UNWINED Wine Shop and Wine Bar in Almaden Valley

May 18, 5:57 AMSan Jose Wine ExaminerSteve Ferree

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Tucked in the southern end of Almaden Valley in San Jose is the friendly UNWINED Wine Bar/Wine Shop, “where everybody knows your name”. Established in 2005 by Dan Crouzet-Pascal and his wife Leticia, UNWINED has quickly grown in popularity, consistently winning awards from San Jose Mercury-News and Metro as the best Wine Bar in Silicon Valley.

Dan, a home winemaker for years, started UNWINED with the goal of providing a place where friends and family would enjoy sampling fine wine in a friendly atmosphere. Dan says that at UNWINED, “We have selected wines that you will not normally find in Silicon Valley, primarily from small family-run vineyards in California and around the world. We have even personally sought out winemakers in various regions on the West Coast to provide them with a place they can showcase their handcrafted wines.”

UNWINED provides its patrons with more than just great wine. Three wide-screen TV’s provide the latest sports entertainment via satellite. The best of Jazz is always playing in the background and on Thursday and Saturday evenings; live jazz bands provide the entertainment while the experienced bartenders serve up the drinks. Local artists and photographers display their works on the walls and occasional art shows provides the patrons with the chance to meet the artists!

The new outdoor patio provides patrons with a great venue to sample some great wines while watching the world go by. Heaters are there for those brisk evenings and waiters are attentive to patrons both at the outdoor seating area and in the wine bar.

Now you are drinking your delicious wine, listening to some great jazz, socializing with your local friends, and watching the Sharks beat the Red Wings on the wide screen TV. What goes better with wine than food? UNWINED offers a wide selection of cheese plates, tapas, lasagna, salads, Panini sandwiches, desserts and more. Every Tuesday afternoon is happy hour with special menu items.

Wine lovers will find approximately 300 labels on the wall of the wine shop, while behind the bar, 50 different wines are always on the menu. At UNWINED if you are not sure whether the wine in the shop is what you want, there is a great chance that it is currently available at the bar so you can taste before you buy that bottle. Not sure what wine is right for your occasion? Check with the bartenders for help in selecting the right bottle. Dan himself is often at the shop in the evenings to help customers select that right glass of wine for the evening or the right bottle for that special dinner. UNWINED also has a wide selection of wine accessories to enhance your in-home tasting adventure.

Be sure to stop by on Wednesday evenings when UNWINED host special tasting events, featuring a selected winemaker, wine style or wine region. This is the perfect chance to learn more about a winery or wine style since often the winemaker is pouring the wine!

Join the UNWINED Wine Club for a truly exciting tasting experience. The UNWINED Wine Club is unique from the standard Winery Wine Clubs. For each 6 week release the tasting crew will sample almost 100 wines to select the right wine for the UNWINED Wine Club members. Every release focuses on a specific wine region or varietals. With the opportunity to choose from wines all around the world, you will never be bored by the selections for the Wine Club. And, UNWINED hosts a special wine club release party, where both members and non-members can sample the wines being released. What if you don’t particularly like a specific wine in your selection? At UNWINED you can swap it out for any other bottle in the store, only paying the difference in value! This is truly a Wine Club designed for the members!

Dan and Leticia’s goal is that UNWINED be a partner in the community. As the adult social venue in Almaden Valley, UNWINED also sponsors many local charity events involving local schools, churches and charity organizations.

So, stop by UNWINED, socialize with friends, sample some unique wines, listen to live music and learn why UNWINED is where “everybody knows your name”.