Behind the simple black and white sign that reads Wine Room / Merchant on East California Avenue in the Arts District is Las Vegas’ only 2023 James Beard Award national finalist for “Best Bar.” But to define Garagiste as merely a bar is akin to comparing moonshine to Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
That’s not to say that Garagiste Wine Room is snooty – far from it. With a highly approachable, relaxed vibe and knowledgeable friendly staff, Garagiste makes wine, and learning about wine, accessible and fun.
With its ever changing wine list, Garagiste specializes in small-batch producers from around the world that are not normally available in Las Vegas. Small batch producers, or boutique wineries, are defined as producing less than 10,000 cases of wine each year and are known for using low intervention, or natural, winemaking techniques.
Owner Eric Prato, a former sommelier on The Strip, has a preference for international wines from France, Spain and Italy, but Prato notes, “Portugal has some wines, both red and white, that are both delicious and affordable.” Prato also observes that Australia is making a comeback after being over exposed for many years.
Both a wine bar and retail shop, Garagiste patrons can walk away with a bottle of their favorite wine or even order a case from the website, which features some of the staff’s preferred picks like Asnella, Vinho Verde 2021, Braii, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and Francois Villard, ‘L’Appel des Sereines’, Syrah 2020.
"Wine can be intimidating, but we’re more than happy to simply guide you in the right direction when choosing a wine or, if you’re curious to learn more, we can take you down the rabbit hole with in-depth discussions. We’re always eager to talk about wine and share our knowledge,” said Prato.
Photo: Courtesy of Garagiste