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We already have Crush Winehouse on West Street, which serves a great glass of wine. And there are three more coming: Vin909 WineCafe, Red Red Wine Bar, and the latest that I just found out about: Grapes, being opened by Wine Cellars of Annapolis. To refresh your memory of the first two, which we wrote about in the January issue of What's Up? Annapolis:
Vin909 WineCafe was initially scheduled to be opened by Valentine's Day in Eastport, where The Wild Orchid used to be located. However, as you can see by photos on their Facebook page, the cafe is still under renovation. It's a family business, co-owned by Chuck and Alex Manfredonia, with help from daughter Megan Hall.
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Red Red Wine Bar is scheduled to be open in May, helmed by Washington, D.C., news anchor Brian Bolter, and his wife, Lisa, who are basically two of the nicest people you'll ever encounter. The bar will be located on Main Street in Annapolis, a spot specifically chosen by the couple because they wanted to make it part of their own neighborhood. (They live downtown.) I know it's a long ways away, but the August issue of What's Up? Annapolis will have a great Q&A with Brian and Lisa Bolter, which will give a bit more insight about how a news junkie began a second career in wine.
So now the latest: Grapes, which will hopefully be open within the upcoming weeks, is attached to the current Wine Cellars of Annapolis, and there will be interior access between the two, according to manager Ellen Spicknall. The bar, which will seat just more than 40 people, will really focus on wine, she says. That means there are no cocktails and a small selection of beer, plus some small plates on the menu, which will be really creative and seasonally focused.
I plan to keep track of the progress of all three of these new additions to the Annapolis bar scene, and will keep you updated! For a more in-depth look at Grapes, don't forget to pick up the April issue of What's Up? Annapolis.
