8.07.2012

Julian Mayor's Top 3 Places to Drink Wine in Tampa

This is a guest post by Julian Mayor for 2012 RNC Convention goers - He is a Tampa native, recovering foreign policy wonk, cook and sommelier. When in Washington, stop by Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons and visit Julian's amazing wine and beverage program.
Tampa Meet Up in DC: Julian Mayor & Tammy Gordon
1. The best restaurant for wine in Tampa is hands down Bern's Steakhouse. They have one of the largest collections of wine in the world, with more than 6,500 selections and over a half million bottles in their inventory. Bern's is the power spot to celebrate the nomination. But, don't let the 182 page wine list scare you. Ask for sommelier Brad Dixon who will help you select the right wine for your taste and budget. Bern's Steakhouse is located at 1208 South Howard. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

2. If you're looking for something a little more laid back, check out Cru Cellars in South Tampa. Voted "Tampa's Best Boutique Wine Bar," here you'll find a focus on small production wine paired with chef created farm dishes. You can come in and grab a few bottles to take home from their wine store, or stay in the back wine bar and sample more than 20 wines by the glass. They also are hosting private events for the RNC Convention with space for 30-40 people. Cru Cellars is located at 2506 South MacDill Avenue. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

3. If you are staying in Tampa's historic Ybor City, visit Beaune's Wine Bar. Beaune's (pronounced "bones") is unique in that there is no restaurant price mark up. If you don't see a wine you want on the menu, you can simply walk into the wine store, select a bottle and enjoy it in the wine bar. The menu is simple and designed to pair with wines. One caveat: there are no TVs at Beaune's which could make a nice break from convention madness. Beaune's Wine Bar is located at 2009 North 22nd Street at West Palm Wines. Follow them on Twitter for updates.

For all of my blog posts on the RNC Convention click here, for all Tampa posts, click here. Tweet me @floridagirlindc if you have any questions.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

If you are staying at Ybor City... why, am I actually... beaunes definitely on my list now!! (Berns has a lock on the #1 spot now... I mean, they tweeted me about their macarons...)