Bottlehugger Ben and I had heard about this place for awhile, and passed by many times. Local journalist and photographer Bianca Otero, whose beautiful photos of the Tokalj wine region currently grace the events space at our Lazar u. location (until Spring) had her exhibition at The Wine Bar (1051 Budapest, Hercepprimas u.8) earlier in the year. In fact, this was the first location of Ben's Yellow Zebra Bikes so many years ago. The Wine Bar could not be better located across from the St. Stephen's Bazilika - and from the outside it appears very warm and inviting. Per glass prices average about 800 huf, but could be as high as 4000 huf. When one considers this is for 1.5 dl, and the location, 800 huf/glass is not outrageous. On the other hand, their prices/bottle, on the few we compared, were about 1000 huf more expensive than in your local supermarket. Although our waitress had the most amazing wiggle (I know its sexist, but if you had seen it...), but the waitstaff did not seem to know their wines very well when asked. Strangely, for such attempted high-class ambiance, the staff were dressed down in sweatshirts and jumpers; and the interior designers could not decide whether to go modern or decorate as an English gentleman's club. Also missing were the basics - water, crackers or bread, and a spittoon. But now on to the wines, which is why we went in the first place:

• Tolnai Renana Rajnai Rizling 2008 Tuzko Birtok (Szekszard). Unexceptional, dry, unmemorable
• Soproni Kekfrankos 2006 Ivancsics Zoltan. Good, dry, spearmint fragrance.
• Szeleshat Merlot 2007 (Szekszard). A fantastic blueberry syrup aroma, with a weaker body. But a nice dry red, and definitely the wine of the night.