This Nashville Wine Bar Has the Beauty of a Church and the Swag of a Skate Shop

"I noticed right away that this wine bar feels nothing like a prototypical dimly lit wine bar: its branding is straight out of a skate shop, with pops of neon on its Instagram and a signature chubby bubble‑letter font, the food menu leans heavily Lao, and the restaurant is housed in a former church sanctuary with wood carvings and arched windows. Owner Alex Burch, this year’s MICHELIN Guide American South Sommelier Award winner, has deliberately made a potentially intimidating space feel beautiful and welcoming so guests are comfortable whether in an evening gown or their kitchen uniform. The wine program is mold‑breaking and approachable, built around a no‑stupid‑questions ethos that reflects Burch’s own journey from rudimentary tasting notes to sommelier training; the menu is easy to read, with a key on the first page, plain‑English tasting notes and playful hot takes (for example, “No grape has been misunderstood more than poor, poor Chardonnay”). Because the dinner dishes favor Thai chili, lemongrass, lime leaf and fish sauce, whites with a touch of residual sugar and citrus lift feature prominently; a standout pairing is François Chidaine’s 2019 Montlouis‑sur‑Loire Les Tuffeaux with a scallop‑stuffed bánh cuốn in a Thai‑chili‑steeped cream sauce, where the wine’s age and slight sweetness match the texture and take the edge off the spice. Even when I order little more than a glass and a small plate, the place charms me—Burch says they also carry plenty of wines that might not be traditional pairings but make for great adventures at the bar or in the lounge." - The MICHELIN Guide