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Pouring wine at Texas French Bread

24 Fine Wine Spots in Austin to Sip and Savor

Restaurants and bars with strong wine lists

by Tom Thornton Updated Sep 17, 2019, 12:36pm CDT

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Pouring wine at Texas French Bread

| Texas French Bread/Facebook

by Tom Thornton Updated Sep 17, 2019, 12:36pm CDT

Austin’s wine scene has never been better. The city has one of the country’s best groups of sommeliers, and the evidence is clear when browsing the wine menus of top-notch restaurants and bars, which have raised the game steadily. With staff education on the rise, a focus on concept-driven wine lists, and a new emphasis on value, the Austin wine drinker is spoiled for choice.

There’s a welcome mix of love for classic selections blended with a discerning eye for emerging regions and grapes — meaning there’s a wine for every palate and knowledge level. When ordering wine these days, it’s worth asking questions, whether what the list’s best value is or what the sommelier feels is tough to find elsewhere. This update adds East Side spot Pitchfork Pretty, whole-animal Italian restaurant Intero, and Goan-Portuguese restaurant Vixen’s Wedding.

For more boozing needs, check out Austin’s best restaurants and bars for wine and cheese, half-price wine bottle specials, along with the city’s essential and hot new cocktail bars, and a guide to Central Texas wineries.

Did Eater miss a favorite wine haunt? Shout it out through the tipline or within the comment section.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Barley Swine

A wine list overhaul from Stefan Davis has placed Barley Swine’s list back among Austin’s best. You’ll find sparkling wine from Portuguese legend Luis Pato, rare Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Hiyu Wine Farm, and affordable and food-friendly liter bottles of Austrian Gruner Veltliner. The list divides up pretty evenly between cutting edge, leaner-styled West Coast producers and classic European picks. On Sunday-Friday from 5-6:30pm, all bottles are 25% off.

6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757

Barley Swine

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Olive & June

North Central Austin wine lovers frequent Olive and June, which has an entirely Italian wine program with a dozen wines by the glass and a lengthy bottle list. Descriptors like “cherry and oregano” (Sangiovese) and “leather and balsamic” (Brunello) anchor the categories to help diners hone in on their preferred styles. On Mondays, wines by the glass are always 50 percent off.

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Wines at Olive & June

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L'Oca d'Oro

Easily the best destination for wine in Mueller, L’Oca d’Oro does the little things right. Wines by the glass are priced fairly ($8-$12) and sourced from interesting destinations like Sicily and Alto Adige. By the bottle choices are food-friendly, and mostly Old World from Italy, with Greek, French, and even Slovenian accents thrown in for good measure. Most bottles are under $70, and there are an abundance of cool, lesser-known grapes worth trying like Inzolia and Schiava.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

L’Oca d’Oro — L’Oca d’Oro

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Texas French Bread

Murph Willcott and his team remain a neighborhood favorite for two reasons: the food and drinks are top-quality, and they really care about their guests. The wine list are full of discoveries with emerging producers and rare finds, from classic Champagnes and crisp Sancerre to edgy, leaner-styled California producers like Broc and Dirty & Rowdy. Stop by on Wednesday to Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. for half-priced wine (and beer) and try something new.

2900 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705

Wine and mussels at Texas French Bread

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Jeffrey’s and Josephine House

Jeffrey’s remains the epicenter of Austin luxury wine consumption. Local hospitality firm McGuire Moorman staffs the deepest bench of wine talent in Austin, to the point that the Jeffrey’s captains won first, second, and third prize at TEXSOM’s 2019 Best Sommelier Competition. Stop by on Sunday for half off all bottles (yes, all) and find the bar filled with oenophiles raiding treasures from a massive list of global finds. During the remainder of the week, take heart: while fancy selections abound, there are smart picks of most styles available for under $100 — ask the team for a suggestion. For more casual patio sipping, try a table at sibling restaurant Josephine House found next door.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703

Wines at Jeffrey’s

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Wink

An old guard choice for quality wine in Austin, Wink quietly goes about its business, offering seasonal tasting menus and thoughtful wine selections to loyal Clarksville and Old Enfield patrons just as it has done for years. The restaurant deserves credit for helping to elevate the conversation around wine before it became a focal point in Austin dining, with over 50 (!) wines available by the glass at $16 or less. Expect a focus on French and Italian selections.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1014 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Glasses of wine at Wink

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Clark's Oyster Bar

The compact and food-friendly list at Clark’s is what one expects from McGuire Moorman Hospitality, but take note — there’s a great weekend happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. with all bottles half price. California and France anchor the list here, but there are global selections from a number of additional regions. As one might expect, the seafood focus of the restaurant means there’s a heavy emphasis on white wines, bubbles, and rosé.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

A glass of wine at Clark’s

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24 Diner

A consistent “Wait, what?” on the wine map, 24 Diner’s sneaky-good wine list is an short but sweet all-American roundup of values, including Texas, New Mexico, and New York selections. Screaming deals abound, from ethereal Le P’Tit Paysan GSM ($48 per bottle) to hip Tatomer Gruner Veltliner (a steal at $56.) Even serious syrah like Stolpman and cool climate Pinot Noir from Salem Wine Co. can be had for around $50 per bottle. It’s great value, and all in good fun.

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703

Rosés at 24 Diner

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Bar Lamar

Since Whole Foods’ master sommelier Devon Broglie is based in Austin, it should come as no surprise that the upscale grocer has a solid wine bar tucked into the flagship store. There’s a big open secret: any of the 1,500 on-site bottles are available to purchase to drink at the bar for retail price — there’s zero markup. (This is very wallet-friendly.) Feeling splashy, but can’t commit to a bottle? Check the latest glass pours for some rather surprising deals on grower champagne and classic producers — truly iconic wines can be purchased for under $15 per glass.

525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Bar Lamar at Whole Foods

Italic

The front page of Italic’s list strikes the right tone: “Don’t freak. Italian wine is awesome.” A menu of varietals mostly broken down by geography follows, with context clues like “rich and rustic” and “intense darkness” to help those less familiar with the admittedly complex world of Italian wines. A selection of 14 by the glass pours allows for variety, and a generous selection of bottles under $75 (we counted 62 choices) means that a four-top can try just about anything without breaking the bank. The expert team know that Italians build their lives around food and wine — they’re ready to help you do the same. On Tuesdays, all bottles of sparkling wine are half-price, and all bottles of wine are half-off Sunday nights.

123 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Wines at Italic

Also featured in:

17 Terrific Lunch Options in Downtown Austin

Second Bar + Kitchen

Second Bar + Kitchen remains an Austin institution because it knows how to offer something for everyone. With wine, this means several things. For the casual diner, there’s $8 wine on tap from Spain and New York’s Finger Lakes. For the expense account set, there’s rare Syrahs from Bedrock champagne. For wine nerds, there’s crunchy Alheit Cinsault from South Africa. And for everyone else, there is reasonably priced bubbles to pair with burgers or steak frites. Bottle selections here change frequently, so keep an eye out for the unknown. Most by the glass wines are $15 or less, and a daily happy hour from 4-6pm takes $2 off wine by the glass.

200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Second Bar + Kitchen

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Il Brutto

New Waterloo’s Italian restaurant gives East Austin a great fresh option for wine. The list here is 100% Italian, with a healthy number of bottles in the $40-$80 range. There’s a healthy by-the-glass program of 16 selections, a nice list encompassing a number of trendy and classic Italian regions, and selections change frequently. Monday through Friday from 5-7pm, the entire drink list is half price.

1601 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Dinner at Il Brutto

Vixen's Wedding

This new Goan-Portuguese hybrid from Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher has big buzz, and thankfully Lindsay Drew’s wine list here is both smart and fun. For starters, there’s a wealth of sparkling wine from lesser-known parts of Europe, keeping the prices affordable ($44-$76) and the sipping adventurous. There’s also a number of white wine selections meant to go with spicy foods, from lithe Australian Riesling to tropical Merwah (!) from Lebanon. A daily happy hour from 5-6pm offers $8 wines by the glass.

1813 A E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

The bar at Vixen’s Wedding

Also featured in:

Austin’s Biggest Restaurant Openings of 2019

Apt 115

This quirky, 30-seat wine bar emphasizes unique bottles that thrill owner Joseph Pannenbacker. Sit at the bar and explore the oft-changing menu — if you’d like a glass of something off the bottle list, the bar is usually able to do this on bottles priced under $100. Reservations are available for date nights, and corkage is available for $20 should you want to supplement your groups choices with a rare selection from home. There’s also a nice happy hour from 5-6pm daily with $5 off wines by the glass.

2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Bottles of wine at Apt 115

Also featured in:

Bufalina

East Austin (and Burnet’s) favorite Neapolitan pizza place has a secret weapon: owner Steven Dilley is such a wine obsessive that he was named a Food & Wine magazine 2017 Sommelier of the Year. As a guest, this means there’s a stellar selection of grower Champagnes, and deep list of Loire and Burgundy bottles.There’s also a nice list of quite esoteric wines by the glass at very affordable pricing. To-go bottles are available for 20% off the menu price. Bufalina doesn’t have to work this hard on the wine list to keep tables full, but the fact that it so clearly does is worth appreciating.

1519 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Bufalina

Also featured in:

Uchi

With a dozen sakes and 32 still and sparkling wines available by the glass, Uchi works overtime to give diners the wines they want in the portions they desire. As befits the menu here, there’s a focus on white wines and lighter reds, along with a generous selection of dessert wines. Producer picks are smart and all over the style map: for Pinot Noir, for example, there’s an affordable offering from Siduri, or hip and rare Burn Cottage from New Zealand. Cool kid picks like Chateau Musar’s Lebanese rosé and a coveted Mullineux white blend from South Africa assure diners that the wine is as exciting as the food.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Uchi’s drinks

Also featured in:

Emmer & Rye

Learn something with every order from Ali Schmidt’s team at Emmer & Rye. This is a list worth a pre-order conversation with the server, since there are a lot of small-production (or lesser known) gems. Choices here range from affordable Tasmanian bubbles to stunning Slovenian Chardonnay to contrasting Syrahs from the Northern Rhone and Santa Barbara. The wide variety of bubbles and dessert wine is particularly strong, with something for every budget.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

51 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Wine tasting at Emmer & Rye

Also featured in:

Intero Restaurant

Much like the restaurant itself, Intero’s wine list is pared down and offers great value. 90% of the list is French and Italian, in a range of climates and styles. (A few selections from Portugal and California are also available.) A dozen picks are available by the glass, usually in the $10-12 range. Bottle prices are fair, with over 20 choices available at $60 or less. On Tuesdays, all bottles are half price.

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

A wooden bar with many many alcohols — The bar at Intero

Also featured in:

Pitchfork Pretty

This East Austin star has a list that caters to many palates. For new world fans, there are big reds from Ridge, Dunham, and Stolpman. For the Raj Parr crowd, there’s nuanced fare from Arnot-Roberts and Idlewild. And for the classics, there’s a food-friendly mix of European selections, many available by the glass. A weekday happy hour from 5-6pm offers $12 off all bottles of wine.

2708 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Pitchfork Pretty

Also featured in:

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

Aviary’s return has been a welcome one on South Lamar. There are two dozen global by the glass wines available at $14 or less, and a fun bottle list with categories like David Bowie (sparkling), Twiggy (lean whites), and Frank Zappa (funky and challenging.) Happy hour from 4-6pm Monday-Saturday means $2 off wines by the glass and $10 off select bottles. On Saturdays during happy hour, all bottles are half price. The bar also hosts frequent free late afternoon tastings from visiting winemakers and local distributors to expand your palate.

2110 South Lamar Blvd C, Austin, TX 78704

Wine at Aviary

Also featured in:

Lenoir

The wine list at Lenoir remains decidedly Old World in focus: from lovely pétillant naturel bubbles to dry Kuentz-Bas Rieslings, the selections favor Europe at every turn. Given the restaurant’s rather small size, the robust selection of 14 wines (split neatly between old and new world selections) by the glass is a treat. There’s also a curated bottle list with quite reasonable pricing — over 80% of the bottle list is under $100. The back wine garden here remains a neighborhood favorite that is delightful on days with porch-friendly weather. (Also note that half-price bottles on selections $80 and under are available in the wine garden between 5 to 6:30 p.m. six days a week.)

1807 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

Wine at Lenoir

Also featured in:

June's

A mix of eclectic comfort food fare and outstanding wine has made June’s both an industry hotspot and a favorite of the leisurely, boozy lunch crowd. A friendly staff is happy to navigate the regional specials (and cool, homemade ‘zine listing special wine lists) to find something new or familiar for guests, and two dozen wines are available by the glass. Turn up on Wednesday afternoons to find the dining room packed with local wine professionals doing blind tastings, or simply partake in the 4 to 6 p.m. weekday happy hour with half-price bubbles and 25% off food. (There’s also half-price Riesling and Alsace wine on Sundays for “pub night.”)

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

June’s

Also featured in:

Mattie's

Mattie’s wine list leans toward the food-friendly but doesn’t shy away from bold flavors. The by-the-bottle list here is longer than that of some high-end steakhouses, with smart pairings of every weight (and price) for the bistro fare. If you can’t commit, 20 wines are also available by the glass. For the adventurous, check out the awesome Austrian and South African picks.

811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704

Pouring wine at Mattie’s

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Winebelly

Many neighborhood wine bars traffic in average food and common denominator wines; thankfully, Winebelly does just the opposite. Ever tried a Moric Hidden Treasures Tokaj? While keeping 95% of bottle prices at $99 or less, Winebelly manages the trick of showcasing lesser-known producers, great grapes, and a broad spectrum of wines from the U.S., Italy, and France (a few others are sprinkled in for good measure). Sunday and Monday nights add select half-price bottles as a bonus, and a Saturday night “wine roulette” allows guests to open one bottle off the time off the $75 and up bottle menu for just $16/glass.

519 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

Wine wall at Winebelly

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Barley Swine

6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757

A wine list overhaul from Stefan Davis has placed Barley Swine’s list back among Austin’s best. You’ll find sparkling wine from Portuguese legend Luis Pato, rare Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Hiyu Wine Farm, and affordable and food-friendly liter bottles of Austrian Gruner Veltliner. The list divides up pretty evenly between cutting edge, leaner-styled West Coast producers and classic European picks. On Sunday-Friday from 5-6:30pm, all bottles are 25% off.

6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

Barley Swine

Olive & June

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

North Central Austin wine lovers frequent Olive and June, which has an entirely Italian wine program with a dozen wines by the glass and a lengthy bottle list. Descriptors like “cherry and oregano” (Sangiovese) and “leather and balsamic” (Brunello) anchor the categories to help diners hone in on their preferred styles. On Mondays, wines by the glass are always 50 percent off.

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Wines at Olive & June

L'Oca d'Oro

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

Easily the best destination for wine in Mueller, L’Oca d’Oro does the little things right. Wines by the glass are priced fairly ($8-$12) and sourced from interesting destinations like Sicily and Alto Adige. By the bottle choices are food-friendly, and mostly Old World from Italy, with Greek, French, and even Slovenian accents thrown in for good measure. Most bottles are under $70, and there are an abundance of cool, lesser-known grapes worth trying like Inzolia and Schiava.

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

L’Oca d’Oro — L’Oca d’Oro

Texas French Bread

2900 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705

Murph Willcott and his team remain a neighborhood favorite for two reasons: the food and drinks are top-quality, and they really care about their guests. The wine list are full of discoveries with emerging producers and rare finds, from classic Champagnes and crisp Sancerre to edgy, leaner-styled California producers like Broc and Dirty & Rowdy. Stop by on Wednesday to Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. for half-priced wine (and beer) and try something new.

2900 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705

Visit Website

Wine and mussels at Texas French Bread

Jeffrey’s and Josephine House

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703

Jeffrey’s remains the epicenter of Austin luxury wine consumption. Local hospitality firm McGuire Moorman staffs the deepest bench of wine talent in Austin, to the point that the Jeffrey’s captains won first, second, and third prize at TEXSOM’s 2019 Best Sommelier Competition. Stop by on Sunday for half off all bottles (yes, all) and find the bar filled with oenophiles raiding treasures from a massive list of global finds. During the remainder of the week, take heart: while fancy selections abound, there are smart picks of most styles available for under $100 — ask the team for a suggestion. For more casual patio sipping, try a table at sibling restaurant Josephine House found next door.

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Wines at Jeffrey’s

Wink

1014 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

An old guard choice for quality wine in Austin, Wink quietly goes about its business, offering seasonal tasting menus and thoughtful wine selections to loyal Clarksville and Old Enfield patrons just as it has done for years. The restaurant deserves credit for helping to elevate the conversation around wine before it became a focal point in Austin dining, with over 50 (!) wines available by the glass at $16 or less. Expect a focus on French and Italian selections.

1014 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Glasses of wine at Wink

Clark's Oyster Bar

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

The compact and food-friendly list at Clark’s is what one expects from McGuire Moorman Hospitality, but take note — there’s a great weekend happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. with all bottles half price. California and France anchor the list here, but there are global selections from a number of additional regions. As one might expect, the seafood focus of the restaurant means there’s a heavy emphasis on white wines, bubbles, and rosé.

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

A glass of wine at Clark’s

24 Diner

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703

A consistent “Wait, what?” on the wine map, 24 Diner’s sneaky-good wine list is an short but sweet all-American roundup of values, including Texas, New Mexico, and New York selections. Screaming deals abound, from ethereal Le P’Tit Paysan GSM ($48 per bottle) to hip Tatomer Gruner Veltliner (a steal at $56.) Even serious syrah like Stolpman and cool climate Pinot Noir from Salem Wine Co. can be had for around $50 per bottle. It’s great value, and all in good fun.

600 N Lamar Blvd #G, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Rosés at 24 Diner

Bar Lamar

525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Since Whole Foods’ master sommelier Devon Broglie is based in Austin, it should come as no surprise that the upscale grocer has a solid wine bar tucked into the flagship store. There’s a big open secret: any of the 1,500 on-site bottles are available to purchase to drink at the bar for retail price — there’s zero markup. (This is very wallet-friendly.) Feeling splashy, but can’t commit to a bottle? Check the latest glass pours for some rather surprising deals on grower champagne and classic producers — truly iconic wines can be purchased for under $15 per glass.

Open in Google Maps

525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Bar Lamar at Whole Foods

Italic

123 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

The front page of Italic’s list strikes the right tone: “Don’t freak. Italian wine is awesome.” A menu of varietals mostly broken down by geography follows, with context clues like “rich and rustic” and “intense darkness” to help those less familiar with the admittedly complex world of Italian wines. A selection of 14 by the glass pours allows for variety, and a generous selection of bottles under $75 (we counted 62 choices) means that a four-top can try just about anything without breaking the bank. The expert team know that Italians build their lives around food and wine — they’re ready to help you do the same. On Tuesdays, all bottles of sparkling wine are half-price, and all bottles of wine are half-off Sunday nights.

123 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Wines at Italic

Second Bar + Kitchen

200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Second Bar + Kitchen remains an Austin institution because it knows how to offer something for everyone. With wine, this means several things. For the casual diner, there’s $8 wine on tap from Spain and New York’s Finger Lakes. For the expense account set, there’s rare Syrahs from Bedrock champagne. For wine nerds, there’s crunchy Alheit Cinsault from South Africa. And for everyone else, there is reasonably priced bubbles to pair with burgers or steak frites. Bottle selections here change frequently, so keep an eye out for the unknown. Most by the glass wines are $15 or less, and a daily happy hour from 4-6pm takes $2 off wine by the glass.

200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Second Bar + Kitchen

Il Brutto

1601 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

New Waterloo’s Italian restaurant gives East Austin a great fresh option for wine. The list here is 100% Italian, with a healthy number of bottles in the $40-$80 range. There’s a healthy by-the-glass program of 16 selections, a nice list encompassing a number of trendy and classic Italian regions, and selections change frequently. Monday through Friday from 5-7pm, the entire drink list is half price.

Open in Google Maps

1601 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Dinner at Il Brutto

Vixen's Wedding

1813 A E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

This new Goan-Portuguese hybrid from Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher has big buzz, and thankfully Lindsay Drew’s wine list here is both smart and fun. For starters, there’s a wealth of sparkling wine from lesser-known parts of Europe, keeping the prices affordable ($44-$76) and the sipping adventurous. There’s also a number of white wine selections meant to go with spicy foods, from lithe Australian Riesling to tropical Merwah (!) from Lebanon. A daily happy hour from 5-6pm offers $8 wines by the glass.

1813 A E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

The bar at Vixen’s Wedding

Apt 115

2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

This quirky, 30-seat wine bar emphasizes unique bottles that thrill owner Joseph Pannenbacker. Sit at the bar and explore the oft-changing menu — if you’d like a glass of something off the bottle list, the bar is usually able to do this on bottles priced under $100. Reservations are available for date nights, and corkage is available for $20 should you want to supplement your groups choices with a rare selection from home. There’s also a nice happy hour from 5-6pm daily with $5 off wines by the glass.

Open in Google Maps

2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Bottles of wine at Apt 115

Bufalina

1519 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

East Austin (and Burnet’s) favorite Neapolitan pizza place has a secret weapon: owner Steven Dilley is such a wine obsessive that he was named a Food & Wine magazine 2017 Sommelier of the Year. As a guest, this means there’s a stellar selection of grower Champagnes, and deep list of Loire and Burgundy bottles.There’s also a nice list of quite esoteric wines by the glass at very affordable pricing. To-go bottles are available for 20% off the menu price. Bufalina doesn’t have to work this hard on the wine list to keep tables full, but the fact that it so clearly does is worth appreciating.

1519 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Bufalina

Related Maps

Uchi

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

With a dozen sakes and 32 still and sparkling wines available by the glass, Uchi works overtime to give diners the wines they want in the portions they desire. As befits the menu here, there’s a focus on white wines and lighter reds, along with a generous selection of dessert wines. Producer picks are smart and all over the style map: for Pinot Noir, for example, there’s an affordable offering from Siduri, or hip and rare Burn Cottage from New Zealand. Cool kid picks like Chateau Musar’s Lebanese rosé and a coveted Mullineux white blend from South Africa assure diners that the wine is as exciting as the food.

Open in Google Maps

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Uchi’s drinks

Emmer & Rye

51 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Learn something with every order from Ali Schmidt’s team at Emmer & Rye. This is a list worth a pre-order conversation with the server, since there are a lot of small-production (or lesser known) gems. Choices here range from affordable Tasmanian bubbles to stunning Slovenian Chardonnay to contrasting Syrahs from the Northern Rhone and Santa Barbara. The wide variety of bubbles and dessert wine is particularly strong, with something for every budget.

51 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Wine tasting at Emmer & Rye

Intero Restaurant

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Much like the restaurant itself, Intero’s wine list is pared down and offers great value. 90% of the list is French and Italian, in a range of climates and styles. (A few selections from Portugal and California are also available.) A dozen picks are available by the glass, usually in the $10-12 range. Bottle prices are fair, with over 20 choices available at $60 or less. On Tuesdays, all bottles are half price.

Open in Google Maps

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

A wooden bar with many many alcohols — The bar at Intero

Pitchfork Pretty

2708 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

This East Austin star has a list that caters to many palates. For new world fans, there are big reds from Ridge, Dunham, and Stolpman. For the Raj Parr crowd, there’s nuanced fare from Arnot-Roberts and Idlewild. And for the classics, there’s a food-friendly mix of European selections, many available by the glass. A weekday happy hour from 5-6pm offers $12 off all bottles of wine.

Open in Google Maps

2708 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Pitchfork Pretty

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

2110 South Lamar Blvd C, Austin, TX 78704

Aviary’s return has been a welcome one on South Lamar. There are two dozen global by the glass wines available at $14 or less, and a fun bottle list with categories like David Bowie (sparkling), Twiggy (lean whites), and Frank Zappa (funky and challenging.) Happy hour from 4-6pm Monday-Saturday means $2 off wines by the glass and $10 off select bottles. On Saturdays during happy hour, all bottles are half price. The bar also hosts frequent free late afternoon tastings from visiting winemakers and local distributors to expand your palate.

2110 South Lamar Blvd C, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Wine at Aviary

Lenoir

1807 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

The wine list at Lenoir remains decidedly Old World in focus: from lovely pétillant naturel bubbles to dry Kuentz-Bas Rieslings, the selections favor Europe at every turn. Given the restaurant’s rather small size, the robust selection of 14 wines (split neatly between old and new world selections) by the glass is a treat. There’s also a curated bottle list with quite reasonable pricing — over 80% of the bottle list is under $100. The back wine garden here remains a neighborhood favorite that is delightful on days with porch-friendly weather. (Also note that half-price bottles on selections $80 and under are available in the wine garden between 5 to 6:30 p.m. six days a week.)

1807 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Wine at Lenoir

June's

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

A mix of eclectic comfort food fare and outstanding wine has made June’s both an industry hotspot and a favorite of the leisurely, boozy lunch crowd. A friendly staff is happy to navigate the regional specials (and cool, homemade ‘zine listing special wine lists) to find something new or familiar for guests, and two dozen wines are available by the glass. Turn up on Wednesday afternoons to find the dining room packed with local wine professionals doing blind tastings, or simply partake in the 4 to 6 p.m. weekday happy hour with half-price bubbles and 25% off food. (There’s also half-price Riesling and Alsace wine on Sundays for “pub night.”)

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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June’s

Mattie's

811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704

Mattie’s wine list leans toward the food-friendly but doesn’t shy away from bold flavors. The by-the-bottle list here is longer than that of some high-end steakhouses, with smart pairings of every weight (and price) for the bistro fare. If you can’t commit, 20 wines are also available by the glass. For the adventurous, check out the awesome Austrian and South African picks.

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811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704

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Pouring wine at Mattie’s

Winebelly

519 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

Many neighborhood wine bars traffic in average food and common denominator wines; thankfully, Winebelly does just the opposite. Ever tried a Moric Hidden Treasures Tokaj? While keeping 95% of bottle prices at $99 or less, Winebelly manages the trick of showcasing lesser-known producers, great grapes, and a broad spectrum of wines from the U.S., Italy, and France (a few others are sprinkled in for good measure). Sunday and Monday nights add select half-price bottles as a bonus, and a Saturday night “wine roulette” allows guests to open one bottle off the time off the $75 and up bottle menu for just $16/glass.

519 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

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Wine wall at Winebelly

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