If you’ve been to any of chef Shawn McClain’s Strip restaurants (Libertine Social, Sage, Balla Italian Soul), then you might already be familiar with their knockout wine programs. Now locals can experience that in their own neighborhood at Wineaux, a new wine bar and bottle shop at UnCommons with a welcoming approach.
“We sometimes talk about the cocktail craze that’s been going on for the last five to 10 years, but it’s really nice to see wine getting attention again,” says McClain. “We definitely want to be a part of that trend because winemaking, in a traditional sense, is old world, it’s fantastic, but there’s a lot of new things that are going on in the industry.”
Open since February, Wineaux is the brainchild of the James Beard Award-winning restaurateur and longtime partners Richard and Sarah Camarota and master sommelier Nick Hetzel.
Chef Shawn McClain
“We felt like the Valley and the community really needed a place that was going to be a lot like what Wineaux is, a place to come and enjoy great wine,” says Richard Camarota, operations and managing partner of McClain Camarota Hospitality. “It’s a fun atmosphere, and it’s not super fussy when it comes to this pomp and circumstance about it.”
The team created Wineaux with inclusivity in mind, seeking to attract casual drinkers and oenophiles alike with an approachable wine list that checks all the boxes. Part of that also comes from having seasoned sommeliers who can speak to wine in a way that’s understandable and exciting.
“Whether you know grape varietals or not, I think they can really bring something to you that you’re going to enjoy, as well as from a price perspective,” McClain says.
Currently, Wineaux offers 250 hand-selected labels, ranging from everyday wines to vintage bottles for collectors, and many of these you can discover by joining Wineaux’s wine clubs. If you purchase a bottle to go, you’ll also receive 25% off the list/shelf price.
But if we’re being frank, it’s hard to visit Wineaux without unwinding for a few hours. It’s cozy, warm and tailor-made for large groups or simmering date nights.
Wineaux also has hour-long Wine Wednesday tastings every other week, with sommeliers like Hetzel walking groups of 20 through tasting notes of three wines and suggested food pairings. Speaking of that, the savory bites at Wineaux stand up on their own, but as all know, wine makes everything better.
Obviously, the cheese boards and charcuterie reign supreme, but Wineaux’s hamachi and caviar ($34), bolstered by a rich onion creme fraiche and served with crisp ciabatta, is a firm favorite. Hetzel also recommends pairing it with Champagne or “some sort of mineral or earth-driven white with higher levels of acidity.”
The smoked salmon flatbread ($20) is also a winner when combined with the fruity notes of rosé, and the beef tartare ($19) belongs with nothing less than a glass of dry Beaujolais.
There’s a wine-centric experience for everyone here.
“We’re a hospitality-first wine destination. We are a choose-your-own adventure,” Hetzel says. “Whatever you’re looking for in terms of a place to either enjoy wine or a place to purchase wine for your home, we are at your beck and call.”
WINEAUX UnCommons, 725-527-6009, wineauxlv.com. Monday-Thursday, 2-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
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