W.I.N.O. for Wine Lovers in New Orleans

Wine lovers have a place to rejoice when they visit New Orleans, and it’s not in the French Quarter!

We recently traveled to New Orleans and found our own personal haven (heaven?!) at the Wine Institute of New Orleans (W.I.N.O.).

The Atmosphere

Think of W.I.N.O. as a destination because it’s one of those places you’ll want to spend the evening. Once you’re there, you won’t want to rush off somewhere else. Customers tend to gather in the cozy front room, but if you want more space for your wine and cheese spread, grab a table in the back room. The place itself feels chill (as in chillax), unpretentious, and a bit like your contemporary neighborhood wine bar.

The Wines

W.I.N.O. offers more than 300 labels in stock with the opportunity to taste about 120 thanks to their “enomatic” wine tasting system. Make a quick trip to the cash register, purchase a card, select a wine, choose the amount, and enjoy!

Each wine has a different price per ounce, but they average anywhere from $1-7/ounce. We put $20 on our card and found this a great starting point. Most of the wines are from either the United States or Europe and they have a very broad selection (more reds than whites) for every taste.

The Food

If you’re in love with stinky European cheeses like I am, I highly recommend the assorted cheese plate. For only $15, it’s a great way to get your kicks and try cheeses you probably wouldn’t buy on your own.

The menu has a basic, yet delicious assortment of appetizers such as hummus, olives, pate, or the crostini plate. For a light dinner, try their sandwiches or salads.

The Location

If Bourbon Street isn’t your scene, you can breathe a sigh of relief as W.I.N.O. attracts a totally different, and dare I say more refined crowd. As I mentioned before, this place isn’t in the French Quarter, but it’s still within walking distance of Bourbon Street. W.I.N.O. is located in the Warehouse/Arts District just on the other side of Canal Street and a few blocks down. We stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans (great hotel, by the way!) and enjoyed the evening stroll to W.I.N.O.