Claret-colored walls mellow the handsome, hard surfaces in this larger home, where brick-framed booths seem like fireplace hearths. Chef Adam Cleveland offers his dinner menu of small plates and “international comfort food” entrees (Thai shrimp curry, aged beef filet), adding lunch and Sunday brunch.

With a 2,000-count wine vault, owner Jennifer Smith expanded selections, maintaining her emphasis on small producers, and there’s a private tasting room available. Meeting, anyone?

The Winehouse Bar & Bistro, 517 Colley Ave., Norfolk, 622-7777/961-8510, www.mywinehouse.com

Portfolio Magazine
Marisa Marsey
Issue Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, Posted On: 10/27/2008

Splash Magazine

“Wine tasting at its finest has come to Norfolk. The Winehouse Bar and Bistro has moved to their new location on Colley Avenue and have settled in nicely. The food is fresh, the location is convenient, the atmosphere is elegant and the wine selection is unbelievable. Every night at 5:00 the Winehouse has a wine tasting which features all the wines that were opened the previous evening.

This is the perfect opportunity to sample wines that you may not otherwise choose and get some great recommendations from the staff. Patrons are seated at the bar and given the choice of either tasting white wines or reds. The full menu is available during the tasting and if you decide to purchase a bottle of wine to go a 30% discount is applied.

During my visit I chose to taste reds and I was allowed to sample five different types of pinot noir, both imported and domestic; three types of zinfandel, three types of cabernet, three types of shiraz, a petit syrah, a merlot and a malbec. The selection was impressive and I wasn’t expecting such a wide range of colors and flavors. I enjoy tasting so much because even though I have my favorites, a tasting will either reinforce what I already believe about those favorites or my mind is changed about something that I never paid too much attention to in the past.

For example, I almost never order Shiraz when I’m out and I very rarely buy it for my home. However, the Shiraz that I sampled during the tasting was delicious. It was a wine with a big flavor. Full and spicy like a shiraz should be. It was so good in fact I had to buy a bottle to take with me. The bottle that I chose was called Playmates which is actually a 2006 Shiraz blend from the Fetish Vines in the Barossa Valley in Australia. It is definitely one of the better wines that I’ve ever tasted.

Since the wines used during the tasting consist of bottles that were opened the previous night, you are guaranteed an interesting variety. The price of the tasting is $15 per person and definitely worth it.”

Cheers!

Michele Matthews

February 2009 Issue
Splash Magazine
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