The Grape Vines Wine Bar & Bistro

Full disclosure: this was one of our first reviews, back when we didn't know what the hell we were doing. No photos, no names, no dishes, just a lot of nice adjectives. That's not the standard anymore, and The Grape Vines deserves better. I've been coming here since opening day, so a proper review with pictures and real verdicts is coming soon. In the meantime, here's the short version.

The Vibe

The Grape Vines is a cozy wine bar in Crittenden, the kind of place this part of Kentucky does well. It isn't trying to be a downtown lounge. It's a comfortable spot to settle in with a glass and stay a while.

When the weather cooperates, the outdoor space is the reason to go. Local musicians play out there, and depending on the night it runs from easy background music to a crowd singing along. It's one of the better spots around for outdoor music.

It also has one of the best little touches I've seen at a wine bar. You can order a s'mores kit and ask them to light a bonfire so you can roast your own. If you'd rather stay put, a staff member will torch the marshmallows for you at the bar.

The Food and Drink

The drink list is the draw. Along with the wine, they carry a serious lineup of high-end tequila and bourbon, and they offer flights, which is the smart way to work through it without committing to full pours.

The food is built for grazing alongside the glass. There's a chef's-pick charcuterie box with artisanal meats and cheeses, cheese spread, grapes, crackers, and your choice of nuts or olives (or both, if you ask). They also sell summer sausage rolls and cheese blocks from Amish country. The sausages come in all beef, Cajun, pit-smoked onion and garlic, and jalapeño cheddar, and the cheese blocks include a smoked raw milk gouda.

The kitchen side has changed since the early days. They used to bring food in from a caterer. Now they make pizzas on-site every day: 12-inch thin crust, dine-in only, with a pizza-and-bottle deal that makes a night of it. You can get cheese, pepperoni, vegetable, Margherita or Hawaiian, a gluten-free cauliflower crust on the basic pies, and a hot honey drizzle on anything. On Friday and Saturday evenings they also run a bistro dinner from a menu that rotates every couple of weeks. That's what I'll be digging into on the next visit.

The Bottom Line

The Grape Vines is a relaxed, well-stocked wine bar that has kept getting better since it opened. It has good pours, a real tequila shelf, some of the best outdoor music nights in the area, and a bonfire if you want one. It's Worth a Short Detour for now, and we'll be back soon to give it the full review it deserves.