Wine Country:
California is known for their wine, and I am no stranger to shuffling down the wine aisle at almost any grocery store in So-Cal. I have become a wine connoisseur, moving away from the two-buck-chuck, and refining my palette, while not wreaking havoc to my budget. Since drinking and driving is never a good idea (for shame), I decided to let people know about five places that I don’t have to drive to, because they are right in my backyard. Cheers to you on possibly visiting these fine wine establishments!
California is known for their wine, and I am no stranger to shuffling down the wine aisle at almost any grocery store in So-Cal. I have become a wine connoisseur, moving away from the two-buck-chuck, and refining my palette, while not wreaking havoc to my budget. Since drinking and driving is never a good idea (for shame), I decided to let people know about five places that I don’t have to drive to, because they are right in my backyard. Cheers to you on possibly visiting these fine wine establishments!
Where to go:
BevMo! http://www.bevmo.com/Tastings
Where: All So-Cal locations
When: Fridays 4 pm-7 pm; Saturdays 2 pm-5 pm
Highlights: They taste both beer and wine at these tastings; they sometimes provide small bites; the crowds are usually small; and there is a $2 nominal fee that comes with a $2-off coupon if you spend more than $10 in the store. Great selection; and lot of wines on the 5 cent sale (which is practically BOGO).
Bottle Rock www.bottlerockculvercity.com/
Where: 3847 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232
When: Nightly for tasting flights (7 days a week), sign-up for email list for special tasting events.
Highlights: Three wine flights, for under $15, in the heart of the downtown Culver City Food mecca, also a wine shop if you want to purchase anything to-go.
Hours: Sunday & Monday: 4 pm-10 pm | Tuesday - Thursday: 4 pm-11 pm | Friday & Saturday: 4 pm-1 am
Ugo-Wine Bar http://cafeugo.com/
Where: 3865 Cardiff Ave, Culver City, CA 90232
When: Sunday through Thursday 4 pm – 11 pm; Friday & Saturday 4 pm – 12 am
Highlights: Wines of various prices in self-managed kiosks, using prepaid cards; they have a great food menu as well. A great indoor/outdoor atmosphere; great for polite or not-so-polite conversations; with ambient lighting.
Vintage Wine + Market www.vintagewineandmarket.com/
Where: 3300 Overland Ave #107, Los Angeles, CA 90034
When: Most Saturdays, usually 2 pm-4 pm; sign up for emails for exact dates.
Highlights: A small, but well stocked shop. They taste one to two wines, usually, for FREE. They also have a sister location restaurant of a similar name in Hollywood.
The Wine House- @TASTE- http://www.winehouse.com/now-tasting.php
Where: 2311 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064
When: 11 am- 6 pm on Monday-Saturday; 12 pm-5 pm on Sunday
Highlights: Wines of various prices in self-managed kiosks, using prepaid cards; they have over 32 wines to choose from, no more than eight tastes per customer, per visit. They have a great selection of wines to buy in-store. Sign up on their mailing list for great buys and more tasting events.
BevMo! http://www.bevmo.com/Tastings
Where: All So-Cal locations
When: Fridays 4 pm-7 pm; Saturdays 2 pm-5 pm
Highlights: They taste both beer and wine at these tastings; they sometimes provide small bites; the crowds are usually small; and there is a $2 nominal fee that comes with a $2-off coupon if you spend more than $10 in the store. Great selection; and lot of wines on the 5 cent sale (which is practically BOGO).
Bottle Rock www.bottlerockculvercity.com/
Where: 3847 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232
When: Nightly for tasting flights (7 days a week), sign-up for email list for special tasting events.
Highlights: Three wine flights, for under $15, in the heart of the downtown Culver City Food mecca, also a wine shop if you want to purchase anything to-go.
Hours: Sunday & Monday: 4 pm-10 pm | Tuesday - Thursday: 4 pm-11 pm | Friday & Saturday: 4 pm-1 am
Ugo-Wine Bar http://cafeugo.com/
Where: 3865 Cardiff Ave, Culver City, CA 90232
When: Sunday through Thursday 4 pm – 11 pm; Friday & Saturday 4 pm – 12 am
Highlights: Wines of various prices in self-managed kiosks, using prepaid cards; they have a great food menu as well. A great indoor/outdoor atmosphere; great for polite or not-so-polite conversations; with ambient lighting.
Vintage Wine + Market www.vintagewineandmarket.com/
Where: 3300 Overland Ave #107, Los Angeles, CA 90034
When: Most Saturdays, usually 2 pm-4 pm; sign up for emails for exact dates.
Highlights: A small, but well stocked shop. They taste one to two wines, usually, for FREE. They also have a sister location restaurant of a similar name in Hollywood.
The Wine House- @TASTE- http://www.winehouse.com/now-tasting.php
Where: 2311 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064
When: 11 am- 6 pm on Monday-Saturday; 12 pm-5 pm on Sunday
Highlights: Wines of various prices in self-managed kiosks, using prepaid cards; they have over 32 wines to choose from, no more than eight tastes per customer, per visit. They have a great selection of wines to buy in-store. Sign up on their mailing list for great buys and more tasting events.
Wherever you decide to taste, please do so responsibly. Wine tasting is such a fun activity, and you get to try new wines that may become old favorites. To your health!
Do you have a favorite place to taste wine? Do tell us!
Do you have a favorite place to taste wine? Do tell us!