20nine offers many wines other places don't carry.

By Bonny Osterhage
Staff Writer

Okay, so maybe people are more familiar with Route 66 but for wine connoisseurs, it’s the Highway 29 that runs through Napa Valley where you can really get your kicks. It is also the namesake of the newest gathering spot, wine bar and eatery in the Quarry Market.

20nine is the brainchild of Troy Fulmer, the former vice president of Crue, a popular chain of wine bars throughout Texas and Colorado. Troy, and his wife Marisa, moved to San Antonio from Dallas and decided to open their own brand of wine bar that, although not affiliated with Crue, is enough of a facsimile that those familiar with the concept will be delighted to find something so similar here in San Antonio.

Unlike other eateries that claim to be wine bars, this is a wine bar that also offers a fine selection of foods. But make no mistake … 20nine is all about the wine! From the impressive chandelier made entirely out of wine glasses to the hand-painted mural of Napa Valley that adorns the back wall, one look around and you know what you’re getting.

The cozy atmosphere and dark wood tables and chairs invite you to kick back, relax and take a road trip without ever leaving San Antonio. How do you do that? By selecting one of the 12 “road trips” offered daily that feature three two-ounce glasses of wines that are related to one another by grape varietal, geographic region or style. Each “trip” is accompanied by tasting notes that allow you to compare and contrast the different flavors. If you discover a vino that tickles your fancy while on your road trip, you may purchase it either by the glass or bottle.

Wines not offered on the road trip are available by the bottle only, and there are more than 300 bottles from which to select.

“We offer lots of wines that many other places don’t carry,” says manager Elizabeth Gonzalez.

And the knowledgeable staff can assist you in selecting just the right vintage to accompany your meal — which brings us to the food! In an environment such as this, where wine is the primary focus, food could easily become an afterthought. Not the case at 20nine!

From the exceptional calamari and cheese plate appetizers, to the entrees which include a chili-and-herb-crusted salmon and a pan-roasted duck breast with a plum-port reduction, every item is prepared to perfection. Salads and flatbreads with assorted toppings are perfect when your appetite is light and they allow you to save room for the white champagne cake, the pumpkin crème brulee or the bread pudding. Of course, no dessert is complete without a port or dessert wine and 20nine offers these by the glass.

A map of the Napa Valley shows where great wine comes from.

One way to experiment is to try something from the Captain’s List. Available on Sunday and Monday, this list features high-end bottles of wine at half-price. Thursday offers the same discount on bottles of champagne and sparkling wines. Because 20nine has a retail license, bottles of wine may be purchased here for half-price as well.

And while the staff encourages you to sit back and relax, they are willing and able to make recommendations and answer any questions.

“We are not wine snobs,” explains Gonzalez. “We are just trying to teach people about wine and expand everyone’s palate.”

20nine is located in the Quarry Market shopping center. It is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 4 p.m. until midnight Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 798-WINE.