers on tap and more. Not excited by what you see on the wine menu? No problem, just take a walk around the shop, pick out a bottle, and enjoy it at the bar. The bottle shop is teeming with wines, from Malbecs to sauvignon blancs, Spanish wines to California blends. Wine tasting events are common here, as well as Paint Night, which will debut in the shop January 10.
Nage Bistro and Wine Bar
19730 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE
302-226-2037
www.nagerb.com
Nage was awarded ‘Best Wine List’ by readers of Downstate in the Best of Delaware 2013 awards. For starters, the wine bar offers an ideal atmosphere for hanging out with friends or for making new ones. There are also over 30 wines by the glass to choose from, with an ever-changing wine list. Reason number 2 – the wine keeper. Nage installed a wine keeper system to protect their wines by the glass. It works by replacing the air in an opened bottle of wine with inert gas to ensure that every glass of wine poured is as fresh as the moment the bottle was opened. Last, but certainly not least, Nage offers wine tastings, wine flights, happy hour specials, live music and ladies nights.
