By Marisa Finetti
National Wine Day is May 25, and while I love a day dedicated to one of my favorite beverages, let’s enjoy wine year-round. Furthermore, it should be an international celebration because of all the gems that can be discovered across the globe. Allow me to spotlight some places, and while you’re there, consider trying something new. It’s National Wine Day, after all. The wines aren’t on holiday; they’re celebrating with us!
On the Strip
Delilah inside Wynn Las Vegas unveils the most luxurious ambiance, starting with the opulent bar that sweeps into the dining room. The wine list is just as indulgent, with a menu that offers hidden gems to rare bottlings and highly coveted brands. Delilah is offering a vintage spotlight through summer featuring wines from 1990. Imagine all the fruit coming into the wineries around the world during that year’s harvest now captured in bottles and selected for your pleasure at Delilah. WynnLasVegas.com
At The Venetian, check out Sala 118 for a pre-dinner or post-show. Named for the 118 islands in Venice, enjoy an elevated experience in a beautiful space for wines by the glass and a growing half-bottle selection focusing on Italian and domestic wines. VenetianLasVegas.com
Inside Fontainebleau, Don’s Prime offers “sip and savor” dinner experiences that kick off May 20. The wine dinner features six rare vintage wines largely sold out in the marketplace from Promontory, the Harlan family’s renowned wine-growing endeavor in Napa Valley. FontainebleauLasVegas.com
Carbone in Aria is another spot to escape for dinner and wine. If you are a Nebbiolo lover, the classic choices from Barolo and Barbaresco are deep in this list, but add a neighboring grape to your repertoire. The charming Dolcetto is a highly prized grape well-loved in Piemonte. It also happens to be one of the best values on the list. Try Barolo Mascarello, Dolcetto d’Alba. Aria.MGMResorts.com
Off the Strip
Visitors always want to drink like a local, so let’s go to a few places.
In The Arts District, the James Beard-nominated wine bar Garagiste is a place to be seen. Start with Tribaut-Schloesser Rosé Champagne because pink bubbles are extraordinary, and this bottling is Pinot Meunier-dominant, which is exceptional and rare. Or go for the liter of Austria’s Shreiner Weissburgunder because big bottles of Pinot Blanc on these warmer days are always a win-win. But if you just want a glass, drill down to a hyper-local grape from the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife. The Marmajuelo variety thrives on the island’s volcanic sands, delivering a lean, smokey wine with breezy marine personality. GaragistLV.com
At Monzú Italian Oven + Bar, choices are abundant from the all-Italian selection housed in a list that is far from ordinary. Embark on Monzu’s beverage book, a page-turner boasting an adventurous and educational way to learn about wine and spirits. While sipping on a bottle of Mt. Etna’s Benanti’s Etna Rosso from ancient vines, imagine treading on gnarly basalt rocks while smelling the minerality escaping from beneath Europe’s most active volcano. MonzuLV.com
Another local spot fast becoming popular is Wineaux, the newly opened “wine market, bar and escape” by James Beard-winning Chef Shawn McClain at The UnCommons. Explore the great wine selection and sink into a friendly atmosphere. Head to Hungary with Bordog Bromuhley Furmint-Harselevlu Dry Tokaj. While it’s a mouthful to say, it’s a simple and exceptional dry white wine. Pair it with Wineaux’s roasted eggplant. WineauxLV.com
Near the Strip, Ferraro’s Ristorante has been named Tre Bicchieri and Three Forks from Gambero Rosso, a highly respected recognition in the Italian wine world. You’ll find deep selections of all the classic Italian wines, but if you want to try something up-and-coming, ask for Derthona, a white wine made in Piemonte from the recently revived Timorraso grape. Ask the sommelier to tell you the story. FerrarosLasVegas.com
Red Rock Resort offers a variety of wine experiences under one roof, including T-Bones, which boasts the most expansive wine selection off the Strip. There is something for everyone, with a large portion designed to pair with the fantastic menu. Osteria Fiorella offers a focused wine list highlighting the regions and styles of Italy and a perfect spot to dine al fresco. Go for dinner or reserve a spot for Sunday brunch to enjoy a bright white wine or a refreshing spritz on draft. Head to Lotus of Siam for crisp whites and big, bold reds from Germany and the U.S. to pair with their classic Northern Thai cuisine. RedRockResort.com
At Tivoli Village, a day of shopping calls for Ada’s Food + Wine for an upbeat vibe and operated by some of the most knowledgeable in Las Vegas. An ever-changing wine list offers plenty of new discoveries. Take a flight of wines, explore skin contact orange wines. For a fun low-intervention wine, try Catch & Release Anyone Anytime Anyplace 2022 – a clean blend of Syrah, Grenache and a touch of Chardonnay and Pinot Gris that is a totally crushable red – served chilled, of course! And with a name like that, it’s a reminder that wine really is for anytime, anywhere, any season. AdasLV.com
