The Best Establishments To Drink Wine In Las Vegas On F1 Grand Prix Weekend

LAS VEGAS, the entertainment capital of the world, brings in a staggering 30-40 million visitors every year. With their sights set on striking it rich at the casino tables or slot machines, seeing U2 play the Sphere, hitting bottle service at their favorite DJ's residency, or claiming a coveted seat to catch "O" by Cirque Du Soleil, the simple fact is the infusion of tourism runs Las Vegas. A huge factor in Sin City's prowess is its undeniable focus on hospitality, and that is proven with its incredible fine dining and restaurant scene. AND THE WINE! Oh, the wine. Las Vegas has quickly found itself as one of the hot-bed destinations in the USA for great wine experiences. I came to Las Vegas to check out its wine scene, and specifically check-in on the burgeoning natural wine scene...here are some of the delights I found.

In a Chinatown strip mall you'll find Sparrow + Wolf, neighbor restaurant to the legendary Lamaii hiding gleefully in plain sight giving a "iykyk" kinda vibe. Once you walk into Sparrow + Wolf you are transported to Chef Brian Howard's mind of midwest upbringing balanced with eastern travels and inspiration. The inventive food calls for edgy wine pairings, and their Wine Director Nick Tatum takes you on deep dives into flavorscapes found the world over. My mind was absolutely blown by a few dishes, including the steak tartar with confit egg yolk and the duck Bánh Cu?n with Thai basil nuoc cham. Tatum excitedly started the evening off with Uka Sparkling Sake Junmai Daiginjo, which I kept in my glass throughout the entire meal to see how it worked with each dish. Some of the highlight wines he poured include Populis Macerated White Wine 2022 from California, a blend of Chardonnay, Albari?o and Grenache Blanc, as well as Christian Tschida "Himmel Auf Erden" Rot (red) from Burgenland, Austria made from Zweigelt & Cabernet Sauvignon. Tatum poured sake, orange wine, white wine, red wine, cider, and sweet wine with the meal truly showing the range of the wine program as well as the elegance and intelligence of Chef Howard's menu.

Looking to step out of your comfort zone and try a lineup of transcendental wines all from one country? Then a stop at Estiatorio Milos inside The Venetian is just what the wine doctor ordered. It also turns out this is the best place to dine before going to see U2 at the Sphere! Their tasting menu with carefully selected Greek wines, headed by their Wine Director Ronald Buyukliev & Sommelier Jared Rosenberg will open up an entirely new wine reference point for all who dine with them. I absolutely loved the Mikra Thira Assyrtiko 2021 from Santorini and the Ktima Gerovassiliou Museum White which is a blend of Malagousia, Assyrtiko, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier. Check out how fresh the seafood is from the fish display in my photo above. My mind was blown.

Las Vegas knows a thing or two about steak houses, only amplified by the famed Peter Luger recently opening a location inside Caesars Palace. My phenomenal wine experience was at Carversteak inside Resorts World, where they've gone so far as to add a Natural Wine section to their wine list. The wine program is headed by Lindsey & Steven Geddes, the only married Master Sommelier couple working on a restaurant floor. Lindsey very excitedly opened the Las Jaras "Superbloom" Grenache based Rosé and it went perfectly with the New York Striploin, wet aged 21 days to perfection. Prior to the steak hitting the table, one of the staff members came over with a case offering a series of steak knife choices. The "choose your own weapon" experience really blew my mind. Getting a tour of their wine cellar rounded out the night, seeing the color-palette their team has to work with. They dazzle guests on a nightly basis serving up a world of flavor from their acclaimed steak offerings, pairing First Growth Bordeaux, the top wines from Napa Valley, Grand Cru Burgundy, and a range of otherworldly reds from the wine-world over.

After wanting to visit for many years, I finally had the chance to step into Garagiste Wine Bar and meet Owner Eric Prato. The wine bar opened in 2019 after Prato worked many years as a Sommelier for Chef Thomas Keller at Bouchon. A common gripe: there was nowhere to go get a glass of wine after a shift, so Prato made it happen. In 2023 Garagiste found itself a James Beard Award Semi-finalist for the Outstanding Bar category, a massive feat for a wine bar in any city! With an impressive by-the-glass program, many vintage wines available by the bottle, and the entire program available to-go as a store, this is the go-to wine spot for wine industry professionals in the city and for all wine geeks and enthusiasts for miles around.

Just down the street from Garagiste, you'll find one of my biggest surprises of the trip. 1228 Main. What feels and looks like a nondescript bakery or café from the outside, once you step foot inside you begin to realize what a gem this Arts District location is. Headed by the culinary team that run Wolfgang Puck Las Vegas movements, you'll find David Morris, Director of Wine for Wolfgang Puck Las Vegas, pouring wines and telling stories. You may have the chance to watch Dustin Lewandowski work, who is the Culinary Director for the entire Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group. This bistrot is anything but. It's a hub. A destination. Where some of the best bread in all of Las Vegas is baked, and some of the best cocktails are mixed, and the small but incredible wine program pours some of the best wines you'll find in a breakfast | lunch | dinner establishment. Morris let me know that he is a huge fan of all things Eric Prato does at Garagiste, and he didn't want to take away from what Prato build in the neighborhood. His wine program at 1228 Main is small but mighty. You'll be surprised at the gems available here.

The last surprise, which made me very happy, was discovering the natural wine and beer selection at Akin Cooperative. This Arts District shop has a creative spin: showcase local artists and artisans, and feature natural wines and beer for the shoppers to sip on while finding their new favorite wellness products, a pair of cowboy boots, jewelry, and so much more! Owner Jen Taler created an environment where over 50 local brands are featured, and the beverage program is curated by local natural wine specialist, Emily Baddock of Alt Imports. I thought this was such a unique experience bringing the shopping and drinking experiences together to showcase artisan brands of all kinds.

Whether you're looking for a night of Champagne, hard to find Bordeaux and Burgundy, or the nattiest of the natty natural wines, Las Vegas' wine scene is putting together a strong push to be named one of the best cities in which to drink wine. Whatever you desire, whether on the strip or off, it's there - and it's delicious.