GROCERY STORE WINE BAR IN TENNESSEE
A WINE BAR in Whole Foods in Tennessee? Yes. Really. Believe it! 1799 & Vine Wine Bar on McEwen in Franklin,TN JUST opened Friday for business.
The shelves are stocked with a perfectly selected variety of wines and you can order cheese and charcuterie plates, savory olives and a variety of crunchy, Spanish corn nuts, Marcona almonds and other mixed nuts.
Since our move back to Tennessee from Texas, I have witnessed the exponential growth in Nashville’s unique Foodie experience and availability of an abundance of unique wines and opportunities to try them FINALLY at in-store wine tastings, once taboo in the state of Tennessee.
Having lived in another area of the country in a town that is defined by its unique and local food scene and the availability of quality wines, I finally feel like we are on the edge of defining our own uniqueness that can be compared to other hip towns around the country.
HISTORY
1799 & Vine Wine Bar at Whole Foods. Wondering about the name? Franklin was established as a city in 1799, said Michael Martin, Marketing Team Leader of Whole Foods. The mission of the store is to keep that home town feeling and local ties to the community. Whole Foods has been planning this wine bar before the store even opened. It’s the first in Tennessee and is a test store of sorts.
Thinking back to my fun times in Texas, I would often meet my friends at Whole Foods for a glass of delicious wine and cheese at the food counters. I am happy to say I can finally do this in Tennessee!
BY THE BOTTLE OR BY THE GLASS
You can sit at the bar and choose from a nice variety of carefully selected luscious wines by the glass or you can buy a bottle of wine at the counter to share with your friends at the bar. Be sure to order a plate or two of the cheese and charcuterie plates to share!
CAVA. One of my all time favorite sparklings. It’s a great way to start off a meal or celebration. Codorniu Cava is a delightly crisp Spanish bubbly made from the Spanish grapes Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo. The refreshing crispness pairs well with the ample cheese plate selections of the nutty Robusto Gouda from Holland,Double Cream Brie,Drunken Goat and fig jam.
Southern Rhone Wines are some of my all time favorites. Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre (with a touch of Cincault) blends from this area of the world cannot be duplicated anywhere else although many have tried.
ERMITAGE DU PIC ST LOUP ROSE’ was my next selection and I was pleased! This luscious Kermit Lynch Southern Rhone Rose’ fills the glass with juicy raspberries and strawberries with a hint of floral notes. I enjoyed every drop with my charcuterie plate layered with a variety of salami,prosciutto and roasted tomatoes.
Stop by and say HI to Alison and Neil, the managers of 1799 & Vine. Let them assist you with your wine and noshing selections. Be sure ask Neil about the Manual Coffee Bar on Sundays featuring Chemex-style drip brewed coffee. This is sure to be a hit!
LADIES NIGHT OUT
Meeting out for a glass of wine and laughter, this fun group of ladies shared a bottle of wine and a cheese plate before heading over to BRICKTOPS for dinner.
HOURS OF OPERATION
They will be open at 11a daily and the last glass will be poured at 9:30pm since the store closes at 10pm.
In questions? Call Whole Foods in Franklin,TN: 615-550-5660
Thanks to Brent at Best Brands,INC for providing a lovely selection of wines for our enjoyment!
Tried the Evonia Garnacha at 1799 and Vine Wine with Lisa the other night. Delicious alone and even better with the fine selection of Italian sliced meats and olives. Plus you can’t beat the company of Lisa giving the tour of it all. Love this blog!!!