Natural wine — or, le vin naturel ✨— is having a moment in D.C. Natural wines stand out for their unique and sometimes unpredictable flavors. They are also produced without sulfites and are made with biodynamic farming practices that harken to olden days. What’s not to like?
Here are a few spots with exceptional natural wine selections for you to dip your toe (or entire body) in.
Sonny’s Pizza and No Kisses Bar, Park View
This one’s a delicious two-fer! No Kisses Bar focuses solely on natural wines. And, they share a backyard garden with Sonny’s Pizza. Interested in a wine club? Plant Wines curates a selection each month to help you expand your wine knowledge.
Era Wine Bar, Mt. Rainier, MD
This Mt. Rainier spot just won Wine Program of the Year at the RAMMYS after being nominated three times. In their acceptance speech, owners Michelle and Ka-ton Grant said they had a dream to bring wine from places most people aren’t familiar with. “We’re still living her dream,” said Ka-ton. “It’s phenomenal.”
St. Vincent Wine, Park View
The selection at St. Vincent is intimidating, but fear not, their knowledgeable staff know their stuff and can help you find a great bottle. And don’t pass over the bites from their kitchen either. They have ample backyard space and also offer a wine club and a stellar happy hour.
La Betty, Mount Vernon Triangle
You know what else is trending? Vinyl bars, and La Betty combines their love of vinyl with a natural wine list focused on making wine approachable. Their bartenders love to offer recommendations and pairings for their globally-inspired small plates. Sip, listen, and enjoy the night (or day, I don’t judge).
A natural wine tasting at Sonny’s Pizza in Park View. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Domestique, Truxton Circle
Full disclosure: I used to live around the corner, and I love it here. This woman-owned shop focuses on natural wines, often hosts tasting events, and has a delicious selection. I learned so much from their staff because they really love natural wines, and explain it in spirited detail. Also, they too have a wine club.
Queen’s English, Columbia Heights
Calling all happy hour fans! This Cantonese-inspired restaurant has a fun “natty wine hour” daily where you can crush a bottle of natural wine for $45 before 7 p.m. Busy before then? Never fear, their bottles go up to a reasonable $65 after. Plus, check out their wine not? natural wine club.
Lutèce, Georgetown
This modern French bistro is one of my favorite spots in the city, in no small part due to it’s list of biodynamic and sustainable wines. They feature wines from regions you don’t often see, like Crémant du Jura, white wine from the Savoie region, Sud Quest, and much more. And yup, you guessed it: They have a wine club!
Your Home Bar
One of the best ways to drink nice wine on a budget? Buy it yourself! It’s fun (on occasion) to bring a $15 - 30 bottle to a party rather than Trader Joe’s "Two Buck Chuck.” (No shade: TJ’s is life!) If you want to really impress, maybe grab one of these local wines recommended to us by the Washington Post’s wine columnist.
