‘Zonies are coming, but not just for the beach. (Well, maybe that, too.) Arizona-based wine bar Wine Girl is opening their third location at 460 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp the first quarter of 2025.
Owners and spouses Trevor and Amy Johnson launched the first Wine Girl in Scottsdale in 2020, followed by Napa Valley in 2023. The pair says they’ve looked at several locations for possible expansion, with one ironclad requirement. “We are based in Scottsdale, and all the cities that we’re looking to open are within a two-hour flight,” says Trevor, adding they prefer highly trafficked, tourist-driven areas. “All fun, tourist-based places that will appreciate Wine Girl’s vibe.”
Courtesy of Wine Girl
He says the San Diego location will be slightly larger than the other two, coming in at around 2,400 square feet with a private dining room that can host up to 20 people. But it will emulate the same girly-girl vibe as the others, with plenty of merchandise, Instagrammable accents, and lots of wine. The space will also offer sharable-style plates like wood-fired pizzas, charcuterie boards, hummus plates, and other typical wine bar-type fare.
Despite the straightforward menu, Trevor says the experience is anything but a typical wine bar. “The aesthetics and vibe are completely opposite of what the standard wine bar is [as] everybody has come to know it,” he says. “We wanted to do something that was more our vibe—kind of vacation vibes, fresh, light, bright, airy.” Wine Girl specifically caters to Millennial and Gen Z demographics, he explains, by providing a more “comfortable, approachable space where you can come and drink and enjoy wine without maybe feeling judged [in a] pretentious environment.”
Once open, hours will probably run similarly to Scottsdale and Napa Valley, with lunch and dinner hours seven days a week and brunch on weekends. Trevor says they’ll likely have around 16 wines on tap plus bottles and a reserve list—everything they hope wine lovers will need.
“At the end of the day, and at the heart of it, we are a wine bar,” promises Trevor. “We’re really, really excited to bring this concept to such a beautiful, big city [like] San Diego.”
Courtesy of Stone Brewing
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Stone Brewing Hosts Beer “Masterclass” This August
Step aside, wine. Beer is here to show the world how well it pairs with food. On Thursday, August 29, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the chefs at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station will guide guests on an interactive masterclass on how to prep and pair a few dishes with Stone’s Delicious IPA series. There will also be a brewer-led hop aroma sensory element, live music, and more surprises. Tickets are $55 and available here.
Courtesy of Leila
Beth’s Bites
Saiko Sushi ended a 10-year run in North Park this week but promised to keep the Coronado location alive and kicking. I’ll keep my eyes on what will come next to that prime University Avenue location.
Leila, the latest from CH Projects, is just around the corner from Saiko. The Middle Eastern extravaganza officially opens July 31, but reservations are already snapped up through August. I recommend trying your luck as a walk-in at the bar (and ordering all the dips).
Congrats to Erick Castro-Diaz (Gilly’s House of Cocktails, Raised by Wolves) for taking home a 2024 Spirited Award for Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series from this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Spirited Awards! San Diego bartenders, we see you making your
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
