Ever walk into a place and it just feels comfortable, kind of like Grandma’s house on Thanksgiving Day. I experienced that feeling this past weekend while visiting We Olive & Wine Bar. The store front is very welcoming with bright colors, beautiful décor and a clean feel. We came for the wine but experienced so much more by the end of the night.
The ambiance of We Olive had me from the get go. Inviting, yet lowkey with a relaxing feel to it. It wasn’t crazy busy or loud. This is a great place to drop into after work for a glass of wine or to make weekend plans with a small group of friends. Grab a table or sit at the bar, either way you’re likely to get sucked in by it’s charm.
The menu ranges from small bites to salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, paninis and cheese boards with an emphasis on their various olive oils that are used in each recipe. There is also an olive oil bar where you can sample over 10 different olive oils. The staff is very knowledgeable and can answer additional questions you may have. From there, that might help you decide what menu items sound most appealing to you and your taste buds. We selected the Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus Plate, Albacore Dip Plate and the Artichoke Caper Flatbread. All of which paired nicely with the wines on the menu.
Being a wine lover, I was excited to try a variety of white and red wines. You can order 1 ounce pours, if you are interested in trying multiple wines. I was impressed by their wine list and happy to see so many wines I’m not familiar with, including a couple winemakers from Utah!
So, let’s dive into the fun, the wine! There are thirteen different white wines on the menu. I elected to try five of the thirteen. Here is a list of my top three picks;
• 2015 Vermentino, Uvaggio, Lodi, CA. Beautiful acidity, felt like the wine was dancing along my taste buds. Herbaceous and “nutty” aromas with refreshing citrus flavors following through on the palate.
• 2016 Dry Riesling, Ruth Lewandowski, Salt Lake City, UT. Yep, you read that right, this is a wine made here in Utah! Not only is that cool, but all profits from this wine will be donated to CA Wine Strong and Undocufund via the winemaker, Evan Lewandowski, to help the relief efforts in Northern California. Okay, back to the wine…loved this Riesling! Definite floral notes including a zesty lime. Bright minerality with a tart finish.
• 2015 Chardonnay, Scar of The Sea, Central Coast, CA. I used to be THAT girl that wouldn’t drink a Chardonnay. I’d complain they were too buttery. Well, I will gladly eat my words now, as I like the next generation Chardonnays, including this one. I assumed this one was fermented and aged in a stainless steel tank but was surprised to learn that it was aged in neutral French Oak. Notes of citrus, minerality and white pepper with a zesty finish to it.
There are also thirteen red wines you can choose from. Again, I tasted five of the thirteen. Here are my top three picks;
• 2011 Barbera, Dionysian Cellars, Davis County, UT. This was one of my favorites wines of the night! I promise I’m not being biased to the fact that it is a Utah wine. It was damn good. This wine is produced by local winemaker Darin Evans with grapes from Northern Arizona. Spices, plum and meaty on the nose. Medium tannins, smooth start to finish. I’ve reached out to the winemaker hoping to stock up with a few of these wines.
• 2012 Tempranillo, Matchbook “Tinto Rey”, Dunnigan Hills, CA. This wine had some zing to it! Medium bodied with earthy aromas, including dark fruits, spice and a hint of vanilla. I enjoyed this wine from the moment it touched my lips to the moment I couldn’t stop smelling the empty glass.
• 2014 Zinfandel, 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged, Mendocino, CA. This Zin had a perfect balance between the dark fruit and the pepper. The caramel jumped out for me, while the spice and herbs flowed nicely with the jammy fruits on the palate.
If we hadn’t taken Uber for the night with another stop after We Olive, I would have walked out with multiple bottles of olive oil. The lemon and jalapeno olive oils were delicious. All the reason why I’ll be back soon, oh and the wines, I have a few more of those I’d like to explore. Hop on over to We Olive to learn more about this quaint little place. They have a newsletter you can sign up for to receive the inside scoop on new products, special events, recipes and more. This is one unique experience you won’t regret.
Cheers!
~B