The grape became the obvious choice for winemaking after vintners realized raisins contained too little liquid and kickballs were not a fruit. Kick off some revelry with today’s Groupon: for $18, you get a wine tasting outing for two at The Wine Bar in Long Beach (up to a $38 total value). The outing includes:
- Two wine flights (a $14 value each)
- One appetizer (up to a $10 value)
The brainchild of two wine- and beer-loving friends, The Wine Bar cultivates a refined palate with an intimate bar area serving 22 wines sourced from around the world and a menu of small, sharable plates. Tasting duos recline in cushy couches as they work through a sampling flight of wines, sniffing selections such as the Rusack ’08 chardonnay and tossing glasses of Filus ’09 malbec over their shoulders for good luck. A hardwood bar and tables polished to a mirror sheen cradle palate-cleansing appetizers, such as smoked salmon served with capers, sour cream, and crackers, and creamy spinach dip flanked by dunkable strips of warm pita. Tall, arched windows give a light-streaked view of the outdoor patio seating, lined with assorted greenery and bushes trimmed in the shape of yearning, while works by local artists and eclectic music include eyes and ears in the sensory cavalcade.