Immersion is an excellent way to learn about other cultures, especially when the immersion is done with that culture's booze. Gain firsthand knowledge with today's Groupon: for $15, you get a customizable Italian wine flight at Vino on Second Avenue, between 66th and 67th streets (a $30 value).

Vino brings the authentic tastes and surroundings of an authentic Italian wine bar to New York's Upper East Side. The Italian wine flight transports three to five ombras, the traditional Italian term for a tasting or pour, to the awaiting lips of its parched patron, giving palates an elegant tasting experience and frequent flier miles for vacation loving libations.

Before embarking on the pleasing potion assessment, customers discuss their preferred wine characteristics, such as red, white, bold, or lighter, giving the server the proper knowledge to construct a perfectly suited selection. All of Vino's wines are from various regions from Italy, providing clients with a liquid road map of the bucolic Italian countryside.

Reviews

New York magazine and Time Out New York featured Vino. Zagat reviewed the food and service at Vino as very good to excellent, and nine Yelpers give the wine bar an average of 3.5 stars.

• The exclusively Italian wine list is divided up by region (Umbria, Sicilia, Lombardia); a predictable but spot-on selection of cured meats, cheeses, and small plates complements the vitals. – New York magazine
• A quaint place to meet friends. – Tara E., Yelp, 6/13/10