Beans and Grapes

I love "city life"! I'm a natural Baltimorean who enjoys the hidden gems of city culture. 

While visiting a good friend of mine she mentioned a quint new wine bar that she had stumbled upon during this years winter storm. That's the best part of living in Baltimore City. During snow storms in the winter when the rest of us have cabin fever (stuck in the house), City residents can strap on a warm coat, snow boots and walk to the nearest watering-hole. 

Fast forward to this Summer, 2015, she and I walked into an adorable neighborhood wine bar named Beans and Grapes. This was a Monday so the bar area was not full. But there were definitely local regulars, enjoying dinner and drinks. We were greeted by a very nice guy, his smile was infectious. I had to ask the burning question, What the heck is Beans and Grapes? As I completed my last sentence, I glazed to the left and noticed coffee makers, cappuccino machines, and other coffee stuff. So there you go, the "Beans" in Beans and Grapes refer to... simply.... coffee and wine (my two favorite vices). My friend and I ordered the house wines (one glass of red wine, one glass of white) and fries. Unfortunately, I was NOT impressed. The house Merlot was flat and the Pinot Gris was vinegary. But I have to say, I enjoyed visiting this hidden gem. The bar guy was awesome, the other patrons were really friendly. And most importantly, the fries were delicious. 

I recommend checking out Beans and Grapes. And apparently so does the Baltimore Sun Newspaper. They wrote an article about the wine bar a month after my visit. Here the article for your review http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bs-ae-eats-beans-grapes-review-baltimore-20150709-story.html  

Noble Vines & Zin Times

There is nothing like a Saturday wine tasting to help a girl get through the wrath of Back to School shopping. From my teen negotiating a $185 pair of Nike tennis, to my elementary schooler (excited to start 3rd grade) but wishing summer camp was a year long activity, the back to school ritual is so cruel and takes no prisoners. Luckily, there is wine store across the street from the mall. In the same shopping center is a Yankee Candle store, it's #ZinTime y'all. I enter the wine store with the frustrated mom look on my face (eye brows up, breathing through nose like a bull, and money in hand). The line in the wine store was longer than the line at the Gap store. Totally understood! As I quickly skim through the white wine, I hear a faint voice saying, "would you like to try our wine tasting". I sample Noble Vines wine. In a rush, I tell the lady I'm "quick sip'n". Mother to mother, she understands. I taste two delicious vinos. A 2013 Chardonnay and a red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were very complex wines. The blend flavored notes of jam, full of ripe berries, and medium tannin. The Chardonnay won my heart. It was a mixture of stainless steel and oak fermented, with toasted notes of vanilla cream. The fact that the wine is 14.5% alc and 0% residual sugar is a delightful bonus. I guess the cost of the wine was an extra bonus at less than $15 a bottle. I have to say that the website is not as interesting as I would think, below is the link. What's your opinion?   http://www.noblevines.com/vines.php

Cheers & ZinTime!