bar Vetti ★ 4.4

Lou Lou on Market ★ 4.3

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 Elevated Drinkery and Kitchen ★ 4.2

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 Italian Ristorante ★ 4.4

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 Mediterranean ★ 4.7

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 ★ 4.3

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