pearl
High Street Wine Co. at the Pearl is both shop and bar, pouring Old World and natural growers by the glass; buy a bottle to drink in with the cheese board.
Signature pour: Rotating European growers by the glass
Wine focus: Old World and natural growers, broad by-the-glass list
Food: Cheese, charcuterie, and small plates
Tip: It is a shop and a bar, so buy a bottle to drink in for a small corkage. The cheese board is the food order.
st-marys-strip
Little Death brought a bawdy, fun-first wine bar to the St Mary's strip, pouring affordable natural and lesser-known wines by the glass alongside oysters.
Signature pour: By-the-glass natural pours at a fair price
Wine focus: Approachable natural and lesser-known wines
Food: Oysters and snacks
Tip: Wine is kept affordable by the glass and bottle. The oysters are the snack to pair; it gets lively late.
downtown
Zinc Bistro & Wine Bar sits in a historic downtown building steps from the River Walk, with a cellar of more than 4,000 bottles and a candle-lit courtyard.
Signature pour: Something off the deep international list
Wine focus: Global cellar of over 4,000 bottles
Food: Bistro plates and shared boards
Tip: The courtyard is the seat to want at night. Ask the staff to steer you through the very deep list.
southtown
King William Wine Co. in Southtown is a shop and bar in one; browse the retail wall and open whatever catches your eye, a relaxed alternative to a restaurant.
Signature pour: A by-the-glass discovery from the shop wall
Wine focus: Curated bottles with a retail shop
Food: Cheese and small plates
Tip: Browse the retail wall and open whatever catches your eye in the bar. A relaxed Southtown alternative to a full restaurant.
stone-oak
Copa Wine Bar & Tasting Room is the best wine option in the Stone Oak suburbs, where self-serve tasting machines let you build a flight across rare vintages.
Signature pour: A flight from the tasting machines
Wine focus: Easy-drinking wines plus rare vintages
Food: Tapas and shared plates
Tip: The self-serve tasting machines let you build your own flight. The best wine bar option in the Stone Oak suburbs.
alamo-heights
Postino brought its Arizona-born wine-cafe model to Broadway, with an accessible by-the-glass list and bruschetta boards in a converted industrial space.
Signature pour: A glass with the famous bruschetta board
Wine focus: Accessible wines by the glass
Food: Bruschetta boards and shared plates
Tip: The bruschetta board and a glass of wine is the deal, especially on the early-evening happy hour.