Las Vegas Wine
Las Vegas has shifted focus from the strip to the local scene. This, in no way, means that the strip is dead and people have abandoned it. The small section of the valley keeps all the lights on around town. The newly minted 21-year-old visiting for the first time will fight through hordes of zombies from Harry Reid International just to get their first drink on the strip. No, Las Vegas has shifted its focus off the strip for their longtime locals and veteran visitors who want to escape the city’s high energy and rush. New restaurants and appetites have been developed, and people always want more. Welcome to a first in a series all about Las Vegas Wine.
As a native of this city, one thing I’ve noticed has changed is the wine culture. Consumers are drinking more wine than ever. Not only that, but I’ve heard from a veteran industry worker that this generation has the most knowledgeable wine drinkers she’s ever seen in her time as a bartender. Wine bars have been opening up all over Las Vegas. When people mention meeting for a happy hour, it no longer may mean cheap beers and shots; it might mean meeting to grab a glass of vino. For example, a new Italian restaurant in Boca Park named Ciao Vino with an excellent wine menu list for happy hour. You can get anything from Tuscany, Napa, and Germany; the selection is endless. A glass of happy hour wine will also set you around $8 for a selection of quality wine.
Check out the Davidoff of Geneva Happy Hour at the Fashion Show Mall on The Strip. It’s not exactly the go-to for a wine enthusiast but location, vibe, cigars, great wine selection at 50% off wines by the glass and free champagne for the ladies makes it an attractive addition to the Las Vegas Wine scene.
Las Vegas Wine
Best Las Vegas Wine
If you still want to dine in the hands of a renowned celebrity chef but refuse to drive and step foot on the strip, you can visit any three of Marc Vetri’s properties around the valley; each has its own unique happy hours with impeccable wine lists off the strip. Vetri Cucina at the palms for a more upper-scale feel with an incredible view, and Osteria Fiorella for something between fine dining and casual dining, or Fiorella Happy hour at Durango for those looking for a quick refreshing glass of vino and a hearty dish that feeds not only the stomach but the soul. We don’t have a winery in this city, but we have endless options. Multiple wine bars have opened up around the city that focus mainly on the bottle but still have the option of delicious small bites while you sip. You can get a glass near the southwest area at Wineaux Happy hour; if you’re in Henderson, then The Local Happy Hour might be good for you; in the heart of Spring Valley, there is Crush Pad Wine Bar happy hour. These are also to name only a few. I, myself, have to do more exploring. There’s a new hidden gem around every corner. Las Vegas never fails to let me down when I have a hankering to try something new, to try and open a new wine list or happy hour menu.
Best Las Vegas Wine
Wine Las Vegas Strip
As I’ve written before, many chefs have packed up their knives and have decided to leave the sizzle of The Las Vegas Strip behind them. Not because it’s not a great place, but they want to create a menu that reflects their tastes and interests, not that of Thomas Keller or Gordon Ramsey, those chefs have established themselves, and if you are traveling to dine with them then you will find your table and no one can stop you. But if you want something new that feels more at home, do a little more looking around the city, on the outskirts, even the sketchy parts. You’ll find quality cooks who have curated a menu and wine list that won’t disappoint you; if it does, just go next door. I’m sure their competitor would love nothing more than to recover your experience with their wine and food selection.
Wine does one of many things: it keeps your plate of food company, nourishes your soul, takes your senses to another form of nirvana, tells a story, drinks enough, and it posses you to tell stories (ask Hemingway), but most of all, opening a bottle shared amongst friends slows everything down a bit. A city like New York maintains a reputation as a city that never sleeps, and while this is true, Las Vegas is quickly catching up to take its crown. Las Vegas is constantly evolving into a different animal every decade. Historic buildings aren’t preserved for their age; they are torn down and built back up to meet the demands of their locals and visitors. There’s always something new around the corner, new cocktail trends, mixology programs that involve fire that will singe your eyebrows if you get too close, and bartenders juggling their shakers and sanity for your entertainment. Still, one thing that Vegas cannot force, one thing it cannot change or even create, is wine. All we can do is hope suppliers worldwide take the time to send us crates of their finest fermented grapes and appreciate them for what they are.