These local gathering spots invite you to taste and discover bottles and bites
Article and Photo By Leona Baker
What exactly is a wine bar, anyway? That depends on whom you ask, noted New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov in 2022 as he pontificated on the proliferation in the U.S. of these casual gathering spots for the vino-curious, based loosely on their European predecessors. Somewhere between “restaurant” and “wine shop” on a Venn diagram is a delightfully nebulous drinking and dining experience that combines education, communion, and retail therapy. And, oh yeah, hopefully there are good eats to pair and share. At the end of the day, though, Asimov concluded, “Great wine bars are neighborhood joints–places you can call your own.” We went in search of some local options for this unique culinary adventure. Here are five Coastal Virginia wine bars to try:
Mermaid Winery
Norfolk, Virginia Beach
In addition to 800 international wines on offer, Mermaid Winery is known for its own limited production wines sourced from Virginia- and California-grown varietals–from the Norfolk Express Bordeaux-style blend to the velvety, crisp Seaduxion Sparkling Rosé. But it’s the elevated, immersive wine bar experience offered at both locations that gives this local favorite its signature magic. The original Ghent location was a destination for more than a decade before moving to the airy and elegant, restored historic bank building at the corner of Granby and Main, while the Shore Drive version in Virginia Beach is warm, inviting, and spacious. A full food menu runs from “Snackies” and “Shareables” to entrees such as filet mignon and shrimp risotto. Tiered Wine Club memberships include monthly bottles and food discounts.
Pane e Vino
Cape Charles
As if historic Cape Charles wasn’t charming enough, you can add an authentic Italian wine and tapas-style cicchetti bar, run by a husband-and-wife team (both retired doctors) who originally met in Rome, to your Eastern Shore to-do list. A cluster of cozy tables and banquets along an exposed brick wall with sage and gold accents welcome guests to mingle, dine, and sip at this Mason Avenue mood setter since late 2023.
Italian wines hold sway, naturally, but you’ll also find selections from France along with espresso, cappuccino, and olive oil made from the owners’ own olive trees in Italy. There is a rotating menu of small plates and Italian specialties, from spaghetti a la pescatora to gorgonzola and truffle gnocchi. Also, look for seasonal wine dinners and special events.
Tinto Wine & Cheese
Chesapeake, Newport News,
Virginia Beach
With four locations and a world of wine adventures awaiting you—including those that require an actual passport—there’s a lot to cover at Tinto. It started with one couple’s passion for Portugal and Portuguese wines and has blossomed into a wine lover’s diversified dream focused on small, family-owned wineries and bottles not available elsewhere in Coastal Virginia. From the original Tinto at Hilltop in Virginia Beach to Oyster Point in Newport News, there are weekly themed tastings, wines available for purchase conveniently organized by price point, happy hour, charcuterie and dessert boards, monthly paella dinners, grilled cheese nights, tiered memberships, wine classes, and even organized trips to Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Some 2026 travel destinations include Southern Tuscany, Umbria, Loire Valley, the Northern Adriatic, and Slovenia.
The Wine Seller
Williamsburg
We’re always ready to raise a glass to a play on words, but the cleverly named Wine Seller, a neighborhood shop and tasting room in Williamsburg, is selling itself short. They sell wines indeed, but beer lovers, too, will find plenty to toast and taste at this charming and well-stocked shop and cafe with 10 to 12 wines and beers alike available to pair in store with charcuterie boards, flatbreads, pretzels, sliders, and sammies from their chef’s kitchen such as the yummy, salty-sweet Blue Pig & Fig. Join the Wine & Champagne Club for access to monthly staff picks, including curated bottles of red, white, rosé, or bubbly. Happy Hour is Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 3-6 p.m., and Fridays offer free wine tastings from 4 to 7 p.m.
Yiannis Wine & Food
Virginia Beach
A gracious host will greet you just inside the door of this destination for oenophiles on Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. Veer left and you’ll find yourself perusing their wine shop’s collection of rare and hard-to-find labels from around the world (that includes Virginia). Turn right and you’re destined for an immersive, full-service dining experience reminiscent of being inside a wine cellar with floor-to-ceiling bottles, wine taps, a full bar (which also includes an impressive lottery bourbon collection) and a chef’s kitchen delivering delicious fish, oysters, pasta, steaks, Greek Salad, charcuterie, award-winning she crab soup, Nonna’s wagyu meatballs, and more paired with wines of your choice. Don’t miss their Wednesday Wine Tastings and Five-Course Wine Dinners on the second Thursday of the month.
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
