Summer Drink Guide 2018

DRINK HELENA YANKOVSKA

SUMMER

SUMMERDRINK

Black Sheep COURTESY OF BLACK SHEEP

Ruby Tap BY JEFF MARINI

Wine Bars Gain Ground in the City of Beer

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!::BY LACEY MUSZYNSKI

ilwaukee may be a beer city at heart, but wine connoisseurs have options, too. Wine bars are popular spots for tasting, discussing and appreciating wine, and like any other bar, for relaxing and spending time with friends and family, too. Most wine bars take the format of a bar and community area located among displays of wines that are available by the glass, for retail sale or both. Most are owned and run by fellow wine enthusiasts and professionals, so they’re often a great place to find the perfect bottle of wine to fit your tastes.

Events run by each wine bar are popular, whether they’re intro tastings for beginners, singles mixers or even yoga with wine. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of wine knowledge, atmosphere preference and price range, there’s a wine bar in Milwaukee for you. Wine continued on page 4 >

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Vino Third Ward

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Be a Li!le OLD Fashioned BUY ONE, GET ONE

free

1030 N. Water St. Milwaukee | rumpusroommke.com One coupon per customer, Available weekdays and weekends. Not combinable with any other offers.

Not available on holidays. Offer expires Sunday, September 2, 2018.

SUMMER DRINK 2018

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SUMMERDRINK > Wine continued from page 2

Winery & Distillery

INSPIRED LUXURIOUS UNIQUELY WISCONSIN

Black Sheep

216 S. Second St. 414≠ 223≠ 0903 blacksheepmke.com

Black Sheep is just as much a restaurant as it is a wine bar. With a full menu for lunch, dinner and brunch, you’ll never be drinking wine on an empty stomach here. The wine list here is focused on boutique, small-production selections. A unique tap system dispenses 16 rotating wines in three different pour sizes. A bottle list, wines by the glass and wine bottles to go are also available.

Snacking and sharing is encouraged on the food menu with options like house-roasted mixed nuts, a soft pretzel and cheese curds board and fried calamari with cherry peppers and limoncello aioli.

Corvina Wine Company

6038 W. Lincoln Ave. 414≠ 546≠ 3407 corvinawinecompany.com

EXPERIENCE the

TASTE of the

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Located in West Allis, Corvina represents a growing demand for wine bars in all parts of the greater Milwaukee area. Owned by two brothers, the bar is located in an old upper-lower configuration storefront du-

plex, which had previously housed the owners’ great grandfather’s Italian grocery store from the 1930s-1970s. That historical feel is preserved in the inviting space which now holds up to 100 different varieties of wine, most at a reasonable price point. Small bites are available along with wines by the glass or bottle. A fenced patio offers a secluded spot to enjoy a drink al fresco.

The Ruby Tap

1341 N. Wauwatosa Ave. 414≠ 456≠ 1300 6000 W. Mequon Road, Mequon 262≠ 302≠ 4112 therubytap.com

Wine drinking at The Ruby Tap is like a choose-your-own-adventure novel in a vintage chic atmosphere. You’re handed a wine glass and a tab card when you walk in which you use at the self-serve tap wine machines. Insert your card, make your choice—there’s a couple dozen wines with three pour sizes—and hand over your card to cash out when you’re finished. That allows customers to try small amounts of many wines, but if that’s not your thing, there are a few taps behind the bar or as well as bottles available for purchase.

Snacks, like popcorn and cheese plates, are available at both locations, along with flat-

breads in Mequon.

Spring City Wine House

336 W. Main St., Waukesha 262≠ 232≠ 8296 springcitywinehouse.com

Waukesha has nothing else like it.

Housed in an industrial chic space, Spring City has rack after rack of wine bottles on the walls, plus 40 wines available at selfservice wine stations. You can tap a taste, a half or a full glass. And when ordering by the bottle, there is no corkage fee. Since no one can live on wine alone, regardless of how many varieties are available, Spring City also offers a fine array of bread, cheeses and chocolate.

Thief Wine Shop and Bar

400 N. Water St. 414≠ 277≠ 7707 4512 N. Oakland Ave. 414≠ 906≠ 1906 thiefwine.com

No, Thief Wine is not staffed by burglars.

The name is a reference to the barrel thief, the long glass tube used to extract maturing wine from a barrel. There are two locations of Thief, both offering a different atmosphere and experience. The original location inside the Milwaukee Public Market is a bustling, energetic spot, while the Shorewood storefront is calm, relaxing and more intimate. Both spots offer wine flights, tastings, retail sales, a light menu of food and snacks and daily happy hour specials. A small, curated selection of beers and spirits are also available in Shorewood, making it a good spot to accommodate a number of tastes.

Vino Third Ward

219 E. Erie St. 414≠ 277≠ 8466 vinothirdward.com

VISIT US ONLINE

appletrue.com | OR COME IN

1072 288th Ave. Burlington, WI CALL US

262-878-5345

4 | J U LY 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

The space Vino Third Ward occupies isn’t huge, but that makes it exceptionally cozy and inviting and great for intimate parties and events. A mix of bar-height and diningheight tables and seating are arranged in the middle of the room, surrounded by walls of bottles. Wines are organized by flavor and body as opposed to region or variety, making it easier for a beginner vino to find exactly what they like. The by-theglass menu at the bar changes regularly and encourages ordering flights. A selection of charcuterie and cheeses are available for noshing, and regulars can choose to join the wine club for perks like waived corkage fees and complimentary tastings.

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SUMMERDRINK

Discount Liquor a South Side Landmark ::BY SHEILA JULSON

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!"#$%&'#($)&"*+,('$-&.$'#/$!0,$ 102"3$ Irene, first opened Discount Liquor (5301 W. Oklahoma Ave.) in 1960, martini drinkers made gin “in,” beer and soda was sold in returnable bottles, and beer choices were limited to about a half-dozen domestics like Blatz or Hamm’s. As the liquor industry grew, so did Discount Liquor.

The Greguskas opened a second location in Waukesha (919 N. Barstow Ave.) in 1978 in a former Sears building, and in 1993, they moved the Milwaukee store from its original space on 45th and Forest Home to its current location. Today, their five children—Marie, Frank Jr., Michael, Tom and Barb—run the business and continue to stay on top of trends while offering variety. Two of Frank Jr.’s children, Karen and Matthew, work full-time at the Waukesha store.

“This truly is a family business,” said Marie, “you can walk into our business at any given time, and somebody from the family is going to be at either store.” She attributes Discount Liquor’s longevity to superior customer service, consistently low prices and lots of variety. There are 1,500 import, craft and domestic beers available, and more than 1,000 wines, including vino from countries such as Serbia, Greece, Moldova, Uruguay and Slovenia. Spirits from both national and local distillers line the shelves.

The “Discount Liquor Exclusives” are special barrel pickings chosen by the Greguskas from distilleries such as J. Henry & Sons bourbon in Dane, Wis. “We’ll go to the facility and pick out the barrel ourselves. That particular barrel has our label on it, and it’s our particular

bourbon,” Marie said.

Experts in beer, wine and liquor are always available in those departments to assist customers. In the off-chance that people cannot find what they’re looking for, Discount Liquor can special order items. They also rent kegs and tappers, and they’ll help people planning weddings and parties determine the amount of beverages needed to keep guests hydrated.

Growing up in the liquor business, the Greguskas have seen lots of changes and trends. “Local craft beer is huge, and there have been so many great breweries that have opened in Milwaukee,” Marie remarked. As a witness to two craft beer waves, she said today’s is strong. “In the 1990s, there were a lot of marketers that just threw stuff out there, and whatever stuck, stuck.

This time, we’re seeing producers make very good beers, not just in Milwaukee, but in Wisconsin in general.”

Frank Jr. adds that designer cocktails made from locally distilled spirits and specialty bitters are also popular. Bartenders and mixologists are crafting cocktails that people want to try making at home, so they’re seeking those ingredients. Tequila and bourbon are still hot, said Marie, and, reminiscent of the era when her parents first opened, gin is enjoying a resurgence. Wine in cans is becoming popular due to pouring ease and having less of a carbon footprint. Patio wines like dry rosé and chillable whites like Moscato are always in demand during the summer months.

If you can’t make up your mind among the vast choic-

Discount Liquor

es, Discount Liquor hosts weekend beer, wine and liquor tastings. The store also sponsors the annual Crafts and Drafts Spring Beer Festival at Serb Hall with 100% of the proceeds going to the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance. !"#$%"#&$'()"#%*+'"(,$-'.'+$/'.0"1(+2'31"#'(040"%4

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SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Retail â&#x20AC;˘ Wine Bar Tasting Room â&#x20AC;˘ Wine Events Outdoor Patio Open 6038 W. Lincoln Ave. West Allis, WI 53219 414-546-3407 corvinawinecompany.com Bring this ad in and receive one glass of our select wines with the purchase of another glass of equal value.

One per customer may be used on one visit.

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SUMMER DRINK 2018

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AUGUST 24 • 5-9PM

MILWAUKEE ATHLETIC CLUB

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