Where to drink well in Louisville by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Louisville. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
bar Vetti in Louisville pours Italian regional wines by the glass from a NuLu corner at East Market and Shelby, paired with house-made pasta and Roman snacks.
Signature pour: Lambrusco by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional pours, natural and classic
Food: House-made pasta and small plates
Tip: Walk-in for the bar and patio. The pasta list rotates weekly with the wine pairings.
Lou Lou on Market in Louisville moved into the former Decca space on NuLu's East Market, pouring American and French wines to pair with shrimp and grits.
Signature pour: Champagne and Bananas Foster pairing
Wine focus: American and French old-world bottles
Food: New Orleans-rooted small plates
Tip: Book the dining room on OpenTable. The bar takes walk-ins and pours a tighter list.
8UP on West Chestnut in Louisville pours wine, mint juleps and bourbon flights from the Hilton Garden Inn rooftop, an all-glass downtown drinkery.
Signature pour: Mint Julep with rooftop view
Wine focus: Mid-range American and European bottles
Food: Wood-fired pizzas and shareable plates
Tip: Book the rooftop patio on OpenTable for Derby weekend. The cocktail program is the draw.
Volare on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville opens its bar at 16:30 for an Italian wine flight pre-dinner, three years running Louisville Magazine readers' best.
Signature pour: Super Tuscan reds by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional bottles, Super Tuscans
Food: House-made pasta and seafood
Tip: Walk-in for the bar; book the dining room online. Aperitivo hour pours half-glasses.
MeeshMeesh in Louisville pours Lebanese, Israeli and Mediterranean wines alongside chef Noam Bilitzer's Levantine mezze, a NuLu East Market wine-and-food.
Signature pour: Israeli orange wine
Wine focus: Lebanese, Israeli and Mediterranean wines
Food: Levantine mezze
Tip: Book on Tock. The patio takes walk-ins during warmer months.
Bar Nada Nada in Louisville's NuLu pours natural wines and Mediterranean cocktails next to NuLu Marketplace on East Market. At 829 E Market Street.
Signature pour: Skin-contact orange wines by the glass
Wine focus: Natural wines and Mediterranean cocktails
Food: Mediterranean small plates