Top Raleigh, North Carolina Wine Bars

Wine bars haven't really caught on in Raleigh, North Carolina. Two of the wine bars in Raleigh -- The Grape and April & George (a.k.a. The George) -- closed in the not too distant past. I think that this has been an unfortunate trend. Even though you can order a glass of wine at almost any bar or restaurant in Raleigh, enjoying a glass or two of wine at a wine bar can provide a unique and fun experience. Since Raleigh itself has so few wine bars, I have had to branch out to the surrounding areas to come up with my top wine bar picks:

Wine bar in the Raleigh NC area - Mosaic Wine et Lounge

Mosaic Wine et Lounge is a truly fantastic wine bar, located at 517 West St. in downtown Raleigh, right across the street from the 518 West Italian Restaurant. Mosaic has a very chic and romantic atmosphere. The décor is Moroccan -themed, with low plush couches, tasseled pillows in reds and yellows, lanterns, tile mosaics and tapestries. There is a marvelous outdoor patio as well for those warm summer nights.

Definitely go earlier in the evening if you want to have a laid-back, non-crowded experience. Later in the evening, there is a totally different vibe. The dance floor is hopping and the music is loud! No food is served, so don't come hungry! The wine menu changes regularly and focuses on international wines. If you are a fan of Shiraz, try the Layer Cake Australian Shiraz if it is available. Mosaic is open Monday through Saturday from 6:00pm until 2:30am. There are also free wine tastings every Wednesday night at 7:30pm.

Wine bar in the Raleigh NC area - Seaboard Wine & Tasting Bar

Seaboard Wine Warehouse, located at 800 Semart Drive in Raleigh, is mostly known as a store for purchasing wine and not necessarily as a place to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine. However, Seaboard has a delightful wine tasting bar that is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. You can get wines by the glass, flight, or by the bottle. Free wine tastings are also held at Seaboard's tasting bar every Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

All of the staff at Seaboard are very friendly, and they will not make you feel foolish if you are a newcomer to the wine arena. The wines available at the tasting bar vary from week to week, so go in with an open mind and try something new! Recent wines that I have enjoyed at Seaboard are the Four Vines Zinfandel from Paso Robles, California, and the Wallace Brook Pinot Gris from Oregon. Finally, Seaboard Station is now a stop on Raleigh's new R-Line, so this wine bar is convenient to get to if you are in downtown Raleigh for the evening!

Wine bar in the Raleigh NC area - 101 Lounge + Café

This cozy café in downtown Raleigh has a lovely upstairs lounge, where you can sit by the large windows and watch the traffic pass by below. The 101 Lounge + Café serves breakfast, lunch, and late night bites. The menu is somewhat limited but tasty - try the hummus and olives or the cheese plate. The wine menu changes regularly, but you should try the Punto Final Malbec from Argentina or the Hogue Riesling from Washington state if they are available. The 101 Lounge + Café is located at 444 S. Blount Street, near City Market in downtown Raleigh.

Wine bar in the Raleigh NC area - West End Wine Bar

The West End Wine Bar now has two locations. The original wine bar is located in Chapel Hill at 450 W. Franklin Street. The newest location is in Durham at 601 W. Main Street. Spending some time at the original West End wine bar in Chapel Hill is a memorable experience. The wine bar is housed in a gorgeous three story building, with a hand-tiled main bar and a spacious rooftop patio! Both West End wine bars serve coffee and pastries in the morning, with wine, beer and light food being served in the evening. While there, try out the Frei Brothers Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California or the 2005 Valle Escondido (Tempranillo) Mendoza from Argentina.

Wine bar in the Raleigh NC area - Six Plates Wine Bar

This unique wine bar is located at 2812 Erwin Road in Durham. There are many things that make this wine bar unique. For example, there are no servers. Orders are placed at the bar, and customers seat themselves. This allows customers to order and proceed at their own pace. A lot of attention also went into the design of this place -chandeliers, mirrors, long red couches, plush chairs and stools create a romantic atmosphere.

In addition, only six small food plates are available at any given time. This allows for the quality of the food to remain high and for the menu to change regularly. A specific wine is also recommended to go along with each dish. At Six Plates Wine Bar, you can try the South Australian Milton Park Shiraz, which is one of my favorite wines - it is ever-so-slightly sweet and very jammy. If you are in the mood for white, try the New Zealand Drylands Sauvignon Blanc. Six Plates Wine Bar opens at 4:00pm Monday through Saturday, and the kitchen is open until at least midnight.

Sources: Personal experience, Mosaic Wine et Lounge website; Seaboard Wine Warehouse website; Café 101 + Lounge website; West End Wine Bar website; Six Plates Wine bar website.