From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wine & dine

Get ready to impress your date with dinner and wine in a nice restaurant, or buy a bottle and get cooking.

by Jeff Rusnak

March 15 2006

By the glass

The following restaurants have separate bar areas and offer excellent selections of wines by the glass.

City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill: This restaurant serves 45 wines by the glass and has a floor-to-ceiling, glass-encased cellar. It also serves flights, or three 3-ounce servings of a single varietal (pinot noir, merlot, etc.), for $15. (700 S. Rosemary Ave., CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/366-0071; and 45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 786/497-5450; Bigtimerestaurants.com)

Darrel and Oliver's East City Grill: A frequent host of winetastings and dinners, East City has begun offering its own flight program for $14. (1800 Bell Tower Lane, Weston, 954/659-3339, Eastcitygrill.com)

Himmarshee Side Bar: The dressed-down side of Himmarshee Bar and Grille serves about two dozen mostly Australian and American wines in a spacious bar area. (210 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale, 954/524-1818, Himmarshee.com)

Johnny V: This restaurant boasts an on-site sommelier, a bistro-style buzz at the bar, amazing cheese platters and a great range of reds and whites. (625 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954/761-7920, Johnnyvlasolas.com)

Michael's Kitchen: Piped-in Sinatra standards and a see-through wine vault adjacent to the bar add to this eatery's lively atmosphere. Wine steward Leah Rosales can help diners choose a glass or bottle. (2000 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954/926-5556, Michaels-kitchen.com)

32 East: The bar area here is suited for intimate conservation. The list of wines by the glass skews French and American. (32 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/276-7868, 32east.com)

Vienna Café and Wine Bar: Owner-chef Per Jacobsen oversees this romantic café, which features an intimate wine bar and serves about a dozen wines by the glass. (9100 W. State Road 84, Davie, 954/423-1961, Viennacafeandwinebar.com)

Buy the bottle

The following wines are available locally for less than $15 a bottle. We found them to our liking. Prices at different locations may vary.

Crown Wine and Spirits

Antinori, Santa Cristina, Italy, $9.99

D'Arenberg, The Stump Jump (red), Australia, $9.99

Beaulieu Vineyard (BV), Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $12.99

Falesco Vitiano, Rosso Umbria, Italy, $7.99

Hahn Estates Meritage, California, $14.99

Publix

Estancia, Chardonnay, California, $10.99

Penascal, Tempranillo (red), Spain, $6.99

Peter Lehmann, Chardonnay, Australia, $10.99

McWilliam's, Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, $9.99

Monte Antico, Toscano, Italy, $9.99

Whole Foods Market

Alba Liza (red), Spain, $9.99

Ca' del Solo Big House Red, California, $10.99

Las Rocas, Spain, $9.99

Naia (white), Spain, $12.99

Woop Woop, Shiraz, Australia, $11.99