Grape and Grain

Earlier this week I ventured out into Alphabet City to visit Grape and Grain, which is located at 620 E 6^th 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!

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My delicious glass of Gewürztraminer nestled in the table decor

Briciola

Briciola was the second stop of our wine bar hopping night and it’s located at 370 W 51^st St, right across the street from Xai Xai. And it is freaking adorable.

The unassuming, if not downright ghetto, deli-green awning gives no indication to the quaint little gem that lies beneath. This wine bar is absolutely charming. It’s a tiny, narrow space made to look like an Italian deli. There are fake cured meats hanging from the ceiling in the back, glassfront cabinets stocked with pastas and grocery items along one wall, and a white tiled bar surrounded by stools on the other.

We took a seat at the bar and the bartender greeted us immediately and slid the cutest little menu I’ve ever seen across the bar to us. It was a mini-chalkboard with the available wines hand written on it. It was darling. I think I may have actually said “awwww” and squeaked a little as I was taking a picture of it. There were no producers or vintages listed, however. Glasses were between $8 and $12 and bottles were all less than $40. I ordered a glass of the Nero D’Avola and my sister in law got a glass of Chianti. My wine smelled like cherry, herbs, and maybe a bit of tomato leaf smell to it as well. It had a great flavor of dried strawberry and was robust, well rounded, and it had a great backbone of acidity. It was very Italian and very fantastic! And it was only $8. It tasted a lot like a similar wine that I had purchased in Italy that I regret opening so early and/or not buying more than one bottle of because it was so tasty.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly and it reminded me of Italy. I’m not much for accents, but the bartender might have been Italian as well. This is a cozy little neighborhood spot and I really wish there was a place like this near me in Brooklyn because I would be there all the time.

We finished our first glasses of wine and were enjoying the atmosphere so much that we decided to stay longer and ordered some oysters. The bartender suggested a Muller Thurgau to pair with them and she gave me a small taste of it. I happily nodded in agreement and she gave us each a healthy pour of the wine. It was crisp, refreshing, and it tasted like green apple. It was delicious and a spot on recommendation. I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Ernest Hemingway: "As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and make plans." You cut to the core of me, Baxter Hemingway.

I really can’t rave about this place enough. It’s so far removed from the typical wine bar scene of New York that it’s really a unique experience. I will absolutely be back. Probably weekly. The wines are amazing and very well priced for what they are and the service is genuine. I give Briciola a rating of 4.8 out of 5 glasses.

You'd never know that there was an amazing wine bar under this awning!

The deli-like interior of Briciola

The "groceries"

The most adorable menu ever

My glass of Nero D'Avola

Muller Thurgau and tasty, tasty oysters!