Stop inviting me to breweries: 11 Charlotte wine bars for your whiny no-beer friend

No, I’m not going to “just have one” and no, I’m not going to “just try it.” I’m 30 years old and this brand of social guilt no longer works on me. For example, one time I went to a beer festival and bought a champagne flight. I bring kombucha to BYO parties when they clearly mean BYO beer. When presented the option, I order wine at freaking breweries. To lovers of beer (and probably many others for many other reasons), I am the literal worst.

But to fellow whiny no-beer drinkers, I am family. Together we form some kind of weird, un-fun gang of rebels against Charlotte’s booming brewery scene (which, by the way, is a wonderful addition to the city). And united we sit and sip at the following Charlotte area wine bars.

Petit Philippe

Neighborhood: Myers Park

Drop in for daily wine tastings (usually featuring three wines for $15-$30 per flight) or buy your own bottle in the store and enjoy it on site. The shop is also home to Twenty Degrees Chocolates, a partnership that makes it arguably the greatest food combo concept on earth.

Twenty Two

Neighborhood: Plaza Midoowd

You’ll find rotating local art exhibits and a weekly figure drawing class at this casual Plaza Midwood hang out. If you haven’t been in a while, they’ve added outdoor seating that’s always packed in the evenings.

Dolce Vita

Neighborhood: NoDa

As delightfully unstuffy as Twenty Two, Dolce Vita has the added benefit of a full kitchen (and bar) for mandatory wine snacks (or eventual transition to hard liquor as the night progresses – not advised).

The Gallery at South End

Neighborhood: South End

If you’re looking to pair your wine with dessert, you won’t find a better selection of cakes anywhere. Absolutely get the signature mille crepe (available in vanilla, chocolate and green tea flavors). They’ll also dump fresh espresso over ice cream, which sounds like a perfect end to a night of sipping if you ask me.

Corkbuzz

Neighborhood: SouthPark

New to the scene, this New York-based concept features impressive lunch, dinner and brunch menus as well as regular wine education classes.

Vintner Wine Market 

Neighborhood: Arboretum

Live music, free tastings, solid menu AND beer on tap so the world can live in peace.

Vin Master

Neighborhood: South End

They focus on sustainable wines and stock more than 100 labels in their retail store. Sip by the glass, sample a flight or open your own bottle in the wine loft.

The Wine Shop at Rivergate

Neighborhood: Rivergate

This is a full-service restaurant + retail wine shop combo featuring more than 1000 different wines.

The Wine Loft

Neighborhood: South End

The Wooden Vine

Neighborhood: Uptown

They’ve got 1/2 price bottles of wine on Mondays and $10 5-wine flight tastings on Tuesdays.

Foxcroft Wine Co.

Neighborhood: SouthPark (and new location coming to Dilworth)

Check out the free monthly Wine of the Month tastings.

Photo credits: Vintner Wine Market via Facebook, Vin Master via Facebook, Wine Loft via Instagram, Wooden Vine via Facebook, Foxcroft via Facebook, Wine Shop at Rivergate via Facebook