“This popular wine bar and store on University Avenue offers a rustic decor that evokes tasting in a winery's barrel room. On a recent Friday, every one of the barrel-shaped tables was filled with groups of friends talking over wine, and so was the bar.
Wine Steals offers a bare-bones tasting experience in that the staff members don't create flights or share much information; ask a question and they are likely to point to the chalkboard and say it's all up there.
The selection of 20 wines included a CMS blend of marsanne, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc for $5 a glass; J Sparkling wine for $9; and a Gustavo Thrace zinfandel for $10. A half-glass costs half price; a splash just to see if you like it is 25 cents.
The menu includes $7 paninis; a pizza slice and primitivo pairing for $5; and wooden wheels filled with a selection of cheeses, meats and bread for $14. If you're interested in higher-quality cheese, another option is visiting Taste, the gourmet shop next door, to pick out your favorite cheese and then bringing it with you.”
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“Wine Steals is a unique type of fruit, especially in the grape-soaked Mecca of Hillcrest: a wine bar that actually values "value." The 35 wines available by the glass or half-glass are affordably priced (as low as $1.50), and varieties change every Sunday, endowing each visit with tastes novel enough to please even those 'Sideways' aficionados. In addition, the retail section in back boasts 300 wines for purchase by the bottle, many under $10.
The streetfront establishment is attractively furnished with wine barrels, bright wooden stools, and a long bar patchworked with multicolored stones, creating a glowing, wine-warmed atmosphere that no one can keep a secret. On weekends, oenophiles are practically tumbling out the door. Happy hour specials are different every day of the week, from no corkage fees for full bottles on Mondays, to $3 glasses during the week, to half-price wine flights all night Sunday.
The adjoining Artisan Cheese Shop ensures prime parings, and fare is delivered to your table. Wheel-shaped cheese boards are a gourmand's delight, crammed with five kinds of cheese, olives and olive oil, bread, crackers, even a selection of cold meats for stupendous snacking satisfaction. If your appetite compels you, steaming hot paninis are customizable with Artisan cheeses, prosciutto, pastrami, salami or turkey; or try the kitchen's specialty, the sweet and savory brie raspberry.” -- Kirsten Noelle Hubbard
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Our unique concept is simple: to combine wine buying with wine tasting in a casual and fun atmosphere. So, you can sip, nibble, or drink at our traditional Zinc-countered bar while shopping for affordable, off-the-beaten-path wines in the retail store. The focus is on unpretentious wine exploration. Whether you’re a novice wine drinker, or a well-seasoned one, we offer something different for everyone. With the help of our knowledgeable staff, we can help you customize a flight of wines and cheeses to match, pick out a glass to sip on, or help you choose the perfect bottle of wine. The casual environment and rustic feel encourages you to ask questions and try new and different wines from around the world.
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