Wine Time On Main celebrates first anniversary with new savings, events

Nov. 6, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by Wine Time on Main.

Downtown wine bar Wine Time on Main turns a year old this week, which means special offers and entertainment for guests.

On Friday and Saturday, all wines on the regular wine list will be 25 percent off both by the glass and by the bottle. And with 180 options, that’s a lot of potential savings!

Vocalist Janae Sturma will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, and she will be back at the same time Nov. 22.

“We’ve had a lot of artists who want to play here, so we thought she was the right fit to give it a try,” owner Bob Novak said. “We think the right music will complement our experience, and it was ideal to start it with one of our anniversary nights.”

We sat down with Novak to look back at the first year in business and look ahead to what’s next.

Looking back on the first year, what stands out?

It’s been a whirlwind. And it can be a little unpredictable. We are located across from the Washington Pavilion inside Washington Square, so we often draw crowds around events there. I think it’s also become known as a comfortable place to relax. We have a lot of women who say they love to come in and have a glass of wine and a conversation.

What has been your biggest surprise?

The success of our Wine 101 events. People really like the education and exposure to different wines from all over the world. We have a group of regulars and new guests who keep finding out about it. They can fill up fast, so make sure you join our email list by clicking here and sign up early.

What seems to be guests’ biggest surprise when they discover Wine Time?

I think the depth of the wine list surprises everyone. We draw a lot of tourists, and they are equally surprised. We just had a guest in from Virginia the other day who said he’s never seen a wine list like this even in Washington, D.C., so we’ve definitely become a destination.

What do you wish people knew about the business?

I think at first people walked away with the impression we were very high priced. And we made adjustments and dropped some prices and put together some special offers, including a happy hour every weekday. We do have outstanding wines, but you can still get a glass for under $8 here. And we’re not heavy on sweet wines, but if that’s your taste, we will have one you’ll like. We really have something for everybody. And we can serve beer. We don’t sell a lot of it, but we know sometimes couples and friends aren’t all wine drinkers, so don’t let that stop you from visiting.

So what’s next for Wine Time?

In the short term, we have some great events coming up between now and the end of the year. On Nov. 20, we will work with the Minnehaha Country Club to pair wines with traditional holiday foods. Their fantastic chefs will prepare 2-ounce portions of turkey and stuffing, ham and scalloped potatoes, and prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, and we’ll introduce wines to pair with each. We’ll finish with some single-bite pies.

Then on Dec. 4, we’ll sample some super nice champagnes and pair them with cheese, and for this one we’ll go upstairs to the top-floor lounge at Washington Square, which has an amazing view of the city.

Email [email protected] to sign up.

And in year two, we’ll keep changing the wine list up and responding to what guests are telling us. We’ve added several Old World wines in response to guest feedback, for instance, and I’ve become a big fan of them in the last year too.

Gift ideas

Looking for a holiday gift like no other? Wine Time offers gift baskets custom designed with your wine of choice, glassware, a wine opener and chocolates. Or pick up a festive wine by the bottle on your way to a holiday party!

Wine lovers: Sample away thanks to new offers, events at Wine Time

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Wine Time On Main celebrates first anniversary with new savings, events

Downtown wine bar Wine Time on Main turns a year old this week, which means special offers and entertainment for guests.

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