There’s no better pairing than wine and Wednesday on a chilly, late-December night. We’d add a brief anecdote here (something about a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and the ruination of winter-white pants) but you probably want to get straight down to the good stuff.
(Related: If you can’t make it out this Wednesday for wine, The California Wine Club is our go-to option to deliver premium, award-winning California wines to our doorstep. They’ll even pay your shipping for upper-level wine club membership gifts of 3 months or more. Click here for the deal.)
DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Trust us, we totally wish we could write for free, (we also wish chocolate had no calories).
So, without further ado, five choice locations to celebrate the holidays and Wine Wednesday tonight:
Aurora
2305 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Every Wednesday, from 5 p.m.-10 p.m., visit this cozy, neighborhood spot and enjoy $3 house wine!
Black Knight
Cross the bridge on Newport Blvd., drive a hint up the road and you’ll find Black Knight, a gem of a Wine Wednesday spot that is technically in Costa Mesa but we won’t tell if you don’t. Black Knight has an upscale, sports-bar vibe and on Wednesdays, it’s always buzzing with a lively crowd. The wine isn’t exactly the grandest Napa Valley vintage in the land but it’ll definitely get you over the work-week hump. Plus, Black Knight serves $5 glasses of tap wine all day and night on Wednesdays and offers a complimentary flatbread or cheese board with the purchase of every four glasses. Bonus: An acoustic-electric guitarist plays country cover jams and if you ask really nicely, he might just take a recommendation.
// VIEW MENU
3-Thirty-3 Waterfront
Experiencing a Wine Wednesday at 3-Thirty-3 is something of grand, scenic affair; the space boasts rows of wood tables with comfy booths, high, vaulted ceilings, an enormous, circular bar and picture windows that overlook an evening-glittered Newport Bay. Arrive between 3 and 6 p.m. to order yourself a glass of discounted wine and small bites from the happy hour menu.
// VIEW MENU (There’s not much here so your best bet is to contact the restaurant directly for available happy hour items at 949-673-8464.)
Lido Tasting Room
201 Shipyard Way, Cabin 3, Newport Beach, CA 92663
There’s a new Wine Wednesday player in town and it’s bringing quality vino and a high-end tasting experience to Lido Isle. Lido Tasting Room, the brainchild of Northern California’s Bravante Vineyards, recently opened a small space overlooking the quaint courtyard that also houses a local institution, Sabatino’s Sausage Company.Lido Tasting Room boasts a cozy yet intimate open-air bar, high-top tasting tables and warm nooks and crannies decorated with nautical charm. It’s ideal for date night, pre-dinner libations (especially if your dinner happens to be at nearby Sabatino’s) or a casual post-work, happy hour hang.
// LEARN MORE
The Winery
On Wednesday at The Winery, happy hour runs from 4 to 6:30 p.m., which includes a California Chardonnay and an Italian Pinot Grigio for $7.95. For the reds, $7.95 will get you a California Pinot Noir, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington and a Malbec from Argentina. The Winery is a sophisticated twist on Wine Wednesday, with notes of dark wood throughout, a glass wine wall made from brightly lit bottles, and waterfront views along the entire back of the restaurant.
// VIEW MENU
Dory Deli
Dory Deli is definitely the most low-key, unconventional of the options on this list but certainly not the least interesting. A California-coastal bar fills one side of Dory’s, opening up to the sidewalk that runs along the parking lot before the beach. It may not sound like the most scenic atmosphere to sip but it’s quiet enough, excellent for people watching, and the bartenders are always friendly locals who won’t rush you out after one glass. There’s no happy hour or food specials but there is something thoroughly Newport Beach-ian about enjoying a glass of vino at Dory’s. (White wine pairing tip: The tuna poke bowl is a flavorful delight.)
// VIEW MENU
Sol Grill
This place is known to have the best happy hour on Balboa Peninsula and the title isn’t given lightly. On Wine Wednesday, Sol Grill has a happy hour that goes from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and a Wednesday-only drink special: two-for-one glasses of house wine. A small, unassuming restaurant that sits just outside the shadow of Newport Pier, Sol Grill definitely brings the authentic Mexican flavor and affordability factor to a Wine Wednesday experience you won’t soon forget. (Or maybe you will, depending on how much wine is involved in this particular Wednesday night.)
// VIEW MENU
