Uncorked: L.A.'s Best Wine Bars

8022 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

No list of reputable Los Angeles wine bars would be complete without a mention of this highly stylized, modern stunner. Romantic and warm from the moment guests arrive, the action peaks at the bustling wine bar, where a handsome Hollywood crowd is always at play. Hard-to-find labels abound on the menu, comprised mostly of bottles from France, Spain, Italy and the New World. If you like to experiment, order a half-glass pour for half the price--it's a secret not listed on the menu.

260 E Colorado Blvd Ste 208, Pasadena, CA 91101 (map)

Wining it in Pasadena gets a bit creative thanks to this popular favorite in the corner of Paseo Colorado mall. From the industrialized main bar area to the dive-y, cushioned backroom and outdoor patio, the multi-use space simultaneously meets the needs of mellow and party-minded drinkers. Demystifying wine for the masses, the eclectic wine list spans the globe, from California's Central coast to New Zealand, France and Italy.

1201 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 (map)

A tried and true transplant from Manhattan, this Abbot Kinney wine bar is a favorite hangout among Venice hipsters, 30-something singles, and young professionals. Blame it on their stock of 60 domestic, imported and seasonal beers, as well as their list of several dozen wines, ports and sherries. The backroom with its built-in benches makes a prime spot for a snuggly date, but keep in mind that intimacy here is best served on a weeknight.

1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 (map)

The boisterous Euro-style shabby chic vibe is a draw (think: billowy linen curtains, larger-than-life oil paintings, rustic wooden tables and an elbow-rubbing crowd), but the first-rate wine selection in this Venice Mediterranean restaurant doesn't hurt. On the wine list local NorCal reds rank beside subtle offerings from far flung climates like South Africa and Morocco. Sure, it can be a bit overwhelming so take solace in the moderate prices--glasses average about $10.

2435 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (map)

Atten-shun! Guests raise a glass and get totally hands-on at this seaside Santa Monica lounge. At once sleek, hip and sophisticated, their high tech Enomatic wine tasting machines--a whole wall of 'em--allow mingling drinkers to sip and swill like true sommeliers. Just swipe your pre-paid card to dispense tastes from a host of featured bottles from Sonoma, Portugal, France, Italy and beyond.

8108 W Third St, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

A tasca, or tavern, in Spain makes its way home to an elegantly rustic (it can happen!) space in WeHo. Here, wine lovers are warmly welcomed to two-seater tables and a sommelier-manned bar where Spanish and French influences hold court. On their ever-evolving wine list a myriad of global reds and whites are doled out via taste, glass or bottle and then paired with selections from their award-winning small plates menu.

118 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 (map)

Who says drinking wine is an old and stuffy affair? A booming alternative soundtrack meets bare concrete floors, wood chopping block tables and warm golden lighting to create a wine-tasting space prime for a new generation of bottle openers. Neo-oenophiles will gobble up the bar's laidback approach to pouring, as well as their rich "pop comfort food," including gourmet grilled cheese and chicken caprese sandwiches. Bonus points, too, for the considerate drink pricing scale, where all wines are offered either by the glass, carafe or bottle.

5940 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 (map)

Buzzed about as The City's Smallest Wine Bar, this wall-to-wall-to-ceiling purple den is no larger than a studio apartment in New York City. Oenophiles are welcome to cram in for stellar wine flights--just $15 snares you a well-poured taste of three varietals, with their four flight menu selection rotating every month or so. Afterward, guests can slip through the adjoining door to Delancy for dinner.