The Five Best Under-the-Radar Natural Wine Bars and Shops
that I've had the pleasure of discovering in my travels lately.
A clink, a swirl, a salty bite, musical laughter, the hum of conversation… These are my favorite kinds of moments shared over glasses of low-intervention wine: sparkling memories experienced across the table in the most welcoming spaces. The following have been some of the most memorable under-the-radar natural wine bars I’ve encountered in my travels, places that provided exceptional hospitality, quality natural wines, and the perfect backdrop for conversing with loved ones or dining solo.
Late Air Wine - Savannah, GA
A train sped by, blasting its horn and rattling the old building that houses Late Air. We smiled at each other over the table: the train only enhanced the ambiance of this beautifully decorated space. I was in Savannah with my mother and sister, and we were dining at Late Air for my birthday.
From the moment we stepped into this natural wine bar we were treated to the utmost hospitality. The kind servers kept our wine glasses filled, knowledgeably answered any questions we had, and plied our table with perfectly cooked local dishes.
I drank a fascinating white wine from Castilla y Leon, Spain. It was yeasty, tasting of stone fruit and honeysuckle, and the bartender smiled approvingly at me when I ordered it. He said it was one of the most interesting wines he’d tried lately. The native white Spanish grape perfectly complemented the pickled shrimp, crusty sourdough bread, fried sardines, and marinated castelvetrano olives we ordered. Each dish was the perfect balance of modern and classic with a twist of low-country Southern, and each dish was cooked or seasoned to perfection.
The mouthwatering food at Late Air only enhances the taste of the quality wines they’re pouring, and the setting doesn’t hurt either! If you find yourself in the charming southern city of Savannah, GA, dinner and drinks at this wine bar is a must. Pro tip: go at Apero Hour— their happy hour deals are excellent.
Amá Terraza - Oxaca City, Mexico
You have to go in the coffee shop at street level, speak to the barista, walk through the courtyard at the back, and then climb up the stone staircase. As you go up the stairs, you’ll gradually ascend into a heavenly urban jungle perched above Oaxaca City center: Amá Terraza is a speakeasyesque rooftop natural wine bar tucked between two museums.
Dinner at this dreamy terraza bookended my time in Oaxaca. As soon as my friend and I arrived, we were welcomed into the space and graciously told to sit wherever we wanted. We chose a charming table inside the arched rooftop which perfectly frames views of the mountains surrounding Oaxaca. As the sun began to set, we had a beautifully framed view of the glowing skyline.
The views inside Amá Terraza rivaled those outside, however; the space is decorated in calming Mexican style. The furniture is wicker and neutral and wood. Umbrellas provide shade on hot days. Huge tropical plants in terra cotta pots grace every corner and create cozy nooks for patrons to settle in. The bathrooms are indoor/ outdoor. And the large stone arches anchor everything: you can choose seats with views into the interior courtyard or out over the city center.
While the space filled up with locals chatting animatedly in Spanish, we shared perfectly-cooked small plates and natural Mexican wine. House-made guacamole, cheese plates of local cheeses, gourmet tacos, fresh tomatoes, sourdough, olives… everything was delicious, and everything complemented the wine perfectly. The wine itself was something to write home about: lively, fruit-forward, balanced, indigenous grapes that tasted of the local terroir. I was so blown away by the Mexican natural wines at this beautiful bar that I returned on my last night of the trip.
Molly’s Bottle Shop - Seattle, WA
On a typically Seattle day— rainy and grey and cool— I ducked into a tiny storefront in a quiet neighborhood. Expecting to be left to my own devices, I was quite surprised when the owner smilingly greeted me, stepped out from behind the counter, and introduced herself. She asked me what I was cooking for dinner so she could suggest a pairing. Something was very different about this tiny natural wine shop.
That something turned out to be Molly herself: with an impressive background in the wine industry and extensive knowledge about natural wine, she stocks her store carefully and helps each customer intentionally. The little shop is decorated with bright colors, sells local art, and features a few stools tucked under a tiny bar. Pull up a seat and sit a while, they always say. Want to try something? You’ll love this new Gamay.
Molly’s may be tiny, but it is powerful. The exceptional customer service paired with the unique selection of bottles come together to form the best little natural wine shop I’ve ever come across. No longer just a bottle shop, they serve wine by the glass now. If you’re in Seattle, you must make your way to the Sunset Hill neighborhood and duck into Molly’s Bottle Shop.
L'Ànima del Vi - Barcelona, Spain
I found myself alone in Barcelona. What else was I to do but go on a self-directed natural wine bar crawl? I wound my way through the maze that is the Barri Gòtic. Ancient buildings weave into narrow alleyways and sharp turns. Little daylight makes its way into some of these side streets. I wound around the block where I thought L'Ànima del Vi was supposed to be. It wasn’t… but I found it hiding on the next block.
As I crossed the threshold I felt the rest of the world fade away. The wine bar was hushed, protected from the bustle of the touristy Gothic Quarter by thick stone walls and an old arched doorway. It was dark and cozy inside, the walls lined with hundreds of bottles. It felt like stepping into a wine cellar. It felt holy. Before I even ordered one glass I knew this was a very special place.
I was right: L'Ànima del Vi is a very special wine bar. Run by the kindest couple who will welcome you in graciously (but not in English), this natural wine bar holds a reverence for low-intervention, intentionally-made wines. On the night I was there, he remained behind the bar, turning out tasty small plates to accompany glasses of mind-blowing natural wines. She took orders, ran bottles of wine to tables, and greeted customers like old friends.
I snagged a tiny table by the door so I could watch the show of L'Ànima del Vi. The first wine I ordered was a skin contact; it was alive with flavors of yeast, stone fruit, and the land where it was grown. I munched on some olives. As I slowly sipped my wine I watched people wander in, their eyes lighting up when they met the owners and read the wine list. Since they opened the bar in 2006, Benoît and Núria have held the wines they offer to high standards: only buy natural wines made from healthy grapes, meet the farmer, serve healthy wines, protect the consumer, support the winemaker. The care they put into their work is reflected in every single wine on their wine list and every single dish they serve. I ordered a second wine (every bit as delicious as the first) and skipped the next bar on my list: I had found perfection.
Later I looked up the translation of L'Ànima del Vi. In Catalan it means The Soul of Wine, a holy natural wine bar indeed and a must-see if you’re in Barcelona.
Skin Contact - New York, NY
Doesn’t everyone want to be a regular at a place where everyone knows their name? A cool hangout like on Cheers or Friends? The natural wine bar embodiment of this feeling is Skin Contact in New York City.
The first time I wandered to this top-notch natural wine bar, I almost walked right past it! Located in the Lower East Side, Skin Contact is tucked on a small street lined with other bars and restaurants. Its unassuming exterior is easy to miss in the dark: look for the shiny gold name on the window.
Perhaps the exterior is meant to be an indicator of what you will find inside; because you won’t find any pretension here. Like some of the best restaurants do so well, Skin Contact balances high end with humility. Their wine list is impeccable, always changing, and diverse. You’ll find pet nats, indigenous grapes, unique blends. Wines from Georgia, Chile, Portugal, and France coexist happily. The space is modern yet warm— very well designed, but the bartender will greet you with the same disarming friendliness that made our favorite t.v. characters feel at home in their chosen haunts.
The second time I visited Skin Contact it was with friends who live near the bar, and, indeed, this brilliant natural wine bar is their neighborhood spot just like the bar in Cheers. They sidle up to the bar after a long day at work and the bartender, who knows their names, slides them a glass of unfiltered pet nat rosé from the Loire Valley. Only in New York! Skin Contact is quietly excellent while never letting you forget you’re sipping your wine in the best city on earth.
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