Where to Wine Down in Walt Disney World
It’s National Wine Day! Today, we take a minute to wine down and review one oenophile’s top 10 places to grab a glass of wine in Walt Disney World.
10. Wine Bar George at Disney Springs
Image Credit: Wine Bar George
No list would be complete without this Disney Springs staple. Famous for its enormous wine list served by the glass (140 options), Wine Bar George also boasts a staff highly educated in all things viticulture. Leading the collection is Master Sommelier George Miliotes, famous for opening California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (more on this later).
This is one list that it is highly recommend to explore online before arrival so that you can plot and plan each ounce that you wish to try, especially when you can actually buy sips by the ounce.
9. Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Enchanted Rose is a must-stop for any “Beauty and the Beast” fan for the ample touches from the film, including Lumiere and the Mrs. Potts teapot sitting on a shelf that are straight out of the live action film.
Though famous for their cocktails (and tableside mixing), Enchanted Rose offers the most delightfully enchanting atmosphere for a glass of Veuve Clicquot or Laurent Perrier to celebrate a magical Disney day.
8. California Grill Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Image Credit: Disney World
California Grill sits perched on the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort and offers one of the highest peaks that guests can visit in all of Walt Disney World property. The best part of this nod to all things culinarily-excellent in the Golden State sits right off of the elevator.
There, walls of wine fridges stocked with some of the region’s best bottles greet you. Though reservations are quite hard to snag, the lounge offers walk-up availability to grab a glass of your favorite buttery Chardonnay or jammy Merlot.
Personally, anywhere that serves Rombauer Zinfandel by the glass alongside rooftop fireworks wins a top vote.
Sometimes, you can even snag a bottle of Pride Cabernet Sauvignon, a California cult wine superstar.
7. Weinkeller in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT
Tucked deep inside the Germany pavillion is this gem of a wine bar. Sure, both the Italy and France pavillions also offer a wealth of wines to sample, but this is my go-to for a crisp, cold Riesling on a hot day in July.
Weinkeller also serves flights that you enjoy standing inside or at tables outside.
6. Ale and Compass at Disney’s Yacht Club
Ale and Compass, the recently refurbished lounge and table-service restaurant inside of Disney’s Yacht Club, brought one of the best upgrades in recent memory to the Walt Disney World resort area. After hopping from early morning at Hollywood Studios to midday at EPCOT, a late-night reservation or walk-up stop at this lounge makes a perfect way to end any Disney day.
A glass of dark berry-forward Yangarra Shiraz pairs well with a flatbread for a late-night snack. If you are in the mood for something with a bit more zip, the buffalo-style cauliflower and a glass of citrus-forward Sauvignon Blanc make a great choice.
5. Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
For location alone, Nomad Lounge breaks the top five on this list. Situated on the Discovery River just before you cross from Discovery Island to Pandora: The World of Avatar, Nomad Lounge offers indoor and outdoor seating.
Outside, you may even catch a character calvalcade going by on the river. Featuring a variety of global wines, Nomad Lounge focuses on African and South American varietals. The medium-bodied and earthy Alto Limay Pinot Noir from Patagonia makes a great pairing with the Tiffins bread service available at the lounge as well.
4. Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavillion at EPCOT
Open-air seating on the World Showcase Lagoon and a centrally-located spot on the map make this a true EPCOT gem. Plus, the recently renovated Spice Road recently became walk-up only This makes snagging a seat even easier when you have a craving for hummus fries.
The wine list here features generous pours of mainly Greecian and Moroccan wine. These wines tend to offer subtle nuances different from many other Meditteranean varietals. The hibiscus mimosa makes a great start to brunch.
3. Geyser Point and Territory Lounge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
This hidden gem combines rustic outdoors vacations and trips to Walt Disney World. Geyser Point is an open-air lounge and table-service restaurant on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Featuring wine primarily from the Pacific Northwest, this a go-to stop for fans of smoky, earthy Pinot Noir.
Grabbing a glass of Evolution white blend and a shrimp-on-a-wire makes for a great midday break from Magic Kingom. If you are looking for air-conditioning, try the Territory Lounge inside of the lodge main building.
2. Sanaa Lounge inside Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Sanaa is famous for two words: Bread Service. Rightfully so, the bread service and butter chicken at Sanaa make this tucked-away piece of awesome a must-do for many repeat guests.
Featuring South African wines, you cannot go wrong with a snagging a seat here for a glass of peppery Warwick Pinotage or a flight of South African varietals. Of course, the savanna views from the restaurant add to the unique ambiance of this watering hole.
1. Jiko Lounge inside Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Focused on boutique South African wines, Jiko -The Cooking Place ranks among the best dining experiences in Walt Disney World. Famous for their filet mignon, Jiko also serves up some seriously original vegetarian food.
It offers an extensive list of South African varietals, including the Rudy Schultz Syrah from Stellenbosch. Sourced from a single vineyard and featuring notes of blackberry and plum, this fruity syrah offers such incredible depth of flavor. It’s definitely one to try with or without that filet.
With so many amazing wine choices at Walt Disney World, it really is hard to pick just one to celebrate such a fantastic annual “holiday.” Cheers!
