Annapolis wine bars: Fun spots for creative meals

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Published on Thursday, 28 June 2012 03:00

Written by Vicki Meade

I'd often walked past the mustard-colored Eastport bungalow with red trim and a tumble of flowers in front that houses Vin 909 Wine Café, but hadn't gone inside until the night my husband, Pat, and I, hoofing it toward one of our usual dining spots, were drawn by the rich scent of roasted garlic hanging in the air like a rain cloud.

"Let's eat here," Pat said.

"Even though it's a wine bar?" I asked. "That means cheese plates with pricey glasses of wine." I love cheese, but it's not what I want to fill up on for dinner.

The aroma won. Soon we were engulfed in the bustle of black-clad servers sliding thin-crusted pizzas and roasted veggies onto polished wood tables, where groups of diners aged 25 to 65 shared plates and chatted in a high-energy buzz. We sat, we ate, and our meal was great, making me rethink my notion of wine bars.

In Annapolis, four such establishments have opened during the past two years—each delivering its own brand of creative cuisine, from full entreés to appetizers, small plates, soups, salads, and desserts, with emphasis on fresh local ingredients. And each is committed to demystifying wine and offering a broad selection of bottles and glasses at many price points, so there's something for everyone, from wine newbies and those with limited pocketbooks to sophisticated connoisseurs.

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