Best Wine Bar

Corkbuzz Wine Studio
13 E. 13th Street
New York, NY 10003

Master Sommelier Laura Maniec just opened a much-needed wine bar in Union Square. Gone are the days of wandering the area looking for a place to grab a drink and begrudgingly ending up at Heartland Brewery, Lillie's, or the overcrowded Rye House. My friend and I decided to try the new place - Corkbuzz Wine Studio - on the second day it was open. Needless to say, we went in expecting to see a lot of kinks yet to be ironed out. We did find some faults, but were pleasantly surprised to see Laura Maniec actively trying to solve issues behind the bar. Laura's passion for and deep knowledge of wine was apparent to everyone seated at the bar - she engaged all customers with a contagious smile! It was refreshing to see her visible excitement and her presence enhanced our experience. We initially went to Corkbuzz for the wine but also with an appetite. Just when I was ready to settle for the average food usually served at wine bars (wine is the focus), Laura pitched us the chef's resume - Daniel and then Le Benardin - and my focus drifted from the wine menu to the food. We first ordered a bottle of Domaine des Espiers Sablet ’06 – Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, France, a blend of grenache and syrah that was savory, spicy, and paired perfectly with our small plates. For food we started with the brussels sprouts and pecorino and the mushroom salad with crispy pig ear and radish. Both dishes were inventive and delectable, and left us wanting more. To round out our order, Laura suggested we try the bone marrow with Bayley Hazen and marmalade. The bone marrow mixed with the blue cheese and spread on thin pieces of bread complimented our meal and only affirmed our thoughts that the food at Corkbuzz is on par with the wine! An accomplishment I haven't seen at any other bars around the city. We finished our night with a glass of Thymiopoulos Xinomavro Young Vines ’09 – Naoussa, Greece, the only Greek wine I have ever tried. Overall, our night was filled with surprisingly good food, the discovery of new wines, and a vibrant atmosphere. If you are looking for any or all of the above, make your way to the new wine bar Corkbuzz Wine Studio, the Best I've Ever been to.