When you think of good wine, Washington, D.C. might not be first on your mind among France, California, and Italy, but the District has many great wine bars popping up. Last summer, D.C. consumed more rosé than any other city in the country—in fact, D.C. residents consumed eight times more rosé than the whole state of California. While you probably can’t make it to a Virginia winery every night of the week, D.C. neighborhoods have plenty of wine bars to explore. So whether you’re looking for the perfect glass to accompany your #RoseAllDay Instagram caption, or you’re spending a date night exploring the reds of Bordeaux, these neighborhoods have the perfect wine bars for you. 

Logan Circle

Logan Circle's dining scene is almost as good as its wine

This charming, lively neighborhood has plenty of hip attractions and a highly regarded dining scene (especially if you’re on the hunt for creative sweets). There also happen to be three great wine bars within walking distance from each other on Logan Circle's main commercial corridor, 14th Street—did someone say wine bar crawl?

Wine Bars You Must Check Out:

  • Cork Wine Bar and Market - Great for beginner winos; it's time to elevate from your box of Franzia to a classy Pinot Noir.

  • Barcelona Wine Bar - A cashless spot with an impressive Spanish wine program. 

  • Estadio - A mix of old-world wines and fun mixology (they have wine slushies). Save room for tapas. 

Georgetown

Typical street in Georgetown

Want a more picturesque D.C. neighborhood to get drunk in? You won't find it. The dense M Street thoroughfare and its quaint side streets are filled with bars, restaurants, and shops—and among those are some great wine spots. Whether you're meeting friends for happy hour or out on a date, we recommend a stroll by the Georgetown Waterfront Park and C&O Canal at sunset after imbibing.  

Wine Bars You Must Check Out:

  • ENO Wine Bar - A well-heeled happy hour crowd comes for the extensive wine list and locally sourced cheeses. 

  • Chez Billy Sud - An intimate bistro setting with French food and wine—très romantique.

H Street Corridor

Photo by Ted Eytan / CC BY-SA

In both senses of the word, H Street Corridor is full of character(s). Known for a noisy nightlife scene after dark, the friendly neighborhood has an almost suburban vibe during the day. For being a relatively small neighborhood, the H Street Corridor is packed with restaurants and bars—including a citywide wine destination.  

Wine Bars You Must Check Out:

  • Pursuit - Winner of Washington City Paper’s best wine bar three years running, come for the patio, lively indoor bar, and fan-favorite sips from wine countries new and old. 

Shaw

Theater and beer garden in Shaw

The booming Shaw neighborhood straddles the line between new and old: new condos are going up next to historic D.C. rowhouses. While the neighborhood is known as a live music hub—it houses part of one of D.C.'s favorite entertainment strips, U Street—there are some quality wine bars sprinkled throughout. 

Wine Bars You Must Check Out:

  • Bin 1301 - An affordable happy hour with approachable, witty wine descriptions ("Americano wines are as American as Russell Crowe”).

  • Dabney Cellar - An intimate date-night spot with romantic lighting and a raw oyster bar.