While on assignment in Poland I managed to look for wine bars there .
It is only the beginning of the interest for wine in Poland and it will take another 10 years maybe before the wine bar phenomenon takes pace .
After failing to find one in Warsaw ( The one supposedly wine bar on Rynek is a tourist restaurant happening to serve wine with meals ) , I found out that another listed in Poznan ( on zydowska st.) had disappeared , that another in Poznan on a side alley from Franciszka Ratajczaka street seemed to be still there , but did not show signs of life when I visited . In Krakow I saw at last a wine bar operating with a store in the back : The Bodega Marques on ulitsa slawkowska is a real wine bar with good selection of wines . It is not far from Rynek (the central square ) . I did'nt stop for a glass though , weather was rather warm and I was tired of my day .
In Wroclaw ( former german town of Breslau ) I visited a wine bar named : Flowers , wine and coffee . This was just a week after the inauguration evening of the place .
The place is managed by Jolanta Urbanska , from Warsaw , and her companion Davide Gambula from Italy . He is born in Sardignia but lived most of his life in Rome where he learned the wine bar culture .
This wine bar has also this cozy central european atmosphere and serves pastries & coffee wich allows a wider customer base . Comfortable armchairs add to this cozy touch .
The wine selection is : 9 whites , 1 rosé , and 16 reds by the glass or by the bottle , and additional wines by the bottle only . All are from Italy . The place has a special relation with an italian body named IEI , for Istituto Enologico Italiano , wich helps small producers in Italy have a window to sell their wines , in Italy and abroad . This is a good idea France should follow . Sounds like a sort of extention of the " Maison des Vins" system to make access easier to wines for potential wine bars in the rest of the world .
The sommelier helped me in a choice among red italian wines as I am not familiar with many of the appellations there . 
__So I took first a glass of Valpolicella "classico superiore" Ripasso 2001 , from producer " Bixio Azianda Agricola" ( Venezia region). A powerful wine . 12 Zlotys a glass , or about 2,8 Euro . 13,5° . Grape varieties : Corvina , Molinara and Rondinella . The result of a second fermentation . This is a sub-appellation from the Valpolicella and it will soon be listed in a separate appellation . Nice .
__Then as the waiter asked what next would I taste , I let him orient my choice too . This will be a Biferno Riserva , Camillo de Lellis 1999 Rosso riserva . Molise region . 8 Zloty a glass or 1,8 Euro . 13 ° . The result of a blending of three grape varieties , one of wich is a white wine grape variety . After the first wine I took this the wine I could drink after . good choice .
This wine bar is very close to central Rynek : Just walk the passage at the left of a cafe named "Witaminska" , this passage is a street , Ul. Wiezienna , wich crosses first ul. Igielna , then ul. Kotlarska , and the wine bar is just a little further on the left .
Wow I love your latest posts. You are amazing. I just love reading about your journey through the wine world. Wine excitement at its best. I feel inspired. The photos of the wine bars are so helpful. The Wine fair looks like a lot of fun! I especially liked Le Bistro des Halles It look so comfortable and real.
I am having an event at my place tomorrow night. I am going to open a big selection of wines by the glass and three flights. Some Belgium unibrew draft beer. I will email you the menus. I am having the neighborhood customers and many personnel friends to watch the first presidential debate. It is a fundraiser to get rid of our present administration.
I’m will be in Paris Dec 27-Jan4 so I hope I can meet and have a few glasses of wine
Best,
Rita
I had some beautiful red wine today from Spain Priorate it had the most unusual frgrance, it was so beautiful, I could have jumped in the glass.
Posted by: rita | September 30, 2004 at 01:18 PM