Food

Natural Wine Comes to Oak Cliff at the Ampelos Wine Bar and Bottle Shop

October 8, 2023

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Nestled amidst the enchanting streets of Bishop Arts in Dallas, new drink-in or take-away wine shop Ampelos Wines has become a loved haven for wine enthusiasts, especially those wanting to sip and enjoy natural wines. Its founders, Genevieve Weaver and Jessica Martinez, first crossed paths while at an event at The Wild Detectives, a bookshop bar in Oak Cliff. Fate made its mark at this natural wine event hosted by the book establishment. History was then made as the pair set in motion plans for Ampelos.

Brought together by their strong passion for natural wines, Weaver and Martinez believed that Dallas, particularly the lively Oak Cliff neighborhood, needed an introduction to this flourishing sector of wines. Recently, they unveiled Ampelos Wines, drawing inspiration from the ancient roots of winemaking and the tapestry of Greek mythology. Currently, it stands as Dallas’s exclusive wine bar devoted solely to natural wines.

Natural wines are distinguishable by their minimal to nonexistent use of additives or preservatives that might alter the wine’s essence. In contrast to conventional wines, which have sulfites and use filtering and other methods to preserve a consistent taste year after year, natural wines are unique. They allow the innate and traditional winemaking process, from vine to bottle to naturally evolve flavors and body.

At Ampelos, each bottle undergoes a rigorous screening process to secure its place on the shop’s exclusive wine wall. The owners only accept wines with two additives: minimal sulfites, akin to less than a serving of fruit, and naturally occurring native yeast from the vineyard.

Going beyond their commitment to minimal intervention in the business arena, the dynamic duo ensures equitable wages for their staff and champions the primacy of organic farming practices in production.

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Situated on West Eighth Street in Bishop Arts, the establishment boasts a lively outdoor patio adorned with a “ring for wine” window, ideally suited for savoring the forthcoming patio-friendly weather. However, you’ll be drawn indoors to select a bottle or two for your home from the shop’s fine collection of wines.

Inside, Ampelos exudes a bistro-like ambiance, marked by checkered floors and richly hued accents. The right wall displays an array of captivating offerings housed in teal wooden cases, among them the wine crafted by Martinez for the Portland Wine Company, available during half of the year. These wines sit under the boutique moniker “Love and Squalor” with other reds.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of natural wines or a seasoned aficionado, be sure to read the petite menu on the back wall to explore the daily wine selection. Prices span from $8 to $15 per glass, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can indulge in $15 flights, allowing you to savor four wines of your choosing.

It’s good to note that Ampelos warmly welcomes patrons to bring their own food (BYOF), providing an opportunity to pair their wine with takeout from nearby eateries, such as Emporium Pies, Tacos Y Chelas, or Eno’s Pizza Tavern. This creates endless possibilities for creating the perfect culinary and wine combination.

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