QOTD: Never actually been to a wine bar, but I got a gift card for Christmas to a cafe/wine bar down the street from me and Im going to check it out for lunch this week. Gift card is big enough I can go there twice. Def. a chance for me to maybe try a glass of something new as a wine by the glass if they have it. Maybe a way to ease me into a new wine instead of spending $15-$20 on a bottle of it at a wine shop.

Really enjoying the on-location shots...though a little surprised about your Greek wine comments. Most Greek red wines are supposed to be earthy, dark, herbal, and vegetal, so why should they try to be something else??? The foods are made to go with the cuisine, which aside from the coastal areas, is conducive to those types of reds. Anyway, great show. Always love it when you give props to Gewürztraminer! QOTD: My sister-in-law works at Trezo Vino in Overland Park, Kansas, so there, naturally. It's hard to find good wine bars in Kansas, and they have a good variety and have well-priced flights and by-the-glass.

P.S. When are we going to see Lizzie???

I hate to admit that I am yet to go to a wine bar, but there is one in Boston I hope to go to next time I am up there.

Favorite wine bar in the US is Tria (18th & Sansom) in Philadelphia.

I’m having my first Greek red as I rewatch this episode. It’s 2005 Erasmios Agiorgitiko. Agiorgitiko is the varietal which is also known as aghiorghitiko, mavro nemeas and St. George. It’s oaky and I like it. I’m beginning to feel a bit awkward about saying this. I suspect I’m sounding phony, like I’m portraying a character. I don’t mean to sound this way. There are non-oaky wines that I like, but I don’t seem to be finding any oaky wines that I don’t like. I like red wine and I’m having a good time. My comments are sincere. I’m also watching and enjoying the wine episode of Columbo as I drink it. I guess it would be more appropriate to be drinking an Italian wine. Oh well.

I am still trying to find good wine bars here in the Tampa Bay area but so for I like The Grape @ International Plaza.

California Wine and Cheese in Monrovia, California!

sorry i just dont have the money for that

QOTD: Red White & Bluezz, Pasadena CA

I did a bit of "research" and the Gewurztraminer is about 23 bones a bottle, oh and make sure mott makes you look cool the next time you want something to pop up on the screen at your command

Love Blue Ribbon...also good to see a Greek red wine reviewed.

Wine bars...in NYC I like Bar Veloce, inoteca on LES, Bin 71 on UWS.

This is a nice setting for your show, I think it is classy and hip and sweet. Nice idea. :)

QOTD: I haven't been to too many wine bars across the country, but in Charleston, SC I like Raval.

It's cool to see Refosco on the show. I had one that I really liked when I was first getting into wine.

Vino Volo -- it's a new wine bar chain targeting specifically at airports. The one that I visited was in Sea-Tac airport. They emphasize local wines, and they have wine tasting menus. I really had a great time tasting the wines.

Since you are going to Seattle soon for the book signing, it may be a very interesting visit! This one is next to terminal B -- so if you are flying back to Newark via Continental, you won't miss it.

I got a card -- they are also in DC, New York (LGA?), Baltimore, and Sacramento.

QOTD: The Wine Room, Winter Park, FL http://www.thewineroomonline.com/

My favorite wine bar here in Austin, TX, has to be Malaga, on 4th Street downtown. It's a great little tapas and wine establishment, and they have great tapas, as well as an impressive wine selection. Alternatively, I've recently discovered another little wine bar and kitchen in the Westlake area just west of 360 on 2244 called the Grove. Both the Grove and Malaga are very worth checking out if you're ever in Austin.

QOTD: In New York, I've always been a huge fan of Blue Ribbon and Otto--and also Landmarc for reasonably priced wine. In Chicago, where I am now, my favorites are The Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars(with a great view) and Webster Wine Bar.

QOTD: Unfortunately I've only been to 2 and would not claim either as my favorite. I tend to go directly to individual wineries but then you don't get the diversity and selection.
It's close to being a winebar so I'll mention my favorite place is the Enoteca on the 2d floor of the wineshop of the Whole Foods in Fairlakes, VA. They've got 80 wines on nitrogen tap so you load credit on your smartcard and can try different size samples of a broad variety of wines starting from supermarket wines all the way up to some pretty expensive wine that I would never think to buy without a taste. On top of all that they have tons of awesome food and restaurants in the store so you can bring food up and pair with the different wines.

GV - I like it when you take the show on the road - talk about perspective change!
QOTD - I have not been to that many straight up wine bars, but my wife and I used to like to go to 6th & Vine in Winston-Salem, NC. You could sit outside on the sidewalk "bistro" and drink a "tasting" menu selection. The wines were not the greatest, but they were solid in the variety area.

I'm a lurker from San Diego. We have an exceptional wine bar here called Wine Steals. They're in the community of Hillcrest in San Diego and they feature mostly inexpensive gems. The ambiance and people gives energy to the wine tasting experience here. Inexpensive certainly doesn't translate to cheap. They certainly go to great lengths to make exceptional choices. Wine Steals has two locations but the Hillcrest bar is the best. http://www.winestealssd.com/

QOTD Not that I have vsited that many, but the PDX airport has a very good wine bar specializing in Pinot Noirs from Oregon. An excellent list and great folks running it.

I exspecially like the wine bars that sell what they are pouring. I think it is a great concept for a new kind of bar where you can eat, buy a wine or two and sample the ones you are curious about.

Great show.

Living in the Tampa Bay area we have crap for wine bars. As a matter of fact there aren't even many restaurants with great wine lists. I would absolutely love to hit NYC and hit Blue Ribbon and all the other great bars there.

QOTD: There are so many good ones in Tucson. I'd have to go with The Dish, b/c they have a wine store connected to the restaurant, so you go pick out a wine, pay a corking fee, and you get better selection than any wine list at a normal restaurant. If anyone visits Tucson, they should definitely go to The Dish.

QOTD: The Side Door Cafe and Wine Bar in the village Mammoth, CA. they serve all kinds of crepes and pour wines by the glass or bottle with very friendly servers.

Best wine bar is the Market Avenue Wine Bar in the Ohio City neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio.

QTD: Otto has been my favorite for a few years, because the wines are interesting and good, the crowd is fun, and the staff are pros. But, I'm looking for alternatives...

My favorite wine bar is Park Blue in NYC on 58th street. Everything Fonda is doing over there is fantastic. Wish I could afford to hang out there more!

Hollywood Vine in Hollywood, Florida (just outside of Fort Lauderdale) is the bomb. Steve has never driven me wrong.

QOTD: The Tasting Room, Seattle WA

LOVED THE CHANGE OF PACE AND NEW LOCATION. Kudos to Blue Ribbon who had the balls to let you critique their wine.

QOTD: Haven't been to enough wine bars to have a favorite.

Anyone in eastern NC, we need to start a tasting group!

So last night my tasting group met with Alsace Gewurztraminer as the theme. I brought a bottle of the Bucklin as a ringer. (We always taste blind.) I don't think anyone was fooled - its overall flavor profile was too different from all of the Alsatians - but quality-wise, it held its own and delivered good balance and length. Plus, it went really nicely with the crab ravioli I ordered. Thanks for the rec Gary!

hey how do you know wat sheeps but smells like also you are hilarious

Nice show. I like it when you film from different locations. It just breaks up the feel. QOTD: OTTO NYC, I've been going there for yrs so I'm partial to them. Also, Bin 71 on UWS small place with great feel and vino and bar Jamon with great spanish wine but very small.

Bacchus Wine Bar on Russian Hill in San Francisco!!!

Hey Gary,

I don't understand how you can say that the 2004 Mercouri Estate Red is a great value at $12, but not worth it for $16. Especially since you gave it a rating of 87 pts which for me, is a great score for any wine under $20.

This exemplifies a major problem in today's wine ratings: people think that anything under 90 points (considered outstanding by traditional scaling) isn't worth it. Giving wines that are 85-87 points (especially at a good price point like $17) a pass skews the rating scale and can push beginners away from some good wines.

I realize you tell people not to trust the critic, but trust their "pal", but there is still come consistency required by the critic when it comes to wine value. At the end of the day, people still use the numerical score (and your "vaynerpazz" statement) as a guide on what to try. An 87 point by your rating is a wine that is "very good", and for $17 could be considered a great value, and at least considered something worth trying.

I am the classic lurker, have seen virtually every episode of WLTV and have "spread the thunder" to countless friends, yet this is my first comment. I live in Reno, but am frequently in San Francisco, so I have 2 favorite wine bars. In Reno: Washoe wine company - by far the best place for wine in Northern Nevada. In SF: the wine club - not technically a wine bar, but they have excellent tastings on the weekend and their prices and selection are fantastic.

These days wine bars have too many diminishing returns for me, both financially and psychologically. Effortlessly spend mountains of cash, crunch the quality for price numbers, get depressed, perform bedtime ablutions in a haze of self loathing, wonder when the madness will stop...it's just too perilous to go to a wine bar! One of my favorite places to drink wine though, especially when Spain traded in pesetas, was in the Plaze Virreina in Barcelona. Great neighborhood setting in Gracia, a church at the top of the plaza, unneutered male dogs off leash...

And GV, how good to see that you remain the quintessential populist, seated on the ground in Madison Sq. Park with little regard for your wardrobe.

QOTD: The Grape in Phipps Plaza, Atlanta

Great tastings, great people and always a fun time!

Very nice and different ep! Love when you go on field trips!

QOTD: Bin 36 in Chicago....interesting wine list and nice tapas menu!

Enjoy your travels!