Sweet – Sugarvale in Baltimore

I was in Baltimore on business and was looking for a wine bar – imagine that! 

I ventured to Sugarvale in Mount Vernon – a cute neighbourhood just north of downtown. I walked up there from my hotel aiming to get there over the happy hour.

As I sidled up to the bar, I was greeted by friendly bartenders! I found out that although they are known as a wine bar, their claim to fame is to serve unusually distinctive craft cocktails.

Domaine des Cassagnoles - Cotes de Gascogne Blanc 2016 <span>(750ml)</span> <span>(750ml)</span>

For example, how about a Rickety Cricket with Wigle Ginever Gin, Meletti amoro, peach, lemon, Tempus Fugit Creme de Menthe, and Burlesque bitters. I was so tempted to try a cocktail, yet I was here for the wine!

It was refreshing to see some different wines on their wine list. I started with the house white – the Cassagnoles Cotes de Gascogne.

I found this to be a very drinkable wine. It reminded me a little of sauvignon blanc, yet much more subtle. You could taste a bit of freshness and minerality and it had a very smooth finish.  I’ll look forward to having this again!

 

Here is a sample happy hour menu.

I enjoyed the devilled eggs and the seafood potstickers.

 

My next sampling of wine was the rose. This was the Côtes de Provence Amie Roquesante Syrah. You might feel as though you’ve been transported to Provence when drinking this wine.

This curvy bottle is a combination of cinsault, grenache and syrah. After the swirl of the glass, my nose picked up some berries and fruit, perhaps peach. When I had my first sip, I also tasted berries, and it seemed low on acidity. This was very drinkable, and I could see serving this as a before dinner drink, or with shellfish, and as a sipper!

I highly suggest you head to Sugarvale when you might be in the Baltimore area for their amazing cocktails, interesting wine offerings, and delicious small bites!