I met Jeff before he opened the wine bar, and knowing that the restaurant business is tough for a variety of reasons, I hoped for the best but didn't expect it to last.
Yes, there are wine snobs in the world, and yes, they are attracted to wineries and wine bars, 'cause that's where the wine is.
There's a big fat but in there, and that is that the wine culture isn't snobby any more. Yes, there are probably places where the owners or waiters are stuffy and the clientele snobby, but for most places it is very casual, approachable and fun.
Jeff is a Sommelier, a very well-trained and educated wine expert. I've spent a lot of time talking about wine with him.
I'm not a snob, but I do have a certain level of fascination with it, how different grapes taste, how the same grapes grown in different places, even sometimes on the other side of the hill, can taste different. I guess I love wine, but I'm not a wine expert.It's a great little pastime for me and my wife.
I think that sometimes, people who don't know much about wine or understand it might see someone holding it up to the light, discussing clarity and color, smelling it, swirling it and smelling it again, and think they are weird or snobby, but that isn't always the case.
As for atmosphere at the Back Wine Bar and Bistro, it is elegant but casual, and attracts all types, from suits to flip-flops.
Jeff hires good people and educates them so they can provide great service and advice.
Yes, it is pricey. It ain't Denny's.
If my wife and I go there for dinner, we do so because it will be special. We know that we're going to pay more than if we went to Mimi's Cafe and had carafe of Gallo Burgundy.
There are ways, however, to get the experience without spending too much. On Tuesdays, there is a 3 course dinner for $30. On Wednesdays, you can bring your own wine and they'll waive corkage if you buy an entree.
They also have events where they'll bring in a winery or a some wines from a particular distributor, or they'll just feature a specific type of wine, and they usually charge $10 for it.
On Thursdays you can pick any wine and 25% off (with dinner).
They have a happy hour featuring $3 glasses of wine, beers and appetizers.
So, yes, it can be pricey and yes, there can be snobs, but overall it's a pretty relaxing place with friendly people and good food and you can sometimes get away cheap.