Ever since I enlisted to write a guide to wine bars, it seems like wine is everywhere I go. I enrolled in a wine appreciation class (as you know, I’m no wine expert); I went to a tasting; I saw Sideways for the third time; and I purchased more wine bottles than I ever have in one week. This wasn’t even part of the assignment; one thing just led to another, but in the midst of it all, I discovered Premier Wine Club.
The thing about Premier is that unless you work downtown or somebody tells you about it, you might never cross its path. Housed in an unassuming light pink building on the corner of NE 2nd Street and North Miami Avenue, with a barely noticeable sign, it’s not a place that attracts attention — not on the outside, that is. Inside, its wood floors and leather couches give it an elegant feel but the atmosphere is casual. On our first visit, we tried several of their wines by the glass, ate their ham and cheese plate and signed up for a wine tasting. For $20, $10 of which they credit toward the purchase of one of the showcased bottles, we felt it was a good deal.
On Thursday, we went back to sample the nine Spanish wines thatowner Rudi, a former freediving trainer, selected for the night. He described each passionately, honestly and with lots of humor, making an experience which to some may sound intimidating, relaxed and�really just fun. After the tasting, we stuck around for a bit, bought some bottles and talked to Rudi, who couldn’t have been more clear explaining the right way to smell wine.
“Your nose hairs have to touch the glass!” he said, correcting my form.
Yeah, I’m still learning but the nice thing about wine is that you must drink more to learn more, which will hopefully lead me to discover other nice�places.
Premier also offers appetizers, paninis, soups (I’d be curious to try the wild mushroom and brie), and entrees in its lunch and dinner menus.
Premier Wine Club
145 N. Miami Ave.
305.416.5187
tags: wine bars, tastings, downtown Miami
Ohhh…this place sounds great…must visit this one when I am in Miami…there is also another wine place in Miracle Mile…cannot recall the name of it right now, but AMP knows the name…they also have wine tastings…it is owned by a married couple…(ps…I loved that you are discovering…)
As I think I told you earlier, California and Italian wines, looks great by me! I could have drank away a lot of Miami misery at this place, had I known it existed back then…
Now let’s get them to stay open past 9PM!
i would like to attend some wine tastings that have prices that are not up in the stratosphere. edithe greenberg
I didn’t find Premier’s to be overpriced. We tasted 9 wines and they credited $10 toward the purchase of a bottle. Since it was two of us, they credited $20 to two bottles so it was not so bad. If you don’t mind going to a Citgo for wine tastings, El Carajo has free wine tastings from 6-8pm Tuesday through Saturday, but I can’t say whether they’re good or not.