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Top places for drinking wine

Bars & restaurants to test the palate

March 24, 2008

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From Birmingham to Ann Arbor, wine bars pour forth.

The best are fun and make you feel comfortable. Beyond the range of wines, look for knowledgeable and welcoming servers. Seek the option of ordering tastes or half pours.

The best wine lists provide more than names and prices to include guidance about style and flavor. Look for house-designed flights as well as the opportunity to create your own.

Good-quality glasses large enough to permit swirling the wine to release its aroma are a must in a top wine bar.

Great, wine-compatible food and a menu designed for nibbling as well as dining.

Here's some of the best places in the area to fine a good glass of grape:

Vinotecca

417 S. Main St, Royal Oak

248-544-6256

Opened by wine diva Kristin Jonna two years ago, Vinotecca was the first of the wave of area wine bars. The stylish room with atmospheric lighting has a sophisticated urban edge, and it's often packed, especially on weekends. The menu of tapas and small plates is stylish and interesting. The kitchen can be so-so, but go for the scene and the wine. You'll find 40-50 wines by the glass and half glass, and the list is about evenly divided among producers from California, Europe and other areas. There are about 300 selections in all. -- Sylvia Rector

Vinology

110 South Main, Ann Arbor

734-222-9841

The newer, bigger sister of Vinotecca, Vinology has an almost identical wine list of about 50 selections by the glass and taste and a more ambitious menu. It's worth visiting for the food alone, and it's open at lunch, too. The large main room has exposed brick walls, a pressed-tin ceiling and acres of polished wood. Downstairs, the Bubble Room is soft and romantic with sheer curtains and hundreds of hand-blown glass balls suspended overhead. -- Sylvia Rector

Grape Expectations

555 Forest Ave., Plymouth

734-455-9463

Relaxed and unpretentious, Grape Expectations is a good place to come with friends, try a bunch of appealing wines and enjoy affordably priced tapas, thin-crust pizzas and panini. The space is spare and understated. One wall displays wines for retail sale. There is additional loft seating. The list of about 100 wines is arranged by type and style. Fifty are offered as glasses and tastes, and there also are house-designed flights. A just-opened patio seats about 30. Wine dinners are offered on alternating Mondays for $30. -- Sylvia Rector

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

323 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham

248-723-0134

Even if you aren't interested in a porterhouse dinner, it's worth a visit to this national steakhouse chain just to check out its award-winning wine program, which features 100 wines by the glass. Prices start at about $8 and go into the mid-teens. The list is organized by wine type, flavor and intensity and offers several flights. An additional reserve list includes more than 75 other selections available by the bottle only. There's a second location in Livonia. -- Sylvia Rector

Centaur Bar

2233 Park, Detroit

313-963-2158

Located in the heart of Detroit's sports and entertainment districts, Centaur's sophisticated sexy atmosphere makes it the perfect stop seven days a week. Kick back and listen to smooth music, gather around the bar or relax in one of the fully furnished leather-seated lounge areas. Centaur is known for its classy 1920s art deco style, fluid wine and martini list and delicious hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy $5 martinis during the daily happy hour from 4-6 p.m. --Megan Whalen

Zinc Brasserie and Wine Bar

6745 Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield

248-865-0500

Zinc's eclectic menu sparkles with accents of France, Italy and Spain, making it a wonderful companion for wine. The list features about 175 choices, mostly European, and is especially strong on reds. About 40 selections are offered by the glass, and only a handful are more than $10. The list does not include half pours and wines by the glass are not organized by flavor profile. The bar area is small and is designated for smoking, including cigars. --Sylvia Rector

Enoteca Campo Marzio

660 Woodward, Detroit

313-784-9783

Located on the lobby level of the First National Building, Enoteca Campo Marzio brings European pizzazz -- as well as one of the city's most expensive wine lists -- to Detroit. The handmade chocolates and Italian cheeses at this latest venture by restaurateur Nino Cutraro make this place a bit special. --Brett Callwood

Vine 2 Wine Custom Winery

446 S. Main Street, Northville

248-465-9463

This quaint Northville shop makes wine-drinking a very personal experience. At Vine 2 Wine, you can make your own bottle of wine. The process is fun and interactive, with many tastings to ensure you get just the right juices to make the wine blend of your dreams. The wines come in batches of 30 from $190-$220, with custom labels available for an additional $35. In eight weeks your wine is ready to go, corked and bottled. Bonus: making custom wine in batches like this is an inexpensive yet impressive option for wedding favors or bulk Christmas gifts. --Sarah Frame

-- Metromix with Free Press reports