The Best Places To Drink Wine In Charleston
A nice, crisp glass (or two) of wine can make for the perfect outing and Charleston is beaming with great places to do just that. As the beginning of summer approaches, The Daily Meal shares some of the best places to drink wine:
Bin 152
Solely designated as a wine bar located in the heart of downtown, Bin 152 is a great option for those just looking to have a nice glass or bottle. They offer 30 different wines by the glass and have over 130 bottles. On top of that, they offer 40 different cheeses and charcuterie to pair alongside your order.
Charleston Grill
They take their wine service incredibly serious at the Charleston Grill. Its staff is highly educated in wine and they offer some amazing bottles. The wine list is over 40 pages long and bottles go up to the $3000, like the Château Pétrus, 2008 and Shafer, Hillside Select, SLD, Napa, 2006, Imperial (6L). So big ballers, this is your place to go all out.
Edmund's Oast
The wine list at Edmund's Oast might be smaller than some, but it's a very smart list and offers some delicious, hard-to-find options. The list also compliments the impressive beer and cocktails program offered at the downtown brewpub. Makers like Gotham Project, Forlorn Hope, Dirty & Rowdy, and Montenidoli are featured currently, but check the website for the daily menu which changes often.
FIG
The James Beard Foundation has nominated FIG for the last two years as a semi-finalist for Best Wine Program. We could stop right there but we will share more about the thoughtfulness of the wines available. Varietals come from all over the world produced by some of the most exciting producers. Enfield Wine Company, Wilde Farm, Movia, Wind Gap, Matthiasson, Broc and more... we could go on and on. The key is getting into the place. Reservations made far in advance are definitely recommended, or if you want to wait in line before the restaurant opens at 5:00 p.m. for a spot at the bar, you may get lucky.
McCrady's
Once you sit down at McCrady's, you are greeted by someone who knows a lot about wines. The best option is to tell them what you like to drink and let them guide the way. Another great option is to get the pairings that go along with the tasting menu by chef Daniel Heinze. If you are there when the weather is chilly, the fireplaces might be lit making for a perfectly romantic evening out.
The Ordinary
The other hot spot by chef Mike Lata (of FIG) is his livelier oyster bar. The list at The Ordinary features libations that pair best with it's primarily seafood menu — champagnes and a ton of white wines. Something not to overlook is its exceptional sherry list, as well as the pink and orange wines available.
Stems & Skins
The newest stand-alone wine bar to open in the area, Stems & Skins is owned by some of the best in the industry — Matt Tunstall and Justin Croxall. The neighborhood bar serves natural wines from around the world. Food & Wine magazine named this spot one of the most exciting new wines bars to open this year.
Trattoria Lucca
If you are an Italian wine lover, you will want to stop by the recently opened Trattoria Lucca. Tucked away, this intimate restaurant is owned by chef Ken Vedrinski who prides himself in finding interesting makers during his annual pilgrimage to Italy. If you don't want to have a full meal, try and snag one of the limited seats at the bar. Ken will often be pouring from behind the counter, sharing stories on how and where he found the bottle in his hand.