Must visit wine bars in Glasgow

With a reputation of over 20 years, Vroni’s has been a Glasgow favourite for quite some time. With a large range of well-selected wines and Champagne, head to the centre of town to enjoy a drink in this small and romantic wine bar. Dimmed lighting and dark wood make for a relaxed but sophisticated evening (or afternoon) and the friendly staff are always on hand to offer their recommendations. Light bites and sharing platters are also available if you’re feeling peckish.

Bar Gandolfi is always full to the brim with hip and young folk, all making the most of the bar’s extensive wine list. Sophisticated and chic, this small wine bar sat atop of the establishment’s larger restaurant is the perfect destination for a Friday date-night or a catch up with a friend. Boasting wines from far and wide, this bar has something to tantalise any wine lover. The staff are full of knowledge and the atmosphere is relaxed. Prices range from low to high, meaning that there’s something to suit every budget. Certainly not one to miss!

Slap bang in the middle of trendy Finnieston, Rioja – as the name would suggest – specialises in fantastic Spanish wines and tapas. Perfect for a quick 6pm catch up with a friend or a leisurely Saturday evening trip out, this bar manages to be both cosy and chic. Authentic as you like, if it’s Spanish culture you’re after Rioja won’t fail to disappoint. Think small plates of ceviche, croquettes, garlic prawns and honeyed Berenjenas (aubergine) washed down with a dizzying array of Spanish wines. Opt for their organic Garnacha if you fancy something special and relax into the vibrant atmosphere.

A tenement flat may not be the venue you’d expect to house a wine bar, but Hooligan Wine is a little out of the ordinary. Set above The Drake, it’s the home of natural, organic, low intervention and biodynamic wines. So if you like ethical drinking, come here. The list emphasises quality and is imaginatively curated — you certainly won’t find any old plonk on the menu. Naturally, tastings and events are de rigeur, with past hosts including Giustini Wines, Arnold Holzer and Berry Bros, plus  tasting menus with pairings. Enjoy your wine with a meal in the restaurant, or with some optional tab nabs at the bar. If you find a bottle you love, you can buy another to take home, as the wine bar doubles as a bottle shop.

Check out the wine of the month, at the West End’s latest addition to the chic drinking and dining scene. Past bottles have included The Bean Coffee Pinotage from South Africa; Sauvion Crémant from the Loire Valley; Leiras Albariño, Rias Baixas, 2022 from Spain; and Coquille de Mer, Vermentino, 2022, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Prefer your wine in a cocktail? Order the Bon Bon with Sauvignon Blanc, Limoncello, Frangelico and lemon juice. Perched between Partick and Hyndland, The Skillet serves up tasty food from brunch to dinner, and has a penchant for a good bottle of vino. You can book a table to dine, or just for drinks, it’s kid-friendly and pet dogs are welcome to join on the ground floor too.

Visit during the day and you’ll view this is as a neighbourhood bakery, deli and cafe. But come back in the evening and you’ll find it takes on a more sophisticated wine bar feel. The range tends to lean toward European bottles, but you’ll find some from further afield. These can be ordered in 125ml, 175ml or 250ml measures, or by the bottle. Take a seat inside, or grab one of the few pavement tables and drink like you’re on the continent. The freshly prepared sharing boards, pizzas and nibbles will make a great accompaniment to your evening of imbibement. Cuku is especially handy for those residents in Kelvindale, the Botanics area and Kelvinside, who can easily amble home after a few glasses.

Rather than simply categorise its vinos by colour or region, Porter and Rye has many sub-headings to its extensive wine list. Choose from fruit-driven and aromatic; bold and fruit-driven; fresh and mineral; light and silky; rich and rich and spicy (as well as bubbly and fortified options). It’s a useful signpost if you know roughly what you’re looking for in the realms of flavour, but can’t distinguish between labels. The molecular cooking is not to be missed here either. So do try some of their fine dry-aged meats, wild foods and small plates — they’re sure to bring out the flavour in your wine and vice versa. 

Hyndland is the kind of neighbourhood that lends itself to an indie local wine bar. And it’s here you’ll find Corke and Caske, a bottle shop come wine bar. Attend one of the weekly tastings, where up to 10 people can try six different wines, hosted and led by the in-store manager. Learn about different producing regions and grapes, with themes like Fine Wines of the World, Fizzy Friday, Spanish Gems, Off the Beaten Track, Italy in a Glass and Tour de France. And there are 10 different wines by the glass available on any given night — these rotate around once a month, so you can pop in regularly to expand your palate. If you like to “wine down at the weekend”, take advantage of the venue’s special offer; a deli board for two and a bottle of fizz for£30 between 1 pm and 5 pm every Saturday and Sunday.

If you like to sample wines from small, independent producers, take your taste buds on a tour of Europe, via the wine list at Gloriosa. In winter you can cosy up in a Milano chair at a table beside the wood-burning stove, or take a stool at the curved bar to watch the mixologists at work and get a closer look at the interesting array of bottles. The space is made bright and airy by the huge windows looking out onto Finnieston. Or in summer, settle in with a crisp white at one of the outdoor tables. Chef Rosie Healey (who has worked with Yotam Ottolenghi in the past) is sure to tempt you with some Med-inspired, nutritious small and large plates. 

One of the more recent additions to Glasgow’s wine bar scene, Malo is the work of couple team Andy (a sommelier by trade) and Emma MacSween. The art deco style venue opened in 2022, intent on bringing customers their favourite grapes, but from some lesser-explored regions. As such, they hold regular tastings, encouraging exploration. Georgia, Austria, Hungary, Lebanon and England are some of the countries’ produce showcased in the 120-seater bar. And you can peruse a selection of Pet Nat, Cremant and champagne, as well as orange, skin contact (white wine that has turned orange by keeping the juice in contact with the grape skins) and sweet wines. Pop in between noon and 5 pm for a cheese and wine special that’s sure to brighten up your lunch break.