So long, Enterprise Rent-a-Car counter. The Ritz lobby is now home to an inconspicuous little wine cellar and tasting room, aptly named Hidden Wine.
You’ll find Hidden Wine to the right of the check-in counter inside the main lobby. Don’t worry, there’s a glowing sign out front to give it away. It’s not that secret.
The tiny room is paneled in reclaimed wood from a South Carolina barn and lined wall to wall with bottles starting at a surprisingly un-Ritz budget-friendly price of $7.99.
Très cheap.
But if you plan to enjoy your bottle on site in the bar, you’re better off buying something in the $30+ price range to avoid a $15 corkage fee.
They also have a list of nearby restaurant corkage fees if you’re planning to take your bottle to dinner.
The idea was to offer guests as well as Uptown residents and workers a place to buy quality wines without making a stop at a grocery store.
“We noticed a lot of our guests were running across the street to CVS to buy really crappy wine,” said Director of Sales and Marketing Seamus Gallagher.
So they brought the offering in house and upped the quality, sourcing what Gallagher described as “hand selected small batch wines.” They’re the kind of names you won’t find in most grocery stores and most certainly won’t find at CVS.
Hidden Wine is staffed by sommelier Sam Nudelman so if you don’t know anything about wine, he’ll be able to guide you.
They also have bottles on tap for tastings.
Hidden Wine is open Wednesday – Saturday.
W/Th 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and F/Sa 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hotel guests can get in any time (within legal alcohol selling hours) to make a purchase.
