Eric B.
Yelp
Update: brought my wife this trip to NC (she's working on a MW after finishing WSET Diploma) and she thoroughly appreciated all the detail that went into the choices made for vibe and atmosphere here, and the gal playing guitar outside didn't hurt the ambiance of the place. Female-owned, female-driven, living wages, phenomenal curated wine list, nice small bites...geeze! Again...tops for probably the state of NC, let alone Cary. Her favorite glass was the Phillipe Fontaine Champagne--don't miss it! The Chibatta w truffle butter cost almost nothing and broke up everything perfectly-- honestly, if I lived here, I'd make weekly trips here just to take the butter home. I think we dropped a couple hundred exploring the dark side of Champagne, but without my wife's presence the first visit to NC I can say I loved my less expensive Lambrusco and even the Elio Altare Barbera...I'm just a sucker for Italian reds...so if bubbles aren't your thing, you're covered. Bottom line, wifey gives the stamp of approval and she's got the creds...so happy my ground work ended up being worthwhile. The owner must live here and even remembered my visit 4 months ago--again confirming the customer orientation. This place is just too right.
Wow! Finally! I was visiting my sis who moved to Cary from Seattle a couple years ago (I'm in Austin myself), and this entire wine scene in the RTP area is a collection of stores that serve wine rather than wine bars that cater to Somms (cool wines not found in a store and small bites to pair w the wine). Look no further--after visiting around a dozen places in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Cary & RTP, I can safely say this place rises to the top for wine enthusiasts. I encountered a couple of honorable mentions for having a well-curated wine list, but no one nailed the trifecta to go with it with food, service, and vibe. I didn't even realize I was speaking with the owner until 15 min. after--that alone shows the interest in the customer experience. The knowledgeable staff steered me to a Lambrusco that was my fave, but I found a bubbly rose from Italy that was a mix of sangiovese and shiraz I loved too. The manchego chips were really good--I need to return hungrier to try more. Did I mention the outdoor patio, free parking, and nice price points? How about the living wage paid? 5 stars with no reservations in my mind at all!