The neighborhood wine store is a hard thing to maintain in a state with liquor laws as complex as Pennsylvania’s, but Pittsburgh’s wine shops are stepping up. Though there are some good buys at the Fine Wine Good Spirits, sometimes you want a more curated experience with a more varied selection. In the past few years, a number of these more curated small wine shops have popped up in the city. Whether you’re on the hunt for a classic Italian bottle or a funky Georgian skin-contact, there’s something for you at these Pittsburgh neighborhood wine stores.
Pittsburgh Wine Shops
P’Vino
5726 Ellsworth Avenue
P’Vino has a cozy vibe and a good selection of not just wine but beers and ciders, too. This Shadyside shop is a great store for the wine aficionado bored by some of the state store offerings who wants to browse or find some more difficult-to-locate bottles in a mom-and-pop type setting with friendly staff. They usually host a few events per month, from wine tastings with rotating guest hosts to food truck nights.
Lorelei
124 South Highland Avenue
Fine natural wines and “other cool shit you won’t find at the state store” at this spot at the intersection of East Liberty and Shadyside. Though Lorelei is primarily a bar, they also have a bottle shop with a wide variety of Austrian and Central European wines, fitting their Alpine theme. Wines like the Slovenian Zaccarii Cviček or Austrian Arndorfer ‘Wald Terrassen’ offer a taste of Europe’s terroir beyond Italy and France.
Solera Wine Bar
4939 Butler Street
Solera is both a bar and a bottle shop that’s sophisticated and accessible. The lengthy, funky bottle list includes bubbles, whites, oranges, reds, and everything in between. Their sitdown menu even goes so far as to include, “The Champagne of Beers,” Miller High Life and is complete with markings for biodynamic, organic, and vegan options. With a curated list of cocktails, highballs, and spritzes available as well, this place has something fitting and surprising for everyone.
Vinoteka
4606 Penn Avenue
While the restaurant is closed during the week, Apteka functions as a natural wine bottle shop ideal for wine geeks or the natural-wine-curious. Rojac Refošk is a good, approachable bottle to start with if you’re not sure about branching out from state store reds and their Riesling Blauschiefer Trocken is an excellent white. If, after that, you want all the funky flavors and absurdly-specific backstories about natural winemaking, you can graduate to Apteka’s skin-contact/orange offerings. Find a steady flow of new arrivals and staff recommendations to keep things interesting.
Spill
4800 Liberty Avenue
Spill is BYOF (bring your own food) and they even keep local restaurant menus to help you pair dinner with your wine, making for a really nice date spot or girls’ night. Their focus is on Italy, but it won’t just be Montepulcianos and Pinot Grigios on their wine rack. You can get Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, the Italian regional variation of the Refošk grape mentioned above. They’re also serious about getting well-aged wines, such as their Maniago Ronco Broilo, which gets a gorgeous golden color and a delicate bouquet on the palate from its long aging period. Purchase by the glass, bottle, or case and sample before you commit.
Cuvée
5886 Forbes Avenue
From the owners of next-door Independent Brewing, Cuvée is Squirrel Hill’s neighborhood bottle shop, providing a wide range of unique, conversation-worthy options to help you keep things fun. They offer free tastings any time they’re open, for anyone looking to expand their palate. Along with wine, they also sell vermouth, digestive bitters, sake, and unusual beers like lambic and saison varieties. New arrivals hit the shelves regularly, including new classics as well as surprises like mead or seasonal stand-outs. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly, making it a great spot to get a recommendation.
R Wine Cellar
What’s better than running into a wine sample stand on your Penn Ave walk? R Wine Cellar, a small urban winery in the heart of the Strip District, sells bottles online and you can take your pick of bottles to-go out of their satellite location/restaurant, Cellar on Penn. Choose from a selection of red and whites, including a decadent Carménère and a bright Fiona Peach Chardonnay.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of P’Vino
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