Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-22:30
Iron Gate in Washington DC is the Dupont Circle Greek-Mediterranean dining room and wine bar on N Street, a former carriage-house with a Mediterranean wine.
Signature pour: Assyrtiko by the glass
Wine focus: Greek and Mediterranean wines
Food: Wood-fire mezze and small plates
Tip: The covered garden patio is the city's prettiest spring-and-summer wine bar seat; book the late slot for the lower light.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sat 17:00-00:00
barmini by Jose Andres in Washington DC is the cocktail laboratory next to Minibar on E Street, a 100-cocktail menu with a deep sherry and Spanish wine.
Signature pour: Manzanilla sherry flight
Wine focus: Cocktail laboratory with sherry and wine focus
Food: Pintxos and tapas
Tip: Bartender's choice is the play; describe a flavour and let the staff build. Reservations are required.
Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-23:00
Nero DC in Washington DC is the Dupont Circle 19th Street Italian wine bar and speakeasy since 2018, a multi-room operation with a 28-tap wine wall pouring.
Signature pour: Italian wine flight
Wine focus: Italian regional wines
Food: Italian small plates and cicchetti
Tip: The downstairs Wine Tap Room runs the by-the-tap selection; the upstairs Speakeasy needs a separate reservation and runs a different menu.
Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-22:00
Cork Wine Bar and Market in Washington DC is Diane Gross's 14th Street Logan Circle wine bar and bottle shop since 2008, the city's anchor natural wine room.
Signature pour: Grower Champagne flight
Wine focus: Old World by the glass, deep grower Champagne
Food: Cheese and charcuterie, small plates
Tip: The retail shop next door sells the bottles you drink in the bar at retail price plus a $15 corkage; the best value list in DC.
Wine bar$$$Tue-Sun 17:00-23:00
Maxwell Park in Washington DC is Brent Kroll's Shaw 9th Street wine bar with a monthly-themed list that resets every month, 50 by the glass.
Signature pour: Whatever the month's theme calls for
Wine focus: Themed monthly list across all regions
Food: Snacks and charcuterie
Tip: Themed nights run on the first Tuesday of each month with a sommelier walk-through; arrive at 18:00 for a seat.
Wine bar$$$Mon-Sun 17:00-22:30
Lupo Verde in Washington DC is the U Street Italian dining room and wine bar from Pasta Cucina, a deep Italian-only list with 30 bottles by the glass.
Signature pour: Etna Rosso by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional wines
Food: Italian small plates and pastas
Tip: The downstairs enoteca takes walk-ins for wine flights only; the upstairs room is the proper-meal seat.