The Lost Vine

I would love to be able to post a review of how the wine and food tasted and what the live music was like… but I can’t. I showed up just before 5 to meet a friend for happy hour (5 – 7 per the writing on their window) and the entire restaurant was full of students on their laptops.
Admittedly the restaurant is connected to the Lost Bean next door and, apparently, both sides offer free Wi Fi but there is a sign on the counter facing the door that stated those that look to be under 21, working on laptops and/​or are primarily enjoying coffee beverages need to move to the coffee house side at 5 PM. I saw about 12 people on the Lost Vine side who looked to be under 21, were working on laptops and drinking coffee. The place is small to begin with and when you have 12 people taking up the few tables that are available, it makes it difficult for those of that are there to enjoy the wine.
On top of all that, when I first arrived I stood at the counter (seeing as there was nowhere else for me to go) and waited probably 5 minutes before I even saw anyone that worked there. So, while waiting at the counter surrounded by college students and not getting served, I jumped on Unilocal to see where else my friend and I might like to go (for those who are curious, we ended up walking a few doors down to Tustin Brewery as they offer happy hour from 3 to closing on Thursdays).

Great services and decent foods and wine but the decoration and design of chairs are poorly. I was sitting in the bench chair and fell down Bc of its poor design. Too little space and in balance bench. Overall the experience is great except for the back pain after the fall.

Don’t come looking for a cheap glass of wine because you won’t find it here. The guy who picks the selections knows his stuff — and that’s good for those of us winos who can’t stand two buck chuck (or house wine anywhere, really — okay, except for Mastros).
HOWEVER, the most amazing thing on the menu might just be the homemade sangria. It is quite fantastic and leans more on the wine side than the sweet side. It’s hands down the greatest sangria I’ve ever tasted.
The atmosphere on the wine bar side of Lost Bean/​Lost Vine grows up at 5 PM when the jokers on their laptops get booted for drier pastures (the coffee side), which is a nice change from the typical coffee shop atmosphere that engulfs the wooden stools during the day.
So anyway, the summary is: stop reading this and go try the sangria.

A gem that I’m glad a friend took me to –great wine good entertainment and very nice staff I will be back. The bartender gave great suggestions on the wine selections. Let us sample a few. And even threw in a birthday cupcake.

Nice pours. Nice, big wine glasses. Nice wines. We went for the 5 (tastes) at 5 (P.M.), for $ 9. Small, relaxed spot for wine tasting. It’s THE first place we’ve gone for wine tasting, however, where the producer/​winemaker was never even named — we were just advised of the varietal. Also surprising, no listing of the wines (or descriptions) were given, either verbally or made available on a menu for us to read on our own.
Service was pleasant enough; the person assisting us, however, didn’t appear informative or too knowledgeable on the wines. Still a fun time!