Dude, where's my (wine) bar?

So it's about time you learn something about wine. Our guide finds wine bars for every vibe.

By Paula Nino

Oenophiles (that's wine experts to you, bub) are often considered snobs, but you don't need to become one to enjoy good wine. And lately, wine bars for every taste - from the sophisticate to the unschooled - have been sprouting up around Miami. Here's a guide to some of the city's best offerings.

The Amateur - Need help shopping for wine? Choose a bottle from The Grape's shop (cutely termed the Seller), taste it at their wine bar and then decide whether you want to take it home. Clueless about which bottle to pick? The Seller and the wine bar menu rank wines with a 1-10 classification system - starting from light-bodied whites and counting up to intense, bodacious reds meant for special occasions. Wines in the Seller are beautifully arranged in brightly lit displays reminiscent of a jewelry store, and prices can approach Tiffany levels, too. Those unwilling to commit to a bottle can sit at the bar and enjoy a tasting flight or sip wine by the glass - every of the 100-plus wines in their store are available for tasting. Not bad for the wine bar version of Applebee's. Visit on Wednesdays for Grape Crush - a tasting of six wines and hors d'ouevres ($30).
360 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables; 305-444-9463
706 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-2433

The Homeskillet - Going to Happy Wine is like sitting at home, sipping wine with your family and friends. Fun, down to earth and the opposite of fancy, visit this wine shop for inexpensive bottles served up with afternoon snacks - such as Spanish tortilla, cubes of cheese or high-class boquerones (marinated anchovies), all unpretentiously served on Styrofoam plates. Everyone seems to know everyone here, and friends sit on stacked-up wine boxes and plastic lawn chairs, eating from tables made of wine barrels and still more boxes. The crowds - a mix of 30-somethings, families and older folk - come for the music, companionship and unbeatable corkage deals: $1 for most bottles, $2 if the bottle is priced below $5 (and many are). Pay just $3 if you bring your own bottle, but why would you? Happy Wine has a vast, if not brilliant, selection and low prices...in a lot of ways, it's even better than home.
5792 SW 8th St., Miami; 305-443-6070

The Trend-seeker - Throw on your newest outfit and head to Vino Miami Wine Bar, a South Beach stop where a celebrity sighting wouldn't be out of the question. With clean, modern lines, dim lighting and plush couches, the Vino folks have created a loungey atmosphere where you can mingle with the chic and trendy without enduring the loud sounds and harsh crowds of the nearby megaclubs like SET and Cameo. If you're feeling decadent, order a fondues - chocolate is a good bet - and let owner Gigi tell you about the newest wines in their collection of more than 300 varietals. En route to a party? Walk up to the back wall and select a bottle to go. A true wine bar, Vino is a relaxed spot for those who love to see and be seen while they sip.
1601 Washington Ave., South Beach; 786-207-8466

The Mellow Fellow - Treat yourself to a night of flamenco (Thursdays) or sip to the sounds of Latin pop (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) at the casual Vinisimo. This is a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of place where you can just sit back and try some Spanish wine - their specialty - along with some tapas. Even if you're not planning an outing, the happy, chill crowds gathered outside the store on weekends might just tempt you to drop in.
2960 SW 22nd St., Miami; 305-648-2964

The Art Scenester - With nearly 200 wines to choose from, brick-colored walls and tasteful music flowing from the bar's iPod, W Wine Bistro is the place for you. The French owners of this small and cozy Design District joint will point you in the right direction when choosing your wine, describing each bottle as passionately as if it were their own carefully harvested grape. Take a bottle home or drink it on the premises for a modest corkage fee. Order a cheese plate, hummus or a Croque Monsieur, and voila! Bonus: if you're eating up the street at artsy haven A, you can order a bottle or two from W Wine Bistro. For $1 fee (and of course, you'll give a nice tip) a charming deliveryman will bike up to the restaurant and deliver to your table.
3633 NE 2nd Ave., Design District; 305-576-7775

The Adventurer - Don't let the Citgo sign and gas pumps fool you. Hidden at the back of a gas station convenience store near Coconut Grove, El Carajo International Tapas & Wine is not a place for the conventional types. El Carajo's owners (who claim the name, considered profane among some Spanish-speakers, is merely a colorful expression) boast that they stock 2,000 wines from around the world, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff will recommend a nice bottle from what's on hand. Pick up a bottle while you top off your gas tank, or venture in with your friends to refuel on good wine and beautifully prepared tapas. Corkage fee is $10. Free wine tastings Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
2465 SW 17th St., Miami; 305-856-2424

Taking time to stop and smell the vintages at W Wine Bistro in the Design District. Photo: Fiorella Sarmiento