Earlier this week I ventured out into Alphabet City to visit Grape and Grain, which is located at 620 E 6th St between Ave B & C. It’s hard to get to from pretty much everywhere in the city, but if it’s a nice day it is definitely worth the walk.
The space is very vintage looking, cute, and cozy. There are cushy benches around the brick walls of the bar and tall benches near the windows in the front. They were tall enough that while I was sitting down I was able to swing my legs like a dork kid again, which doesn’t happen often since I’m 5’10”. Weird, I know. But I liked it. The place has a quaint cottage-like quality to it; the tables are worn, the chairs are mismatched, and there are several small chandeliers hanging from the tin ceiling. It’s homey and relaxed.
The wine list looked very good. Glasses were between $9 and $16 and bottles of these same wines were $27 to $67. However, there were not any wines older than 2008. Most wines were 2010 and 2011. While many of the wines offered are actually best in their youth, I would have liked to see a couple of wines with a bit more age included in their selection.
When the bartender came to the table to see if I was ready to order, I asked him how the Gewürztraminer was. He told me it was very good, so I took his recommendation and ordered the 2011 Banyan Monterey County Gewürztraminer. I always hope that if I ask about a wine that the server will steer me in a different direction if it’s not the best, but he had no need to because this was a great one! It was served in a mini carafe and the wine was very aromatic and distinct. It smelled like lychee and peach and tasted very similar on the palate. It had a nice grapefruit flavor to it as well, a great acidity, and a long lingering finish of lychee. Some Gewürztraminer can be really nasty, which is why I asked the bartender about it, but this one was delicate and delicious. It would be perfect with Indian or Thai food because it would neutralize the spice a bit and add a touch of sweetness.
The bartender was really friendly and he allowed some customers to try a wine before ordering it. It also looked like he was tasting some of the wines himself to make sure they were up to par for the evening. Good quality control is always appreciated :) Sometimes at bars and restaurants bottles can be open for a few days if enough glasses of that particular wine are not ordered, so it was nice to see that he was checking to make sure they were still in good condition, if that was indeed the case.
I was the only one there for the majority of the time, so I can’t really say what kind of crowd this place draws, but judging from the indie music and setting, it has a vibe that would cater to a slightly younger crowd. It would be a good spot to go to for a casual date or before heading out for a late night in the East Village.
Grape and Grain is kind of hard to get to, but it’s worth the extra trip. It has a laid back atmosphere that made me want to hang out there for a while, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a good selection of wines, some of which are not on your typical wine list. It’s a very cool place! I give Grape and Grain a rating of 4.2 out of 5 glasses. Also, check out Against the Grain, which is their craft beer bar next door!
Still empty...
My delicious glass of Gewürztraminer nestled in the table decor
