An attractive wine bar ups the ante beyond having a great selection. It is a place with depth of inventory, unpretentious ambiance, uniformly knowledgeable (and helpful) staff and an atmosphere malleable enough to become whatever you need it to be on a given night.

The Corkscrew:: Grown-up eleganceCorkscrew
The veteran of the Washington corridor, Corkscrew has weathered the wine bar boom to become a perennial contender among Houston wine bars. Grown-up elegance with a touch of youthful dive spirit coalesce to provide an experience that is both entertaining and well-heeled.

La Carafe
Were Houston only allotted one wine house, La Carafe would very likely win the vote in a landslide. This place really does have something for everyone (except liquor . . . or a credit card machine): an inventory with more than enough depth to satisfy vino devotees, good beer, legit staff and more character and history than you’ll find in any two bars Downtown.

Tasting Room - West Gray
This Tasting Room location wins out over its brethren by being the loungiest of the TR outposts. You still have to wade through the Midtown masses during peak hours, but slower times offer a choice atmosphere and bartenders who retain a genuine, youthful excitement about the wine they serve.

Khon’s
By no means a snob-friendly environment, Khon’s pays no mind to trends, instead filling out their list with moderately-priced wines that the owners and their friends enjoy. Admittedly more about atmosphere than selection, you can still find a great mid-level glass here.
Khon's:: Art and wine a winning combination

Vino 100
While definitely more of a retail affair, Vino 100 has enough local feel to keep you from thinking you’re sitting in a liquor store. This is a great – and often overlooked, except by those who live nearby – place for wine students to go and discuss their passion with like-minded folks without much chance of running into a band of beer-drunk twenty-somethings or ear-nibbling couples . . . though it is a decent enough place for two wine drinkers to start their date.