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. Cut out of work by 4 p.m., or else wait your turn. Their 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 quality red wine price in indiaWine by the glass is more limited, but rotating flights like "Greek Whites" and "Crozes-Hermitage" keep it interesting, with tasting pours of princely size. good red wine for casual drinkingSmall plates are a mixed bag ranging from Southern barbecue to French charcuterie. the best wine shop in paris34 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. best red wine for cold weather

A 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. best wine deals in australiaDine on cicchetti (Northern Italian small plates) while picking the brain of the knowledgeable bartenders who enthusiastically let you sample the wines. best cheap spanish wineThe 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.The 15 Best Wine Bars in the West Village, New YorkCreated by Foursquare Lists Vin Sur VingtFrench wines & French food! Very cozy table seating. Best place is at the bar. Food is small plates that you can share or eat by yourself. Escargot and the casseroles are good choices.Lovely French Brunch - killer Croque Madame, Oeufs de Cocotte and Croissant. Lovely staff and live jazz perfect for a Saturday morning.Wine + Meat + Cheese plate?! LelabarKick ass wine bar with stellar happy hour (40 bucks gets you a btl of wine & plenty of snacks). $1 oysters Sunday & Wednesday (arrive early, they run out)Lelabar is one of our favorite wine bars in the city. The room is romantic, the staff is knowledgeable and the wines are complex and delicious! Read more.great happy hour! Gottino Enoteca SalumeriaThe crostini are to die for. The fig, goats cheese and honey one especially. Also make sure you check out their freshly made fritatas and pies, incredible.

At $42 the schioppettino/refosco from Friuli is a good red wine option that pairs well with heavier dishes like the wild boar pate. Try the walnut pesto. It'll make you giggle with girly delight. It's worth a trip from anywhere in the universe. O. M. G. Blue Ribbon Downing Street BarA cozy little spot for drinks with snacks from the Blue Ribbon restaurant next door. We like the oysters and caviar egg shooters.sit at the seats up front adjacent to both the bar and the window — trust me, this is the best spot in the place. start off with the egg shooters and then graduate from thereReally tasty breadsticks Aria Wine BarCute interior, wonderful sage-ey ravioli, filling mac and cheese with truffles, great eggplant and goat cheese appetizer, and attentive staff.Private seating downstairs for your next birthday party.Don't be confused by the name, you're here for the food. Not requiring reservations, this cozy Venice-style tapas restaurant is a little-know favorite by locals with a stunning interior. 

AnforaTry the The Fury - This #cocktail had Thai chili-infused tequila, passion fruit, lime, agave and soda. It was unlike any cocktails I had before. Great ambiance, great wine selection and small plates and real nice bartenders. Vogue editors in the house. Check in and get your free ricotta crostini - ahh-mazing. A+Cute trendy spot for a date or lax friend outing. VirgolaHighly recommend the scallops and $1 oysters. The wine suggestion the owner made was also great. The restaurant is pretty hidden so we were really happy to stumble upon it.“Virgola, a six-foot-wide Italian wine bar, obliterates any of the negative associations of alleys and their accoutrements (trash cans, rats), while retaining a sense of history, even subterfuge.” This wine and oyster bar is all of six feet wide, a cute date spot. Turks & FrogsExcellent wine, great ambiance...went here with friends and stayed until 3 am - super low key staff and the area is great, if a little out of the wayTAKE ME ON A DATE HERE PLEASE.

Best spot for a date. The couch at back room is the place to be for a glass of wine with good company. Ask the bartenders for recommendations too! EntwineFantastic bartender recommendations and surprising quiet. Spinach and cheese dumplings were great.Ask for Dwayne and Cheryl. Tell Cheryl that Brian & Yogen say hi.fantastic quaint cocktail bar downstairs. try the Valle Mystico. Perfect during a rainstorm. Sit in the back.Perfect for a date, nice and darkSit in the back. dell'animaAmazing little gem - it never fails. Pastas and risottos are the star here. Also the olive oil cake with sea salt ice cream.Dell'Anima is an ethical & sustainable restaurant participating in Shop Your Values Week! Pledge now and receive discounts at 200+ businesses in NYC from May 3-10, 2012. Be sure to check out Anfora, the wine bar next door. There’s definitely no holy water in their glasses! All the food was great but the caprese focaccia was outstanding. Great neighborhood spot but know there can be long waitsThere is a 40-bottle list of Italian wines, all available for $40.

The sommelier also curates a reserved wine list for something a little more special. My wife calls it the Italian version of ABC Kitchen. Baker & Co.good happy hour, very good burrata n beets, great rose! head past the long marble bar to discover the back garden.I searched 4sq for "cozy, romantic, good for dates, recommended by people I follow, I've never been, $$" and it totally delivered! Sit in the covered patio and enjoy a bottle of Primitivo w/erythang!Nice chill spot on a crazy street. The atmosphere is nice, with a big window that opens up for people watching and fresh air. Food is good and reasonable and it's also a good date spot. Bar'riqueImpressive selection of wines by the glass with deliciously schmancy appetizers and cheeses.One of my favorite spots in the West Village. Incredible service, delicious wine... get the meatballs, ricotta crostini, mussels and chocolate mousse for dessert!Awesome dishes with just little tweaks that make it unique. We recommend the pork belly or the burger that has chorizo ground into the patty, served with fries lightly sprinkled with sugar.