You'll find the self-serve Enomatic wine dispensers--get a pre-paid card, slip it in a slot for a taste--at many wine bars around town. But at Santa Monica's new Pourtal, it's about more than just the machines: Wine director Peter Birmingham's selections let you to traverse the world, one sip at a time.
Pourtal is as much a wine bar as it is a casual tasting room and retail shop, and Birmingham, who garnered praise at Norman's and Il Grano, hand-selects wines from around the globe for the extensive list. Prices range from $1.50 to $8 for one-ounce pours from the machines, so you can compare Granache from Spain, France and Argentina for the price of one glass, or try that Barnett Napa Cab before dropping $92 to take a bottle home. Or just sit back and enjoy a glass of rosé while you watch the beach crowd pass by.
Look for helpful tasting notes to guide you through the selections, or if you're lucky, you'll get to hear Birmingham's colorful descriptions in person. Here are some of his summer picks.
2008 Chesebro Vermentino Cedar Lane ($10 glass) "This crisp California white is as fresh as linen sheets drying in the wind. It goes well with virtually every type of food."
2002 Brüder Dr. Becker Scheurebe Dienheimer Spätlese ($17 glass) "You know when a peach pit has a little meat on it and you keep gnawing on it? You'll get that. It's great for Riesling fans."
2005 Aveleda Charamba ($9 glass) "This dry Portuguese red has a light and elegant balance with dark fruit, chocolate and mineral stones."
Pourtal, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-393-7693 or pourtal.com
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