Wine bars are the newest places to see and be seen. These establishments are gaining in popularity and, we predict, will become as commonplace as coffee shops, pubs and sports bars. You only need to walk around DC to see how popular wine bars have become: Urbana on P Street NW, Mendocino Grille and Wine Bar on M Street NW, Cork on 14th Street NW, and Veritas on Florida Avenue NW, to name just a few. The phenomenon stems from a growing interest in trying a variety of wines at one Story by Kumar Iyer sitting without the morning hangover.

Customers receive small pourings of flights, which are two to three ounces of three or four different wines served together, usually as a theme. Find a wine you like? Go ahead and ask for a full glass or even a half or full bottle. Most wine bars have created dishes to complement their wines and offer them as small bites, finger foods or Spanishstyle tapas.



Zen Bistro and Wine Bar in Arlington has designed an Asian fare to go with their elixirs. We visited and are recommending two local wine bars.