Tribeca Wine Bar Triangulation

Posted by Eric Hazard | No Comments

There is to be a massive wine tasting this Saturday in Tribeca: The Chambers Street Wines Real Wine Attack 2008. Running from 4 – 8 pm there will be 22 “natural” wines to taste at Le Cercle Rouge Restaurant in Tribeca (241 W. Broadway). Total cost for you: $5.

So this event got me thinking. Why put all that time and attention to just one wine venue when there are so many great vino-stops in such a small area. Ever on the look-out for reasons to get American Madness readers drunk on wine, I’ve assembled the Tribeca Wine Bar Triangulation. The itinerary would go something like this.

Start at La Cercle Rouge pounding down all the natual French and Italian natural wine you can. Hell, it cost you $5. This is the cheapest wine buzz you’ve had since the days before you knew better. I’d also suggest taking the time to lay down ballast for the rest of the evening here. You’re going to need it.

Properly lubed up, walk about 260 feet south and find yourself at wine bar-cum-shop VinoVino (211 W. Broadway). Sophisticated on the inside, laid-back on the outside, use VinoVino as a nice place to sit and springboard yourself into the rest of the evening. Why not try something a little bit out of your comfort zone. They have an excellent by-the-glass selection, so have a go at a varietal you haven’t tried yet. Perhaps the Teddy Hall Chenin Blanc or the Crois de Susana Balbo Syrah/Bonarda? If you didn’t have a chance to eat at Le Cercle Rouge, this would also be a good time to grab some gnash. Otherwise, you might not be feeling so hot the next day.

Hoorray, it is time for a celebration and what better way to celebrate than to clink champagne glasses. Walk, or perhaps by this time stumble, 162 feet across West Broadway to the Bubble Lounge (228 W. Broadway). Soak in the ambiance while tasting some excellent sparkling wines from around the world.

Having by now received your second wind, and not yet ready to let the good times stop rolling, head on over to the Brandy Library (25 N. Moore), just around the corner and one block away from the previous watering hole. Here you can see what happens when regular grape juice is infused with a bit of alcohol and set to age in oak. Sip on some vintage brandies older than the WineHazards. Or if you feel like plopping down a lot of cash, some vintages that are guaranteed to be older than any of the readers of this Web site. Plus, it’s a nice joint. Think of this as a swank bar the way swank bars used to look.

At this point, you would have drunk all self-respect right away. But who wants to call it a night just yet? So for the real troopers out there, head to The Patriot (110 Chambers Street) in the waning hours of the evening. This one has nothing to do with wine drinking, outside of reminding yourself why you don’t start at places like The Patriot. It will also help that by the time you enter the dirty saloon, you will have imbided enough not to remember leaving.

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