Wines on Vine

This little wine shop/​bar is located near downtown on Vine Street. They have a both out and indoor seating. They serve food and wine and do tastings. I really love the concept and the idea of this place. The one thing I couldn’t get past was their patrons. The people that were coming into this business the day I attempted to go, all just stared at me and made me feel really uncomfortable. I didn’t even bother staying. I called my friends and went elsewhere. I don’t need to pay in an establishment when I am going to get stared at or gawked at for no real reason, but being there.
I didn’t give this place a bad review due to the fact it was the customers that I didn’t like not the workers or the business. The workers were actually very friendly and nice. Therefore I didn’t give them a low star review. I might get brave and stop in at another time. Lets see.

Over the last few months, I started coming here more often thanks to my roommate and her friends. The restaurant+wine shop setup hasn’t changed but my experience has improved over the last few trips. The service has been really good even when we come with a larger group and the wine tasting events are definitely worth the try. They got free wine tasting event on Wednesdays and any bottles of wine sampled during these events can be purchased and consumed in the restaurant without a corkage fee. Last week, they had a Christmas wine expo event, where people could sample more than 35 different wines for $ 10 and this money would go towards the first bottle of wine purchase!!! crazy good event!
With all the positives being said, one thing they could do better is advertise their business and events. Most people that go there have been regulars for years and somehow the average age at this place ends up being 50+. Having a lot of returning clientele is good for them but not so good for those of us who are trying a new place and feel like we have crashed a private event when we get quite the stare-​down from the older customers for being a young new face.
So if you are a newbie at this place, ignore the stares and enjoy the delicious food and wine!!!

Last Monday, my friend and I went to Wines on Vine for dinner, as we often do. We’ve been regulars there since the change in management. I ordered a glass of red wine and the cheese board. My friend ordered a bourbon on the rocks and the French dip sandwich.
We took our time, as there wasn’t much of a crowd. I ordered a second glass of wine, and my friend ordered a second bourbon. We continued to chat as we munched our food. We’d been there about an hour and I told my friend we would have to cab to our respective homes, as I planned to order a third glass of wine. She raised no objection, and I ordered and was served a third glass of wine. I informed our waitress as I did so that we were cabbing home.
A few minutes later, my friend ordered a third bourbon. The waitress refused to serve her one on the grounds that my friend was intoxicated. We explained that we truly were cabbing — both of us agree that cab fare is cheaper than a DUI. The waitress again refused, saying she thought my friend might hurt herself while walking. She then left our table.
My friend, shocked at having been denied service, went in search of the assistant manager, Chris. Meanwhile, the waitress went to the table opposite ours, explained the situation to those perfect strangers (pointing to the table where I still sat) and asked them if they didn’t think she was justified. All, I might add, within my own hearing and sight.
My friend returned shortly thereafter, not having been able to locate Chris, the assistant manager. A minute later, Chris came to our table and explained that, under Kentucky’s dram shop act, they could refuse to serve alcohol to guests whom they believed were so intoxicated that they posed a danger to themselves or others. Bear in mind, my friend had had two bourbons, with dinner.
He left, and we were immediately presented with our check. No one offered my friend soda, coffee, tea, or water. No one asked if we wanted separate checks. I had only drunk half my glass of wine. Basically, it was a passive-​aggressive «get the hell out.»
Yet, for all their vaunted concern for our safety and well-​being, no one offered to call a cab for us or, once the cab I called had arrived, offered to see my friend safely into the cab, since she posed such a threat to her own safety.
I am a middle-​aged woman, respectable, clean, and almost always sober. I have never been treated with such shocking rudeness at any establishment in my life.

Wonderful hospitality and delightful manager, Mick Barfield! Great Cabernet Savignon

Haven’t been here for a while and stopped by two nights ago. The menu was different and much more expensive. Prices on par with some of the finer restaurants in town. However nothing on the menu appealed to me. I ended up ordering a cup of soup and a salad. The menu insert still had Summer Specials. That’s lazy. I used to like this place but won’t be in a hurry to return. The waitress all but ignored us and we were the only table seated.

I’ve been a customer of Wines on Vine for a number of years, and I’ve always gotten great food and warm, personal service when I’ve eaten there. I guess my only reservation (haha) is that the menu is heavily weighted toward seafood and fish, which I don’t enjoy, so I’m somewhat limited in what I can comfortably order.

We hosted a fundraising event for the First Tee of Lexington here. It was a great night. The staff treated us all great the food was wonderful! Great spot!

Nice ambiance and service. Reasonable pricing. We had a bacon wrapped shrimp in bourbon sauce which was tasty but a tad overlooked. My wife had a nice trout dish and I had a lamb burger with fries. The fries are fantastic and the lamb was very good. The bread was forgettable. For dessert my wife had the chocolate bomb which, with some of my bourbon as a chaser, was exquisite.

Stopped in for the first time last night with a few clients. Great venue with just enough space and the right «crowd pace» to gather at the end of the week. Great selection of wines for purchase and while I didn’t eat this time, other customers were highly complimentary of the menu.
Service was top shelf, from every employee we had contact with.

Hands down, one of THE BEST meals and dining experiences we have had in Lexington. Made reservations back in February when planning our Keeneland weekend, after seeing a post on Instagram by @love_lexington. After reading other insta and Unilocal and urban reviews thought it would be ok, it was and more. Great food, excellent service, and yes everyone is right, the Blue Cheese Dip is worth the trip. My salmon was very good, perfect actually, and my husband said his steak was as good if not better than, you know, err umm well, okay, Malone’s. There, I said it! Small wine list, but suited us just fine, will definitely return in October for the fall racing meet.

My husband summed it up best: «This place has quirky staff.» And that’s why we felt so comfortable: down-​to-​earth, unpretentious — in spite of the dazzling wine selection — and real. Wines on Vine is a really good place to eat with even better drinks.
I will say that WoV seems to lack a distinct identity. It has a small town feel contradicted by its world-​class selection of vino. Maybe that’s not an entirely bad thing …
The menu could be more tantalizing. For example, «summer squash» shouldn’t be a featured ingredient at this time of year. And, I wished for more creative options. Still, the catch of the day on Gorgonzola grits with haricots verts and carrots was delicious. The cheese plate ranked in our order of preference just under Baccanalia’s in Atlanta! And the pistachio cream cake?! Let’s just say I shouldn’t have — if you can imagine that being uttered with a mouthful of moist, not-​too-​sweet, delicately flavored gâteau.
Oh, and the wine was superb.
In the end, it was a surprisingly impressive dining experience for a place that doesn’t put on airs. Even fellow diner, Governor Steve Breshear, must have appreciated the opportunity to relax, as we observed him interacting with friends without being ogled or mauled.
Yes, it’s a pleasant, comfortable place to which we intend to return.

Nice atmosphere with decently priced food. I had the Reuben, which was fine but nothing to write home about. The wine selection is a little pricey — the atmosphere was definitely geared towards the middle aged crowd.

Lexington is home to hundreds of forgettable restaurants. This city is notorious for fatty fried food and starchy baked comfort food. I typically leave lexington to eat a proper meal.
And then wines on vine got new management. And a new sommelier. And an incredible secret weapon chef.
I was actually at another restaurant in town when Mick, the somm at wines on vine, overheard me talking about wine (how there’s a lack of good selection and presentation in Lexington). He invited me to WOV later that week and I was instantly sold. Extremely vibrant cheese plate with unending Rosemary bread right out of the oven. Flavorful and perfectly cooked entrees — they’re 100% on temperature and presentation, and I’ve been there now 30 times. Exquisite wines served at the appropriate temp with the right stemware and decanting included. I don’t even look at the menu anymore… I just tell Mick that I trust him and he can make me anything that’ll make the wine we’ve chosen for the night sing — on multiple occasions he has taken a glass of the wine we opened up and given it to the chef so he can create a reduction and Boquet within the meal so that everything fires on all cylinders. Insanity. Perfection. Excellence.
Wines on vine is the secret weapon of Lexington and it’s only a matter of time before people find out about its beautiful new team, which is the magic behind it all.

This is by far my favorite wine bar in Lexington Kentucky. They have a great range of a selection of wine and specialty drinks. Every Tuesday night they have an event called martinis and manicures for women for $ 10 you can get a martini and a manicure. The food is also very good. Try the prime rib or the mouthwatering filet mignon both highly recommended!
The place is split into three different sections: a bar, A restaurant with the smaller bar, and a retail shop or you can buy bottles of wine and champagne.
Great atmosphere pretty much any night.

Nice place to have a glass and catch up– sit at the bar, outside or at a table. Wednesday is Ladies night– drinks and manicures. There’s outdoor seating, weather permitting.
Their staff is really knowledgeable and has always helped me to try something new and tasty.

Great first experience! Wednesday wine tasting was a great start to a delicious filet mignon dinner. Can’t wait to go back and try a few appetizers.

I went in to check out this place while out walking, I walk in and was greeted by very nice young man and asked me if I would like lunch today, So I did and sat down in the dining room. There was a outdoor patio you can it outside too. A full stocked bar and very very clean place. Lots of old pictures of horses, the owner (Burk Kessing) and his love for horses. Mr. Kessing still around and lives upstairs. They have a young chef from New Orlandesn been there for a couple of years now in this french cusine resturant. My server Brittany was very pleasant not over whelming but very knowledgeable in the food and wines. THey give you samples of wine to make sure thats what you want. I asked her what white wine (I like mine sweet) and she showed me the Clear Slate Germany wine $ 6.5 glass. I then asked Brittney what she recomended and she said the vegetarian sandwich (bruschetta bread) with fresh veggies and basil mayo, and apricot spread. It was amazing and the sweetness fand awesomeness from the apricot was excellent plus I had over whelming of homemade chips. $ 9 This is a casual and relaxing atmosphere to have lunch. They have special things go on during the week, like on Tuesday’s its $ 10 drink and get your nails done all for $ 10, and Saturday nite a $ 5 drink special. They hold wine parties as well as wine tasting. Over all I had a great experience, Thank you to the manager who was funny, kind and very full of information about the place and the horses and wines. Thank you for the lunch.

Wine is EXCELLent!!! Different, unique and affordable … WINE got be here… The impeccable service, blow your mind taste buds food got me to come back… Then started receiving email newsletter that ONLY comes ONCE a month and LOaDED with great exciting WEEKLY events … Martinis and Manicures on Tuesday… fREE wine tasting Wednesdays and Oyster BAR Thursdays has made this and MY friends regular spot… And I mean I AM HERE 1 – 3 times a week, so if you want to find me, you might start by walking in Wines on Vine!!!
I’m seating at the bar ., like an Upscale episode of «Cheers» ;) I just love this place and so happy to have it in our community!!! well done Wines on Vine!!! Your #1 fan, Krista!

After the new manager and sommelier contacted me, I decided to give this place another try. I attended a wine dinner, which take place every second Monday of each month. I loved the friendly crowd and the conversations with my table mates, not to mention the fabulous food and wine. That particular dinner featured wines from France. I tasted and enjoyed many wines that I generally wouldn’t have bought and they were each perfectly paired within the four courses of the dinner. At $ 55 per person, for several glasses of high quality wine, and a four course meal, I highly recommend it.
My table mates, who attend the wine dinner every month, mentioned that they like the new management change. I can vouch that it has improved and it is good for the business for him to monitor social media and Unilocal.The WoV website could use some attention though. In the meantime, I took a picture of the chalkboard that mentions some of the happenings and I hope to be back again.
Now I can say that this place is a hidden GEM in downtown Lexington.

Excellent first experience here for dinner.
The place essentially has three separate places inside.
To the far left a bistro with tons of seating for dining with a full bar.
The next section is the wine room with a few tables for small dining.
The last room is a full service bar with a slightly smaller menu from the bistro and a cleaner more «bar» vibe.
I was fortunate enough to speak with the manager and was blown away with how much the guy knew about wine, cheese, and really the restaurant business all together.
I will definitely be going back, I might even bring the wife. Haha