ATHLEISURE MAG #72 DEC ISSUE | Athleisure List: ONE19 Wine Bar + Food

The Lower East Side has a number of gems and we like the idea of uncovering a new find. One19 Wine Bar + Food is not only in the LES but is located speakeasy style behind a storefront at 119 Essex Street. Guests enter the store which is currently a deli and go to the back through the curtain where a 28 seat bar room (12 chairs wrap around a L-shaped bar) welcomes you. Industry veterans Chef/Co-owner Matt Rojas (Rouge et Blanc, Eleven Madison Park) and Sommelier Gianni Cavicchi (Nice Matin), helm this new spot that is focused on Italian wines and Italian-inspired small plates. They encourage and offer affordable wine at this destination which explores lesser known grapes. Their wine on tap program offers an environmentally-friendly way to enjoy it with collapsible kegs which are recyclable and have a lower carbon footprint than bottles.

Sommelier Gianni utilizes his Italian heritage to create a list of wines that showcase smaller producers and lesser known grape varietals that reflect the diverse terroirs of Italy. Most of the wines are organic, natural or biodynamic and you'll find that nothing on the list is more than $70.

You won't find Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot; however there are unknown and ancient varieties like Albana from Emila-Romagna, Trebbiano Spoletino from Spoleto in Umbria and Forastera and Biancolella from the island of Ischia to name a few.

We suggest the Freshest Flight in the City that features 4 wines on tap including three from the organically farming Emilia-Romagna producer Tre Monti: Frizzante (Pignoletto), Orange (Albana) and Rubicone (Sangiovese), along with Rooftop Reds Traminette from the Finger Lakes. Rooftop Reds will be the only non-Italian producer on the wine list. Guests will be able to scan a QR code on the table for detailed information about the wines.

Chef Matt serves Italian-inspired small plates with a New York twist. We suggest 3 dishes to pair with your wine: Pepperoni French Bread Pizza with roasted chilis and fontina; Fresh Burrata with smoked cherry tomatoes and pea pesto and a shareable Cheese & Meat Plate with Ricotta, Alisios and Castelrosso cheeses, Finocchiona Salami, Prosciutto Cotto, Speck, pickles and grilled bread.

ONE19 WINE BAR + FOOD

119 Essex St

New York, NY 10002

one19winebar.com

IG @one19winebar

PHOTO CREDITS | Jose Marquez