In theory, I should love wine bars -- I drink a lot of wine, and I often trade evenings in my dinky, NYC apartment for nights out. But I often cringe when I hear the term, since every restaurant proprietor takes poetic license to call their beverages a "wine list" and their establishment a "wine bar." Peddling pedestrian, supermarket wines, often in uninspired spaces, and charging the equivalent of the bottle price for a single glass? The best wine bars, in my opinion, don't have the same list as everyone else. They offer a few unique wines, whether from a smaller producer or a lesser known region or varietal, and always carry a few affordable options by the glass. They also store the wine properly (no wine kept above the pizza oven, please!) and serve it in decent stemware (no thick lips!).In the West Village, here are five spots that really get things right:Grab your significant other for an evening at Anfora.Anfora Dark, date-worthy atmosphere, also popular with groups arriving early to score the comfy leather banquettes.

Skip the couch for a seat at the bar, giving you direct access to the helpful, wine-savvy staff. Anfora offers a range of unique wines from around the world, including a Georgian anfora aged wine, a Lebanese Cabernet blend, and a white Pošip from Croatia. Prices are spot on with lots of options between $10 and $12 plus more serious glasses like a Rioja Reserva for $24. Food is not an afterthought, either -- try the lauded lamb-ragu sliders. Anfora hits all the marks. 34 Eighth Avenue, 212-518-2722Can't make it across the pond? Check out Vin Sur Vingt for a taste of France in New York.Vin Sur Vingt Adorably petite, French bistro-style wine bar offering bar stools plus rows of teeny tables packed as tightly as they come in Paris (and the West Village); arrive early or really late. The all-French wine list is regularly rotated through 50 options by the glass, starts at $9, and includes plenty of Bordeaux and Burgundy for those who need it, as well as Jura and Corsica for the more adventurous.

Staff is French and helpful and lets you taste before you buy. Gallic nibbles like escargot and pate are offered on the tightly edited menu. 201 West 11th Street, 212-924-4442The Upholstery Store's wine selection is better than its decor.The Upholstery Store Kurt Gutenbrunner, Austrian chef/owner of next door's Wallsé, opened this sliver of space as an ode to Austrian wines. The short, rotating list dips into other unsung regions, but mostly highlights his homeland's unique varietals: Grüner Veltliner, Sylvaner, Blaufränkisch, and St. Laurent, plus hard to find Furmint. Bottle prices are high starting at $50, but glasses are within reach beginning at $10. Bartenders generously offer tastes of wines both on and off the menu -- just ask, and you shall receive. The spare, candlelit decor and limited charcuterie/cheese menu could both use a jolt of energy, but huge points are earned for dedication to these seldom seen varietals. 713 Washington Street, 212-352-2300Get to Blue Ribbon early to find a seat, their rotating selections are worth it.

Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar Another teensy, weensy West Village spot with limited bar and table seats. best food with port wineCut out of work by 4 p.m., or else wait your turn. the best red wine price in indiaTheir thoughtful list of bottles and half-bottles crosses many oceans and spans all price points, with numerous under $45 selections like a French Minervois and Mallorcan white. best wine forumWine by the glass is more limited, but rotating flights like "Greek Whites" and "Crozes-Hermitage" keep it interesting, with tasting pours of princely size. best glass to serve wineSmall plates are a mixed bag ranging from Southern barbecue to French charcuterie. best dc wine shops

34 Downing Street, 212-691-0404You might need to search a bit to find Zampa.Zampa This hardish-to-find Italian bar, where meatpacking and a bare stretch of West 13th Street intersect, has a modern Italian vibe that is ever so slightly softened for its West Village locale. where to buy wine late in nycA long, curvy bar beckons first with eye-catching pastries, breads, and cakes, then with a long chalkboard wine list of reasonably priced, mostly Italian varietals, both by glass and bottle. The program covers a large swath of Italy and offers selections from the oft ignored regions of Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria. Dine on cicchetti (Northern Italian small plates) while picking the brain of the knowledgeable bartenders who enthusiastically let you sample the wines. The ever-present owner remembers faces and greets with staccato waves as he hops between tables and the kitchen, lending an air of welcome to the chic setting.

306 West 13th Street, 212-206-0601Don't see your favorites here? Tell us about them in the comments!Lauren Mowery is a wine and travel writer based in NYC. She blogs at Chasing the Vine. Follow @ForkintheRoadVV and check out the rest of our food blog.2601 N. Milwaukee Ave. Located in the heart of Chicago’s trendy Logan Square neighborhood since 1994, Webster’s Wine Bar has provided Chicagoans with one of the most comprehensive and affordable wine experiences around. Popular with both beginners and connoisseurs alike, Webster’s is Chicago’s oldest wine bar and features an extensive wine menu. During your visit, try some of Webster’s delightful small plates and cheeses while checking out some great live music. On nice days in Chicago, the outdoor seating area is a perfect way to enjoy some of the best of what this city has to offer. 500 N. Michigan Ave. For wine lovers in Chicago looking for something a little more eclectic, The Purple Pig is for you. Located downtown on the Magnificent Mile, beyond a vast selection of wines The Purple Pig offers a selection of house-made charcuterie, cheeses and an array of Mediterranean dish options.

Although take-out is available, eat and drink to experience the fun vibe of the place. Be sure to arrive early as there will be a wait, but The Purple Pig is well worth waiting for. 2602 N. Clark St. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood right on exciting Clark Street, the D.O.C. Wine Bar offers a warm, cozy atmosphere which even includes a fireplace. Come hungry and sample some delectable cheeses, cured meats and creative small plates with your choice of wine. Some of the weekly specials worth checking out at The D.O.C. Wine bar are Sunday $10 wine flights, Monday 50 percent off bottles of wine under $100 and 25 percent off of bottles $100 or more, and on Fridays the sommelier flights featuring different wines each week are a great way to test your wine palate. And if there are some craft beer lovers in your party, they’ll be happy with several options of microbrews to enjoy as well. Related: Best Bottomless Mimosas For Brunch In Chicago 1359 W. Taylor St. Davanti Enoteca, in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood, has been around since 2010 now and offers an Italian village wine cellar atmosphere.