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The wine bar concept sounds intimidating and evokes serious, suited men sitting in dark rooms with their noses in wine glasses. But Atlanta's wine bars, many of them just a few years old, are really low-key establishments with pleasing decor, long wine lists, small plates and knowledgeable staff that add up to a unique alternative for a night (or afternoon) on the town.
"We've set out to create the total wine experience in a setting that's not intimidating," said Jeff Pendleton, director of operations for The Grape franchise, which has a location at Phipps Plaza.
A combination wine shop and bar, The Grape features black-and-gold cork floors, low lighting and a wood trellis on the ceiling. Wines, which retail from $10 to $500, are displayed in round wooden towers. "It's all to promote an atmosphere where people can enjoy and purchase wines," Pendleton said.
Wine has become a distinctive beverage of choice, said Pendleton. "It appeals to people who are not just drinking to get drunk," he said. "I look at it as another food group when planning a meal."
Here, some of Atlanta's leading liquid food group establishments, where you can also satisfy a craving for more sophisticated munchies. Cheers!
The Grape
various locations, yourgrape.com
Divided into two areas -- Seller, the retail section, and Tasting, the wine bar itself -- this franchise focuses on taste rather than region or type of grape. "Taste is all that counts," said Pendleton....