I was a little bit surprised when I walked through the rain--so long freshly straightened hair--a few blocks from the Merch Mart and into the welcoming arms of Swirl Wine Bar.

I was expecting--well, I'm not sure what I was expecting. Most of the wine bars I've been to have a very obvious theme. D.O.C. is lush and richly colored with a speakeasy kind of vibe. Bin 36--clean, minimalist, all about the wine.

But Swirl. I mentioned to my girlfriend (who went with me to Wine and She's Wednesday) that I couldn't pinpoint the theme and wasn't quite sure what they were trying to do ... but our consensus: whatever it is, it's working. Loved it. Here's a couple of (not so great, sorry) photos of the interior.

The ambiance has a totally relaxing lounge feel that was just different.

Picking up the menu, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed at first. The wine list was not at all extensive (the back side of the food menu), but after browsing, I realized that it was a fabulous selection, definitely influenced by some Latin flavor, which I LOVE. There were some great bottles from Spain, Portugal, Argentina. The food menu matched, with appetizers of empanadas and quesadillas made with chorizo. (They also offer a large variety of small, thin-crust pizzas.)

We went there originally for their special of the night (Ladies buy a bottle of wine and get a free cheese plate), but the bottles were a bit pricey ($40-$60 average) and we wanted to taste, so we opted for flights at $17 each.

Their sparkling flight was the highlight of my night. Cue wannabe artistic shot of champagne flutes:

From left:
Marquis De La Tour Rose NV (France, Loire valley): grab a bottle of your own for about $10 (cabernet franc)
'07 Reginato 'Blanc e Blanc' Mendoza: nice, light sparkling from Argentina (chenin blanc/chardonnay)
Adriano Adami Prosecco NV: Very good prosecco, about $15/bottle

Yum and yum.

The red wine flight continued a Latino/Italian flair with a Garnacha, Sangiovese/Merlot and Malbec. Pair it with pomme frites with truffle creme, and I'm in heaven.

All of it was delicious (including my friend's caprese and calamari), but I lose my tastebuds as I near the end of a good wine tasting night, alas.

I recommend Swirl, but expect to spend a bit. It makes for a great, low-key date night or a glass of wine before or after a night out.

Go from 5-7 p.m. during the week and get a $5 appetizer list. (Also has a full bar.) 111 W. Hubbard, Merchandise Mart stop.

See my previous post for their other weekly specials.

Cheers!

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