By, Jamie Knee
A Coast-to-Coast Wine Journey Begins
When I recently journeyed across the United States from Florida to California, I was reminded that wine travel is as much about the people you meet as the places you discover. With our Chihuahua tucked into the back seat, my husband and I packed the car and headed west, ready to savor the flavors, personalities, and stories that define America’s ever evolving wine culture. Every stop held a new revelation, a new connection, and a new glass that made this adventure sparkle.
Pensacola, Florida: A Wine Bar with Soul
Our first stop landed us in the charming Florida Panhandle at Wine Bar on Palafox in Pensacola’s historic downtown. Eclectic, warm, and effortlessly welcoming, this bar and restaurant just celebrated its 11th year under owner Ian Kaple. His rotating wine list changes every three weeks and reflects his extensive global travels.
To pair with the experience, chef Jason Perry delivered bites that elevated the journey, including:
• pesto roasted salmon salad with Sierra del Mar Central Coast Pinot Noir
• crab claws in white wine butter with Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s Aconcagua Valley
Wine Bar offers half price pours during daily
The author at wine bar APT 115 in Austin, TX.
Copa Wine Bar in San Antonio, TX, is known for its generous pours.
Crab claws in white-wine butter at Wine Bar on Palafox in Pensacola, FL.
New Orleans: A Wine Lover’s Playground in the Big Easy
Our next stop brought us to New Orleans, the legendary Big Easy, a city known for its revelry, rhythm, and unmistakable charm. Here we met Evan Hayes, a wine professional with more than 18 years of industry experience. Recognizing the need for a true gastrobar in the storied St. Charles district, he opened Delachaise Wine Bar & Bistro, situated just steps from the historic St. Charles Streetcar Line.
Hayes curates over 350 bottlings from small, family-owned producers around the world—wines he calls “real place wines, wines with an origin.” His mission is simple yet refreshing: remove the mystery behind unconventional varieties by allowing guests to taste anything before committing to a glass. During our visit, he poured a beautifully lifted Fritz Riesling from Rheinhessen, an expressive Petite Sirah from Israel’s Barkan Winery, and a bright, zesty Ameztoi Txakolina from Spain. And yes, his famous duck-fat fries, celebrated by Eater readers as some of the best in New Orleans, absolutely lived up to the reputation.
Just up the street, Hayes’ second concept, Chais Delachaise, offers a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere where locals gather for casual brunches, discovering rare and hard-to-find wines in a warm neighborhood setting.
Austin: Vinyl, Low-Intervention Wines, and Apartment-Style Charm
Our first stop in the Lone Star State was Austin, where we met Joseph Pannenbacker, owner of a tiny little wine bar called APT 115 that’s designed to give guests the cozy feeling of sharing a bottle in a friend’s apartment. With vintage décor, a turntable spinning vinyl, and wallpaper designed by musician Brian Eno, you know you’ve stumbled upon something unique.
The extensive menu changes daily, reflect-ing Pannenbacker’s love of low-intervention wines from underrepresented regions, such as unfiltered and unfined Petit Man-seng from California’s Sierra Foothills; small plates like raclette and Hornbacher cheese with cured charcuterie are also available for pairing. Pannenbacker has developed a loyal cult following among guests looking to have a memorable experience, as he certainly delivers.
Texas Hill Country: Wines and Hospitality Under the Lone Star Sky
A scenic drive west brought us to the heart of the Texas Hill Country, one of America’s fastest growing—and most scenic—wine regions. Our stop at Signor Vineyards in Fredericksburg was nothing short of enchanting. With towering oak trees shading the estate, gardens in full bloom, and peaceful patios overlooking the 200-acre vineyard, this is Texas at its most serene.
Sommelier and wine director Andre Boada led us through a superb tasting lineup that showcased the region’s diversity: Tempranillo, Tannat, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah. Whether relaxing with a glass in hand, curating a wine club selection, or browsing baked goods at Joanna’s Market, the entire experience radiates genuine Lone Star hospitality.
San Antonio: A Taste of Spain at Copa Wine Bar
Our next wine stop took us to San Antonio, where Copa Wine Bar has been a local treasure since 2005. Founded by sommelier Jeff Bridges and his wife, Angie, this Spanish-inspired space feels like a Mediterranean escape. Angie designed the warm, inviting interior with dark woods, wrought iron accents, and earthy tones reminiscent of a rustic Iberian winery.
Copa features over 300 wines, with multiple tasting flights available—the most beloved being their signature sangria flight. Generous pours (one glass equals one-third of a full bottle) and weekly Wednesday tastings draw loyal crowds, and the wine list was voted Best in San Antonio by the San Antonio Current. Paired with flavorful tapas, Copa is a standout stop for travelers seeking discovery.We then headed to San Antonio and stopped at Copa Wine Bar, founded in 2005 by sommelier Jeff Bridges and his wife, Angie. Their goal is to bring a bit of Spain to Texas in the gor-geous space, which Angie designed to resemble a Mediterranean winery through its warm color palette, dark wood, and wrought-iron stair railing and light fixtures. With over 300 wines on the list and several tasting flights to choose from, the most popular being the sangria, Copa is known for its large pours—one glass equals one-third of a 750-milliliter bottle—and Wednesday Wine Tastings, with five pours for $20. Add in its delicious tapas and you see why it’s such a hit; in fact, it was voted as having the Best Wine List in the city by the San Antonio Current last year.
Phoenix: A Grand Finale at the Historic Wrigley Mansion
In Phoenix, our final stop felt like stepping into another era. The Wrigley Mansion, built in 1932 by the Wrigley gum family, has been beautifully restored and transformed into a celebrated culinary destination. Now home to Geordie’s, named one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants by Wine Enthusiast, the mansion also houses Christopher’s and Jamie’s Wine Bar, creating a sophisticated haven for wine lovers.
The wine cellar, curated by sommelier and CEO Paola Embry, holds over 1,300 wines, making it one of the most impressive collections in the Southwest. Sunday brunch was unforgettable—paired with Château Graville-Lacoste and Nikolaihof Wachau Grüner Veltliner—and capped off with a whimsical fruit popsicle served in a wine glass, the perfect antidote to Phoenix’s desert heat.
From Florida’s sunlit Gulf Coast to the desert light of Arizona, this cross country journey reminded me that wine travel is never just about what is in the glass. It is about the small bars tucked into historic streets, the family owned wineries rooted in local soil, the chefs and sommeliers who pour their hearts into each pairing, and the communities that grow around them. Every stop along the way told a story, and every pour carried a sense of place.
A Luxurious Wine Travel Finale
Every stop along this cross country journey reinforced a truth I hold close as a global wine travel writer: wine connects us. From Pensacola’s coastal charm to New Orleans’ soulful energy, from Austin’s creativity to Texas Hill Country’s warmth, and finally to Phoenix’s historic elegance—each destination offered a story, a new friendship, and a glass that carried the spirit of its place.
This adventure reminded me how beautifully diverse America’s wine culture is and how every corner of this country holds its own magic waiting to be uncorked.
Here’s to the roads that lead us to unexpected bottles, inspiring people, and the joy of discovering new flavors across the United States.
Cheers to the journey—and to wherever your next glass may take you.
