Vinoteque

UPDATE: Vinoteque closed in late September of 2008 due to "licensing issues."  According to an outgoing message on their answering machine, the bar may reopen later this year. 

The Guide talked to ABC officials, who said the bar was operating under a conditional permit and Vinoteque had violated the terms of the conditions on multiple occasions.  The bar had requested to extend their interim permit on September 15.  They were denied.  A hearing is pending on the final status of the bar's license later this fall. 

Bottle Rock co-founder Adam Fleischman has joined forces with Gil Ran and Alex Shteyman for Vinoteque, a Westside wine bar and live music venue. Order two glasses and sommelier Larry Lanzetta will open any of the 500 bottles of wine. Then, à la the New York Stock Exchange, the bottle is listed on an LCD screen for everybody to order. Israeli import Jerry Opong is preparing Spanish, French and Italian small plates, each pairable with a suggested wine.

Consider blue cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates with an unoaked 2004 Gum Bear Range Chardonnay from Australia (Slovenian wines are also hot here as of late). In keeping with the vino-centric theme, designer Ana Henton went with recessed glass bottle lighting and an acoustics-friendly African cork ceiling. A lounge area hosts jazz and blues nightly, with classical piano accompanying Sunday brunch.

Make sure to check out great design touches inside the new destination for "Sideways" types; including chocolate brown leather banquettes and winter white leather stools for lounging.  Mahogany wine racks adorn the walls of the bar area, and even the bathrooms are interesting at Vinoteque (made with metallic silver textural rubber wallpaper). 

Monday nights are actually the best weeknight to hit Vinoteque--dubbed "Sip and Swirl Mondays": a wine pairing class for singles, couples, seekers, serious drinkers.

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