wine bar

Best Coffeehouses
The first nominee is known for discovering unknown and exotic coffees from around the world while the second is focused on its craft of making the best coffee. The third nominee is the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world while the fourth nominee knows coffee the way oenologists know wine. The final nominee features artisan-roasted beans and single-origin coffees and teas from around the world.

The moment you pry open the heavy wooden doors at 2520 Second Avenue in Seattle, you'll be struck by the magnitude of The Local Vine's Wine collection. An eternity of bottles soars to the ceiling, some accessible only by ladder. Selection is just one of the many reasons The Local Vine is a Luxist nominee in the best wine bar category.

Founded in 2007 by Harvard Business School graduates Allison Nelson and Sarah Munson, The Local Vine boasts both an air of sleek sophistication and a refreshing accessibility. Free wireless internet, down-to-earth advice on wine, and a casual atmosphere complete with a fully functional fireplace make it more like a coffee house than a strict wine bar.

And there's plenty of wine to go around. The Local Vine's list consists of over 100 wines by the glass, with a focus on wines from California, Oregon and Washington. Oenophiles with more exotic tastes won't be disappointed, as the menu is packed with vintages from all around the world, ranging in price from $5 to $485 per glass.

If this all sounds very appealing but you're thousands of miles away from Seattle, don't worry. The Local Vine ships its wares all around the world, and its monthly wine clubs offer an easy and customizable way for patrons to indulge in communal wine enjoyment. Memberships range from the Picks of the Month Club ($49/month), which includes two reds and a white delivered to your home, all the way up to the Collectors Club ($600/quarter), which brings six rare wines to your doorstep every three months. All of the clubs can be purchased in 1, 3, 6 or 12 month increments. (Contact: orders@thelocalvine.com or 206-441-6000).

Vote for the wine bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Dallas is perhaps best known for barbeque, the Cowboys and Lee Harvey Oswald. But thanks to Mercy Wine Bar in nearby Addison, Texas, oenophiles can add another highlight to their list. And with a stunning selection and intimate ambiance, Mercy is an easy choice as a Luxist nominee in the best wine bar category.

On April 15th 1964, Roy Orbison recorded the song "Pretty Woman." He probably had no idea that a few decades later his line, "No one could looks as good as you – mercy," would inspire the name of a Dallas wine bar. Sure enough, Orbison fan Glen Agritelley chose the name Mercy as a tribute to the singer. After a stint at Microsoft in the late 1980s, Agritelley cashed out and invested in a racquet club, a clothier, and finally, a wine bar.

Agritelley's vision for Mercy Wine Bar was drawn from his globetrotting observations. Italian mosaics and styling give the bar a European feel, while modern flourishes inspired by bars in Miami and other U.S. cities add a distinct American flair. Different rooms give guests an array of options: up front are classic dining tables with cloth linen, followed by a scalloped bar perfect for small groups. The lounge area behind the bar makes for a more casual place to relax with a glass of wine.

Unlike most establishments where wine is chosen as an accompaniment to food, Mercy's clients are encouraged to select wine first and food as a complement. With 100 different wines available by the glass and another 50 by the bottle, there are plenty options from which to choose.

Vote for the wine bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Walk through the doors of Underwood Bar & Bistro in Graton, Calif., and you might think you've been transported to a cozy eatery in the middle of New York's West Village. In fact, you're still in the heart of Sonoma wine country – about to sit down in an establishment nominated for a Luxist award in the best wine bar category.

Founded in 2003, Underwood is one of a handful of places that brings an urban sophistication to Graton, a tiny town centered between Occidental, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol in the bucolic Sonoma area. Stop by on a weekend night and stay with the wine-tasting revelers as late as 2am; don't be surprised to see Sonoma royalty downing a carafe at a nearby table.

Underwood's wine list contains dozens of offerings from California and beyond; there's also a small beer selection for the yeastily inclined. Along with the spirits, don't forget to have a meal while you're at Underwood – the menu includes a mix of French and Italian cuisine with plenty of seafood options, including fresh oysters. If you arrive after dinnertime, never fear: there's a late-night menu to suit any craving.

Though it's in the country, Underwood isn't terribly out of the way. A twenty-minute drive from the Bardessono, Northern California's premier eco-lodge and other wine country hotels, Underwood is also just an hour north of San Francisco by car.

Vote for the wine bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

In a city known for excellent cuisine and fine wine, eking out a great reputation isn't an easy thing for a bar to do. That's why the success of San Francisco's Bar Bambino is all the more incredible, and it's one of the many reasons that the trendy watering hole is a Luxist nominee in the best wine bar category.

Founded in 2007, Bar Bambino became a fast favorite for residents of San Francisco's Mission district and beyond. With a 63-seat main room that features a heavy dose of warm wood along with clean modern metal and glass, the atmosphere is both inviting and chic. A back patio makes for a great dining and drinking experience during the city's few warm months.

Bar Bambino's wine list includes over 160 different varieties, including more than 35 available from the glass. Per bottle prices range from $32 to $333; most are uncommon wines from the Italian peninsula. For those interested in yeastier brews, Bambino offers a small selection of beers from the U.S., Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

In addition to a spectacular list of beverages, Bar Bambino offers a range of delectable eats. There's light fare for snackers – cheese plates, olive oil flights, breads and cured meats, to name a few – as well as full meal options including braised lamb shank and twice-cooked chicken. And if the dessert menu doesn't float your boat, there's always another glass of wine waiting for you.

Vote for the wine bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

Sip a glass of 1999 Amarone della Valpolicella in Accademia di Vino's windowless bottle-lined dining room, and you might think you're in a Tuscan wine cellar – not midtown Manhattan. Its authentic atmosphere is one of the many reasons Accademia di Vino is a Luxist nominee in the best wine bar category.

Accademia di Vino was founded just last year by Anthony Mazzola, a Bronx-born entrepreneur who opened his first wine shop at the age of 25. After amassing eight wine and liquor stores in the tri-state area, he moved to Italy with the thought of starting his own winery, but realized within a few years that his heart was still in New York. Upon returning, he opened restaurants Ouest and 'Cesca before launching Accademia di Vino.

With a cellar packed with over 600 different bottles of wine and 50 served by the glass, Accademia di Vino is truly a place to learn about wine. Offerings can be paired with cheeses and meats, while those with heartier appetites can simply order from a full dinner and lunch menu of Italian cuisine dreamed up by chef Kevin Garcia.

Located on Third Avenue and 64^th Street in the shadow of the Bloomberg building, Accademia di Vino is close to a number of other major New York City attractions including the bright lights of Broadway and the sparkling greenery of Central Park.

Vote for the wine bar that you believe is the best of breed. The voting period runs through April 30 and winners will be announced on May 1.

The tradition of getting a drink at the airport is long established but the rise of upscale winebars at airports is a relatively new phenomenon. The Wine Enthusiast rounds up a couple of the wine bar options at airports around the U.S. Leading the pack is the winningly named Vino Volo (from Italian for wine flight). Vino Volo has a chain of wine shops located beyond the security point so that flyers can purchase bottles to take on the plane. The company has wine bars in JFK airport in New York, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and Washington, DC's Dulles International Airport and plans as many as 50 stores over the next five years.

Vino Volo serves wines by the glass or in tasting flights and poured are also available for purchase by the bottle to take with them or have shipped to their home (depending on sate law). Vino Volo also offers a wine club. The wine bars also serve light food which can also be packed up for flight.