St. Pete Wine Scene

Author: Sabrina D’Alba

  • 7 Best Wine Happy Hours in St. Pete

    7 Best Wine Happy Hours in St. Pete

    Happy hour doesn’t have to mean settling. Across St. Pete, a handful of bars, bistros, and bottle shops are offering well-priced, thoughtfully curated experiences—some in the early evening, others all day long.

    Bacchus Wine Bistro

    📍 124 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

    Plenty to snack on—Bacchus happy hour, 3–6 PM.

    Everyday, 3–6pm

    $4.50 bites, $6.50 chef’s charcuterie, and rotating $4.50 wine and beer selections.

    Tip: You can easily enjoy two glasses and a board for under $20. It’s a perfect early-evening stop.

    Sauvignon Wine Locker

    📍 241 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

    A glass of wine rests on a balcony table in St. Pete, with palm trees and a condo building rising in the background.
    Pieropan Soave at Sauvignon Wine Locker—just $5.50 during happy hour. Bright, crisp, and a serious deal.

    Wednesday–Friday, 4–6pm & Sundays

    50% off all glasses (excludes dessert wines), plus a discounted food menu. On Sundays, bottles priced $125 and under are also half off.

    Tip: Come on Thursdays during happy hour to stack the savings—half off by the glass and all pastas and salads if you dine in.

    Flûte & Dram

    📍 234 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

    Moët & Chandon Champagne in a gold ice bucket on a table inside Flûte & Dram, with blue lighting and bar seating in the background.
    Flûte & Dram’s lounge sets the tone for a sparkling happy hour on Beach Drive.

    Wednesdays

    50% off select wine and sparkling sold by the bottle.

    Tip: Live music every week—visit their website for the current lineup.

    Bar Chinchilla

    📍 439 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

    Bar Chinchilla’s house red changes often—but during happy hour, you might find a $7 Portuguese Douro in your glass.

    Tuesday-Sunday, 4–7pm

    25% off select glasses (8–12 rotating options, posted daily on a chalkboard behind the bar), $1 off drafts, and a $7 house red and white.

    Tip: Popular pours tend to sell out—come early if you want the full lineup.

    Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe

    📍 2927 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL 33713

    Happy hour white finds at Hawthorne: a Canadian Sauvignon Blanc, Portuguese Vinho Verde, and German Chardonnay.

    Weekdays

    Happy hour offers 10-15% off everything for members—and membership is free and instant to join.

    Tip: The 10-15% discount also applies to anything to-go—including over 100 beers.

    The Wine House

    📍 2913 Beach Blvd S, Gulfport, FL 33707

    At The Wine House in Gulfport: a glass of Viognier, plant-filled corners, flamingo lamps, and a very present playlist.

    Weekdays, 2–5:30pm & Wednesday All Day

    $2 off all glasses. Wine Down Wednesday extends happy hour all day, while Ladies’ Night on Thursdays features $7 select glasses for women.

    Tip: Set on Gulfport’s walkable Beach Boulevard, it’s a perfect spot to pair a glass with a stroll through nearby shops and galleries.

    Mickey’s Café

    📍 318 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

    You won’t find Mickey’s Café listed when you search “wine bar” on Google Maps—but with a deep list of South African bottles and all-day wine deals, it quietly earns its place in the scene.

    All day, every day

    A low-key downtown café with an all-day wine list that won’t break the bank:

    • $7 Substance Red Blend
    • $5 JP. Chenet Brut
    • $9 Mulderbosch Rosé
    • $9 Rebellious Sauvignon Blanc

    Tip: Mickey’s is known for fresh, organic fare—and as a South African-owned café, it often stocks wines that are hard to find elsewhere in St. Pete.

    Final Sip

    These spots offer more than just a discount—they’re an easy, approachable way to explore St. Pete’s growing wine scene. Thoughtful lists, fair prices, and welcoming settings make these happy hours well worth seeking out.

  • Hidden Wine Bars in St. Pete: 5 Local Gems Worth Finding

    Hidden Wine Bars in St. Pete: 5 Local Gems Worth Finding

    Here’s where to find the best hidden wine bars St. Pete has to offer.

    Book + Bottle

    📍 17 6th St N, St Petersburg FL, 33701

    Happy Hour

    Tues–Fri, 4–6pm ($1 off wines by the glass)

    Hours

    Tues: 12–9pm (new!)
    Wed–Sat: 10am–9pm
    Sun: 12–7pm
    Closed Mondays

    💻 Wi-Fi

    🔌 Outlets Scattered

    TL;DR: A natural wine bar and indie bookshop where certified pros pour thoughtful, global picks—perfect for curious sippers who like their glass with a side of literature.

    Inside Book + Bottle: shelves of books and wine
    Shelves lined with stories—some corked, some bound.

    Vibe

    Bookish and intimate with a natural wine lean—ideal for solo visits or low-key get-togethers. It shifts from bright and airy by day to cozy and quiet by night, with cushioned outdoor seating if you want to bring your pet.

    Extras

    ~150 bottles from 12+ countries, a rotating “Somm Select” chalkboard pick, and a curated by-the-glass list (most under $15). Espresso bar, light snacks, and shelves filled with books that favor diverse voices.

    💡 Tip: Skip the grocery store aisle and grab a bottle here that’ll actually start a conversation.

    Visit their website for events.

    Bar Chinchilla

    📍 439 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg FL, 33701

    Happy Hour

    Tues-Sun, 4–7pm

    25% off select glasses, $1 off drafts, and $7 house red and white

    Bar Hours

    Tues–Thurs: 4–10pm
    Fri–Sat: 4–11pm(ish)
    Sun: 2–8pm

    Closed Mondays

    💻 Wi-Fi

    🔌 Several Outlets

    🐕 Dogs Allowed

    TL;DR: A micro-sized bar with a mighty bottle list, Bar Chinchilla pours 50+ bottles by the glass—many offbeat, global, and hard to find.

    A peek inside Bar Chinchilla before opening.

    Vibe

    St. Pete’s smallest bar packs charm into a compact space—casual, softly lit, and ideal for solo sipping or date-night drop-ins. Indoor and sidewalk seating make it feel tucked away, even downtown.

    Extras

    50+ wines by the glass, with styles ranging from Italian classics to lesser-known bottles from Slovenia and Morocco. Beer drinkers will find a bold, Belgian-leaning list.

    💡 Tip: Ask about the off-menu picks—or let the team surprise you.

    Visit their website for events.

    Bacchus Wine Bistro

    📍 124 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg FL, 33701

    Happy Hour

    Daily, 3–6pm — $4.50 bites, $6.50 chef’s charcuterie, and rotating $4.50 wine/beer pours.

    Hours

    Fri–Sat: 11am–11pm
    Sun–Thurs: 11am–10pm

    💻 Wi-Fi

    🔌 Outlets Limited

    TL;DR: A refined French bistro with a deep, Old World–leaning wine list and a menu built for pairing—ideal for long lunches, date nights, or an elevated happy hour downtown.

    Bacchus, the god of wine, watches over it all.

    Vibe

    Rustic French bistro energy tucked just off Beach Drive—dim, elegant, and lined with bottles. High-top seating only, both indoors and out, with a spacious patio for people-watching.

    Extras

    Nearly 100 bottles with a French core—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône—plus Italian and California standouts. ~30 by-the-glass options ($10–$20), and a bottle wall worth browsing. Light bites, cheese, dessert, and espresso round things out.

    💡 Tip: During happy hour, $20 gets you two glasses and a charcuterie board—rare for downtown.

    Visit their website for events.

    CellarMasters Wine Bar and Bottle Shop

    📍 1005 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705

    Happy Hour

    N/A

    Hours

    Mon: 12pm–9pm (Bar opens at 4pm)
    Tue–Thu: 12pm–9pm
    Fri–Sat: 12pm–11pm
    Sun: 12pm–7pm

    🔌 Outlets Available

    🐕 Dogs Allowed

    TL;DR: A punky natural wine bar with zero pretense, hundreds of small-producer bottles, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

    CellarMasters’ interior: unmistakable eclecticism, by design.

    Vibe

    Part bottle shop, part clubhouse, and all-in on natural wine—dim, irreverent, and packed with personality. Expect couches, chalkboards, and a soundtrack leaning hip-hop and R&B.

    Extras

    ~240 natural, organic, and biodynamic wines. No printed glass list, just ask what’s open. Everything’s available retail; corkage runs $10–$15. Bring your own food or catch pop-up bites out front.

    💡 Tip: Don’t come looking for buttery Chardonnay or big-brand reds—this is where natural wine gets wild. The staff knows their stuff and isn’t afraid to take you off-script.

    See their Instagram for events.

    Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe

    📍 2927 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL 33713

    Happy Hour

    Mon–Fri, 2–6pm (10–15% off for members, free to join)

    Hours

    Mon–Thurs: 12–9pm
    Fri–Sat: 12–10pm
    Sun: 12–9pm

    💻 Wi-Fi

    🔌 Outlets Scattered

    🐕 Dogs Allowed

    TL;DR: A relaxed beer-and-wine shop with loungey energy, family vibes, and a global shelf you can drink from for just five bucks more.

    Hawthorne’s bottle wall spans the globe, and the staff picks are a great way to try something new.

    Vibe

    A cozy Central Ave hangout with wine, craft beer, and casual charm. By day: laptops and locals. By night: friends under bistro lights, the occasional live set, and wood-fired pizza from the onsite pizza truck on weekends.

    Extras

    ~75 global wines and 100+ beers; all bottles can be opened on-site ($5 corkage). Flights available ($25). Sandwiches and snacks served daily; Cipolla Rossa pizza Thurs–Sun.

    💡 Tip: Sample a few pours before you commit—staff are happy to help you land on the right glass.

    Visit their website for events.

    Curious for more? We’ll be revisiting each of these spots in upcoming posts—talking to owners, tasting through flights, and going deeper into the bottle.

  • What to Know About Florida’s 3-Tier System (and How It Affects St. Pete Wine)

    What to Know About Florida’s 3-Tier System (and How It Affects St. Pete Wine)

    Before wine reaches your favorite bar, bottle shop, or tasting event, it moves through a quiet but powerful system: the 3-tier structure. Florida enforces this framework, and it plays a major role in shaping how wine gets to St. Pete—and which bottles actually make it here.

    Here’s what you need to know.

    What Is the 3-Tier System?

    After Prohibition ended in 1933, the 21st Amendment gave states the power to regulate alcohol sales—and most, including Florida, adopted a 3-tier system. Designed to prevent monopolies and overconsumption, this structure still defines how wine moves through the state today.

    In Florida, it looks like this:

    • Tier 1: Producers/Importers
      These are the wineries, breweries, and distilleries—along with the importers who bring in products from abroad.
    • Tier 2: Distributors (Wholesalers)
      Licensed middlemen who buy from producers and sell to retailers. In Florida, producers are not allowed to sell directly to retailers or bars—distributors are legally required.
    • Tier 3: Retailers (Shops, Restaurants, Bars)
      These are the businesses that sell to you, the consumer—whether it’s by the bottle or the glass.

    Retailers in Florida can’t buy directly from a winemaker or vineyard. Everything must go through a licensed distributor.

    Why It Matters in St. Pete

    This setup may seem invisible, but it impacts everything from what wines show up at your local bottle shop to the prices you pay.

    1. Choice Is Filtered by the Middle Tier

    Distributors decide what to carry based on availability, demand, and margin. That means even if a St. Pete shop wants to support a small, biodynamic producer from Spain, they can only do so if a Florida distributor carries it. No distributor? No dice.

    2. Smaller Distributors = More Curated Selections

    Some wine bars and shops in St. Pete work closely with boutique distributors who specialize in natural, organic, or lesser-known wines. These relationships allow places like CellarMasters, Hawthorne, and Book + Bottle to build lists with real personality—not just what the big guys push.

    3. It Affects Tastings and Events

    If you’ve ever wondered why some wine tastings lean heavily toward certain regions or brands, it’s often tied to what distributors are promoting. Distributors often provide the wines—and sometimes even staff or cover costs—for local tastings. That can be great for exposure, but it also means some events are more about sales than discovery.

    Can a Bar or Shop Buy Direct from a Winery?

    In Florida, no. Retailers and restaurants are not legally allowed to purchase wine directly from wineries or out-of-state producers. Everything must go through a licensed Florida distributor—even if the winery is just a few states away.

    This rule applies across the board, with no exceptions for local shops, bars, or restaurants.

    What About Buying Wine Online?

    Some wineries are allowed to ship directly to Florida consumers, depending on the state and licensing—but that’s a different category. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping laws are separate from the rules that apply to retail shops and bars.

    How It Shapes the Local Scene

    Understanding the 3-tier system helps explain why wine in St. Pete can feel both exciting and limited at the same time. We have some exceptional buyers and shop owners who know how to navigate the system and build thoughtful inventories despite the constraints. But it also means there are wines you’ve read about—or even tasted on vacation—that you simply can’t find here.

    That’s not a lack of effort—it’s the structure.

    Final Sip: What to Keep in Mind

    • Florida’s 3-tier system is non-negotiable for local bars and shops.
    • Distributors play a key role in what shows up in St. Pete—and what doesn’t.
    • The best local spots build strong distributor relationships to offer more distinctive, story-driven wines.
    • Supporting places that go the extra mile helps bring more dynamic wines into the city.

    Want to drink outside the box? Start by supporting the people who stock their shelves and lists that way—even if it means asking your bartender where the wine came from.

  • 5 Best Wine Clubs in St. Pete from Local Shops and Bars

    5 Best Wine Clubs in St. Pete from Local Shops and Bars

    Local wine clubs are more than a way to get bottles. They give you access to the taste and expertise of the people running your favorite shops and bars. Members often enjoy more than what is in the box, including curated selections you will not always find on the shelves, invitations to special tastings, early access to limited releases, and member-only discounts. In St. Pete, at least five spots are running their own versions, each with its own style, perks, and personality.

    Bar Chinchilla: Chinchilla’s Choice

    📍 439 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg FL, 33701

    Chinchilla’s Choice features a new region each month.

    Price: $50/month (plus tax)
    Includes: 2 bottles/month
    Style: Global, mix of natural and classic
    Pickup: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 5–7pm
    Perks: 20% off to-go bottles

    You choose your own style: 2 reds, 2 whites, or a mix. A smart option if you want flexibility with a bonus discount.

    Club Details

    Each month, Chinchilla’s wine club focuses on a new region—with a tasting open to all to explore it further.

    Book + Bottle: The 17 Club

    📍 17 6th St N, St Petersburg FL, 33701

    Price: $50–$70/month (3-month minimum) + $17 signup fee
    Includes: Choose from three curated memberships
    Pickup: Starting the 17th of each billing month
    Perks: Signup gift, exclusive offers

    Adventures on the Wine Route ($70/mo)
    Two globally sourced, often natural or small-production. Expect surprising, thought-provoking bottles—ideal for curious drinkers.

    Grape Expectations ($60/mo)
    One classic red and one classic white. Familiar varietals like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, but elevated.

    Monthly Harvest ($50/mo)
    Prepay for a $50 credit to pick your own bottles. Great if you want flexibility with perks.

    Club Details

    Book + Bottle’s 17 Club offers three ways to join, each with perks like free corkage, tasting discounts, and somm-selected bottles.

    Savoir on Central: Savoir Wine Club

    📍 439 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg FL, 33701

    Savoir’s first month pick for Cru members: Charles Audoin Aligoté 2022.

    Price: $30–$150/month
    Includes: 1–3 bottles/month, depending on tier
    Pickup: Monthly
    Perks: 10% off in-store purchases, first access to events, sommelier notes, food pairings

    Cru ($35/mo)
    1 classic bottle tied to a monthly theme.

    Premiere Cru ($65/mo)
    2 bottles, choose your style (red/white/mix).

    Grand Cru ($90/mo)
    3 premium bottles from featured regions.

    Prestige Cru ($150/mo)
    3 ultra-premium, small-production selections.

    Cuvée En Plus ($50/mo)
    Sparkling-focused, one bottle/month.

    Club Details

    From single bottles to premium trios, Savoir’s five-tier wine club covers it all.

    Opening Celebration Surprise Gifts:

    The first 50 Two Bottle and Higher Memberships will receive 3 Free Classes and A Savoir Tote!

    The second 50 Two Bottle and Higher Memberships will receive 1 Free Class and a Savoir Gift!

    Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe

    📍 2927 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL 33713

    Tucked along Central Ave, Hawthorne pairs neighborhood feel with a sharp global bottle list—and a membership to match.

    Price: $50/month (2 bottles), $75/month (3 bottles), or $100/quarter (3 bottles)
    Includes: Premium, small-production bottles from featured regions
    Pickup: 2nd Tuesday of the month (or Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct for quarterly)
    Perks: 10% off bottle purchases, invites to exclusive member tastings and events

    Monthly Memberships

    Two Bottle ($50/mo) – Two curated picks—choose red, white, or a mix.

    Three Bottle ($75/mo) – A trio of standout regional picks each month.

    Quarterly Membership

    Three Bottle ($100/quarter) – Seasonal selections with the same curation, less frequently.

    Each set is selected in partnership with producers and distributors—thoughtful picks you won’t find on big box shelves.

    Club Details

    A closer look at Hawthorne’s membership tiers, perks, and pickup schedule.

    Smallbar: Spitz Wine Club

    Photo courtesy of Smallbar St. Pete

    Price: $55/month
    Includes: 2 bottles/month
    Style: Seasonal, minimal-intervention, fun-to-drink picks from producers they love
    Pickup: 2nd Friday of each month

    • Bandit St. Pete: Daily, 7am–2:30pm
    • Smallbar: Thurs–Sat, 5–10pm
    • Evening pickup at Spitz will be available once the bar opens

    Perks: 10% off retail, 1 free glass per month, invites to tastings & future events

    A casual, thoughtful club built around what the Spitz team is currently drinking. Members also get monthly write-ups and surprise perks along the way.

    Final Sip

    • There’s a club for every style and budget
    • Local pickup means no shipping hassles
    • Joining supports the bars and shops shaping St. Pete’s wine scene