Your guide to Birmingham’s 10 coolest wine bars

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Hurry up, Spring! We're ready to sit on the patio at Vino. (Photo via Vino Instagram)
Hurry up, Spring! We’re ready to sit on the patio at Vino. (Photo via Vino Instagram)

We’re always down for a good time here at Bham Now. And since we’re nearing the end of winter (Thank God!) we thought it’d be a great time to present to you our list of top Birmingham wine bars. Don’t know about you, but we’re ready to greet Spring with a nice glass of Pinot in hand!

(If wine isn’t your thing, check out the Bham Now guide to Birmingham cocktails or this great one on Birmingham’s best Breweries. )

Freddy’s Wine Bar

Freddy’s opened its doors in January 2018. Since then, they’ve been serving over sixty types of wine by the glass. The perfect spot for #winedownwednesday. Or just a regular Monday. Any day, really! (Except for Sunday, they’re closed.)

Can't decide? Let the staff at Freddy's Wine Bar help you select from one of their 60+ wines by the glass. (Photo via Freddy's Instagram)
Can’t decide? Let the staff at Freddy’s Wine Bar help you select from one of their 60+ wines by the glass. (Photo via Freddy’s Instagram)

When you’re happy and you know it: Freddy’s wins the best Happy Hour prize on the Birmingham wine bar list. Every Monday through Thursday, get $2 off wine from 4 to 6 PM.  They spotlight different wine from countries around the world, so it’s always a surprise.

Wine and Jam: Jam out to the musical stylings of Marlowe Shephard on the patio every Tuesday at Freddy’s from 6 to 9 PM.

Freddy's Wine Bar makes it easy for you to choose what you're in the mood for with their top notch visual organizing chalkboard. Thanks for making it easy on us, Freddy's! (Photo submitted)
Freddy’s Wine Bar makes it easy to choose with this top-notch organized chalkboard. Thanks for making it easy on us, Freddy’s! (Photo submitted)

Parking can be tricky: No worries, they’ve got complimentary valet Tuesday through Saturday.

V tasty charcuterie boards and small plates: They’ve got an excellent selection and presentation of Berkel sliced meats and cheeses. Boards range from $9-$22.

What to love about Freddy’s: The wine and food are fantastic, no doubt. But what I love most about Freddy’s is their casual but top-notch service.

Charcuterie board at Freddy's Wine Bar. (Photo via Freddy's Wine Bar)
Charcuterie board at Freddy’s Wine Bar. (Photo via Freddy’s Wine Bar)

Freddy’s Wine Bar |2251 Highland Ave Birmingham | $$

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

If you’re feelin’ fancy: Head to Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille. The restaurant off U.S. 280 was named by OpenTable as one of the top 100 restaurants for wine lovers in America. The vibe at the 280 location is intimate and luxurious and Perry’s corporate sommelier and beverage director is amazing!

Perry's magnum and double-magnum bottles. Perfect for "sharing." (Photo via Perry's Steakhouse & Grille)
Perry’s magnum and double-magnum bottles. Perfect for “sharing.” (Photo via Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille)

What we love about Perry’s: Hands down, their ginormous double and triple magnum bottles of wine. These big bottles are advertised for “large parties.” (Definition of large is up to you, folks!) Available in Perry’s house Cabernet and Chardonnay.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille's Beef and Bleu— sliced beef filet with bleu cheese and bacon marmalade on a toasted French baguette
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille’s Beef and Bleu— sliced beef filet with bleu cheese and bacon marmalade on a toasted French baguette. (Photo via Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille)

Social Hour at Bar 79 @ Perry’s: From 4 to 7 PM Monday through Friday and 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, they offer specially priced wine features and $9 shareable bar bites. You can’t go wrong with the Perry’s Famous Pork Chop Bites or Beef Tenderloin Sliders.

Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille | 4 Perimeter Park S. | (205) 968-1597 | $$$

Classic Wine Company

Wine store in the front, party in the back: Looks can be deceiving, and that’s the case with the Classic Wine Company in SoHo. This Homewood gem is a wine store in the front, and wine bar in the back.

Josh Terrell, owner of Classic Wine Co. in Homewood. (Photo by Terri Robertson for Bham Now)
Josh Terrell, owner of Classic Wine Co. in Homewood. (Photo by Terri Robertson for Bham Now)

Reppin’ in Homewood since ’88: This classic Homewood staple has been around for 30 years. They’ve recently moved to a spacious new spot in SoHo!

Cheese, please: The bar offers an array of wine by the glass, cheese plates, and charcuterie boards. I liked the various price points offered in both the wine store and at the bar.

From left: $10, $25 and $50 bottles sold at Classic Wine Co. in Homewood. Photo by Terri Robertson for Bham Now
From left: $10, $25 and $50 bottles sold at Classic Wine Co. in Homewood. (Photo by Terri Robertson for Bham Now)

Try the: Ceibo Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)

Classic Wine Company | 1831 28th Ave S | (205) 871-9463 | $$

Vino & Gallery Bar

A quaint little spot in English Village: This gorgeous wine bar also serves some notable tasty seafood dishes. The prices are lower than I expected and the pea gravel patio wins the top prize for outdoor seating on the Birmingham wine list.

Hurry up, Spring! We're ready to sit on the patio at Vino. (Photo via Vino Instagram)
Love this twinkle lighted intimate patio at Vino. (Photo via Vino Instagram)

Behind the bar: Over 75 domestic and international wines.

Happy, happy; joy, joy: Happy hour $2 off glasses of wine, Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 PM. See ya there! Save me a seat.

Bang Bang Cauliflower at Vino, yum! (Photo via Vino Instagram)
Bang Bang Cauliflower at Vino, yum! (Photo via Vino Instagram)

Hot dish:  The Bang Bang Cauliflower appetizer. The lightly fried veggies are covered with scallions and kung pao sauce for a flavor both sweet and tangy. I’ll be back for more of those soon, fa sho.

Fun fact: There’s also an in house art gallery with gorgeous modern pieces.

Vino | 1930 Cahaba Road | (205) 870-8404 | $$

Galley and Garden

Wine bar with prestige: Galley and Garden was named one of America’s BEST wine restaurants in 2018 by Wine Magazine.

Can’t go wrong with the menu: Brought to you by Chef James Boyce & wife, Suzan, this spot on our list also serves up American-French inspired cuisine that’s to die for. Try the perfectly prepared scallops. Thank me later.

The entrance at Galley and Garden. (Photo via Gallery and Garden Instagram)
Galley and Garden is located inside Birmingham’s 110-year-old Merritt House. It is absolutely gorgeous. (Photo via Gallery and Garden Instagram)

UGE wine list: Galley and Garden boasts the largest wine list in Alabama. They have over 500 labels to choose from! Here’s their drink list.

New happy hour: Weekdays from 4 to 6 PM Galley and Garden serves up small bites with rotating wine, cocktail and beer specials.

The patio at Galley and Garden. (Photo via Gallery and Garden Instagram)
The patio at Galley and Garden. (Photo via Gallery and Garden Instagram)

Must try the: Fried green tomatoes with Beeler’s bacon and house pimento cheese (when available.)

Galley and Garden | 2200 Highland Avenue | (205) 939-5551 | $$$

The Wine Loft Wine Bar

Choices: The Wine Loft Wine Bar has over 70 wines by the glass and 200 by the bottle.

wineloft2 Your guide to Birmingham's 10 coolest wine bars
The wine bar is great for big groups. (Photo via the Wine Bar Facebook page)

High dollar specials: Tuesday is the day to go to the Wine Loft if you’re ballin’ on a budget but have fine wine taste. Every Tuesday, bottles between $50-150 are half price.

Free wine tasting: Every Wednesday from 5:30-7 PM. Wine is also discounted 25% by the glass.

Try the: Flammkuchen. That’s a thin flatbread with crème fraîche, gruyere, onions, banana peppers, bacon bits & caraway seeds.

Bar patrons at The Wine Loft. (Photo submitted)
Bar patrons at The Wine Loft. (Photo submitted)

The Wine Loft | 2200 1st Ave N | (205) 323-8228 | $$

Gianmarco’s

Screen Shot 2019 02 27 at 4.02.03 PM Your guide to Birmingham's 10 coolest wine bars
Some of you have never pretended Gianmarco’s Wine Bar was your own personal grown up tree fort clubhouse after five glasses of wine, and it shows. (Photo via Gianmarco’s website)

V popular: This quaint little wine oasis is frequently PACKED. For a good reason, too! The place is DREAMY and the perfect place to enjoy a glass. Or four.

Selection: They serve over 200 different kinds of wine. It’s heaven.

Pro tip: If you’re interested in going beyond the bar, it’s always a good idea to make reservations if you’re dining. You don’t HAVE to, they are just really popular. Just sayin’.

Screen Shot 2019 02 27 at 3.59.27 PM Your guide to Birmingham's 10 coolest wine bars
Wine at Gianmarco’s. (Photo via Gianmarco’s website)

But wait, there’s more: Gianmarco’s has a new pizza joint in Homewood. We’re thinking it’s just as fab.

Gianmarco’s | 721 Broadway St | (205) 871-9622 | $$

Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar

Shop and wine: Fleming’s Wine Bar is located at the Summit on the lowest level closest to U.S. 280.

See you next Tuesday: that’s when Fleming’s offers their 35. oz Tomahawk steak special for “two.” I use the number two very loosely here—who doesn’t love a good challenge?

Birmingham, Flemings, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving brunch
Steak + wine. (Photo via Flemings)

Wine selection: Very impressive, as expected.

Fleming’s | 103 Summit Blvd | (205) 262-9463 | $$$

Hop City Beer and Wine

Rack city: They serve up great wine, but holy display cases—so many bottles for sale. I was impressed with the selection from various far-flung places.

hops Your guide to Birmingham's 10 coolest wine bars
Buy some wine while you’re at Hop City! (Photo via Hop CIty)

Growlers: I know this post is about Birmingham wine, but I’m easily distractable. I’m all about being able to find what you like and taking it home! There are over 60 on tap to choose from.

Let Kombucha flow: Hop city serves Revelator Nitro Coffee & Better Kombucha on tap. I feel healthier just after writing that.

There’s an app for that: Hop City has an app to help you find your favorite wine or beer in-house. What a great time to be alive!

Hop City Beer and Wine | 2924 3rd Ave S | (205) 279-2337 | $$

Honorable mention: The Louis at the Pizitz

Why we love The Louis: We can see The Louis from our office here at Bham Now, making it our most frequented watering hole.

The Louis inside The Pizitz Food Hall. (Photo by Christine Hull for Bham Now)
The Louis inside The Pizitz Food Hall. (Photo by Christine Hull for Bham Now)

Ch-ch-check it out: the patio at the Pizitz is perfect for an after-work cocktail with friends.

When you can’t decide what’s for dinner: The Pizitz Food Hall has tons of local grub to choose from. They’ve got it all—ethiopian, poke, cheese boards, momos, Mediterranean, burgers… the list goes on and on.

Wine from The Louis and cheese board from Busy Corner Cheese in the Pizitz Foor Hall. (Photo via the Pizitz Food Hall)
Wine from The Louis and cheese board from Busy Corner Cheese in the Pizitz Foor Hall. (Photo via the Pizitz Food Hall)

#winedownwednesday: The Wednesday tradition is taken pretty seriously around here. Specials vary, but are always a great deal!

Playas gonna play: Card games are now available behind the bar if you’re interested in playing that 100th game of Cards Against Humanity.

The Louis | 1821 2nd Ave N | (205) 730-9002| $

Who did we miss? Let us know! Tag us on social @BhamNow!

Christine Hull
Christine Hull
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