Baton Rouge residents with refined tastes and lofty expectations can expand their palates at a posh new wine bar, Wine Loft. The bar opened Friday evening in the historic downtown Fuqua Building and offers 70 wines by the glass and 250 by the bottle as well as a full bar and light food menu.
The original Wine Loft opened in New Orleans three years ago to a great response but has been closed since last year’s hurricanes, said Melissa Schwander Doyle, wife of owner Jason Doyle.
An image of Bacchus above the black, lacquered bar and a mural of Narcissus on the largest wall set the relaxed, indulgent mood in this alternative to smoky, crowded bars with little seating.
Chairs and sofas are scattered among curtained-off rooms, but people can also mingle around the bar.
“It is something real lounge-y but comfortable,” said Doyle. “It’s like they’re in their living room drinking wine.”
The bar is non-smoking to preserve its historic building.
Friday’s crowd was satisfied and quiet, consisting mostly of after-work drinkers looking for a place to wind down.
“We work downtown and we were looking for something different and more upscale,” said Paula Robinson, a University graduate. “You can relax here – there’s no hustle, no bustle.”
The location is a great place to relax after work for the business crowd, but the dimly lit bar is also a good place to start off a night downtown for the younger crowd, Doyle said.
The price range may be a bit high for students, but the lowest-priced items are reasonable. White wine by the glass ranges from a Walnut Crest Pinot Grigio ($4) and Cavit Pinot Grigio ($6) to Liberty School Chardonnay ($11), while red wines include selections like Walnut Crest Sauvignon ($5).
The wine is preserved in a cuvinet, which uses nitrogen tanks to prevent oxygen from ruining the wine’s flavor, Doyle said. This allows customers to try more expensive wines by the glass instead of by the bottle.
The food ranges from tiramisu ($6) and chocolate fondue ($15) to filet mignon salad ($12) and baked brie ($10).
Ironically, the Wine Loft’s loft will be left unopened for a few weeks until its staircase can be made.
Connoisseurs and the wine-uninformed alike can look to the Wine Loft to expand their horizons comfortably and casually.
 
Contact Julie Chance at
jchance@lsureveille.com