I hosted a birthday party last Friday at Swirl Wine Emporium and was delighted in the guest service, wine selections, and interesting menu.
We had about 12 people show up and took over your back room. Everything went smoothly! Stephen (I believe was his name) did a great job catering to our diverse group and handled the billing smoothly. Max helped later in the night and was excellent with the guests. We enjoyed your menu and found both Bruschetta's on the menu to be the favorite among the group.
We will most definitely visit again!
This has to be one of the best local places in town to buy good beer and wine. One of the owners is a high level (not exactly sure which level) sommelier so she is very knowledgable about her selection without providing bottles that are overly expensive. They have the best of the best from all around the world and even offer wine tasting classes to help you learn your palette so that you can better choose the perfect bottle of wine for yourself.
Besides their extensive wine selection, they also have a quality selection of beer. Some of which I have never even heard of and I have had a lot of beer in my days! When I am feeling adventurous and in the mood for something different, this is the place I go.
As a side note, they do get small shipments of Bristol's famous Venetucci Pumpkin Ale, so sign up for the email list in the fall. You only get one bottle if you get there in time, but it's worth it!
This place rocks!!!!! Now I'm not a wine fan at all, but this place has it all if you enjoy fine spirits. They have premium beers that are difficult to find, premium liquor and of course....Wine. So I came in because my wife loves it here and I noticed that Arrogant Bastard brewing company now distills their own whiskey. I really wanted it but it was $45 a bottle. The woman behind the counter told me that they had it at their bar. What? you have a bar?! hell yeah. So we went and sat down at their small cozy bar and we ordered some drinks. My wife ordered the Gluwein (german hot wine) and I tried the whiskey which I didn't end up caring for that much. Good thing I didn't drop the cash on the whole bottle. If you're ever in Manitou or are looking for some special booze than come on in and you'll love it.
Review Source:I frequented this place often when I lived in Colorado Springs. Â I've since moved back home to California... and I miss it!
I will say that I loved this place SOOO much!! Â You walk in to the wine "store" and you feel instantly at home and welcomed. Â It's much more than just a store, it's an awesome selection of wines and beers all set up in a friendly and home-y atmosphere. Â
One of the owners (Sharon) was always quick with a suggestion and spot-on when it came to pairing. Â Her recommendations were excellent. Â She even offered to order something if she didn't have it available. Â Nice touch, great customer service...
I took a class on how to find the different "smells" in each wine, was one of the best classes I've ever taken, I still use it to this day!! Â Amazing how much I learned from that. Â It was presented in such a way that it was more an adventure than a class.
I travel back to Colorado often and when I do, I try to ALWAYS make it in to Manitou to visit Swirl. Â
Vino meraviglioso, cliente felice!!!
CHEERS!
My wife and I come here all the time. Â It's a great place to taste different wines. Â The wine list changes regularly. Â Grab a couple wine flights to sample a variety of different wines. Â Then, afterward hit up the wine shop in front to buy a bottle of your favorite wine.
They also recently added 5 rotating taps that feature regional microbrews. Â The bar area has been expanded recently and now there is plenty of room inside, or go outside to experience the intimate patio area. Â I recommend the patio. Â The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Â Don't know which wine to choose? Â Just tell the staff which flavors you prefer and they will pick the perfect wine.
Awesome little spot. Â The venue from what I can tell is still pretty new and they are still figuring out what set-up will be best. Â It has a wine store in the front, and two bars in the back. Â The selection is great on beer and wine and their cheese plates are excellent.
The owner is a really nice guy, and definitely didn't let on that he was the one in charge until the end. Â The entire staff seems to have a vested interest in the place and it definitely has a ton of potential.
The real gem of this place though is the back patio that is tucked away from everything else. Â They have a great gas fireplace for the cool crisp nights, they have a "no smoking" policy, but they are also practical about it. Â I.e. if I am the only one sitting out back they really haven't given me a hard time, I also make sure that I don't smoke out there if there are other people sitting around. Â I like to be considerate. Â It has the ambiance of a European Cafe and I have found myself sitting there for hours.
I wish they would expand the kitchen to include some simple artisanial sandwiches and soups and offer up some coffee drinks to really drive home the European flare. Â But that's not really a critique, as it is not my place and the owners vision seems to be playing out just fine. Â
I highly recommend this spot!! Â And if you do go, tell the bartender or whomever that you found the place on yelp! Â Currently they are rocking the FB checkin sponsorship. Â Which while fun for the novelty is definitely not as helpful as Yelp in my opinion :-)
Wow! How TERRIBLE!!!! Had been to this place 3 times prior. Spent about $70 bucks each time. Always the male owner friendly outgoing knowledgeable and great wine! Â Went there on Monday, female owner, not friendly, distracted, no information.
Told her I didn't like the red house wine, tasted like it was sitting there FOREVER!
She told me I had to pay for it anyways!
Got something else, while my husband had a beer. Glasses empty for 15 minutes while she chatted with friends or regulars and finally asked if we wanted anything else. Yes, our tab and Goodbye!!!!
A little bit of Italy in Manitou Springs, CO (which, I had no idea, is closer to resembling Disneyland than it is not). Â
The garden out back is a lovely place for wine, cheese, beer, and some Scrabble (they have a bunch of board games that are ready to play) - particularly on a gorgeous afternoon, post-trail run in Garden of the Gods. Â The wine/beer selection is good (take my word for it) and the prices are quite reasonable. Â I think the people who work here know their stuff.
Come for the wine but stay for the hidden wine bar in the back!
I will admit that if you just buy the wine if the front of the store and leave, you'll be saving your money but that's pretty much the case anywhere. Â Why not stay in the hidden little bar in the back. Â It's very intimate and private...you feel like ur doing some cool and unique by being there. Â A lot of ppl stopped and stared at us at the end of the alley.
The staff was really nice and friendly. Â We talked to the guy there for a while and apparently a lot of the workers there also live in the apt above the winery. Â The wine shop itself is actually pretty reasonable and they have a unique selection.
I definitely recommend this place for couples looking for a nice romantic spot to chill at and avoid the crowds on the main strip.
I was kinda dragged here by a friend who used to spend a lot of his time here in the summer drinking wine and hanging out with friends. Â I had walked into this place once before and then walked right out again after seeing the prices. Â I don't know if this is common or not, but the cost of a bottle of wine to drink while in the wine bar is more than double the price of the wine you can buy in the shop attached to the wine bar...which they advertise right there on the menu (???). Â I took one look at that before and then left, thinking, "What a rip-off!"
Well I went last night with several friends, and I grudgingly ordered some bottles with them knowing how much less I could have paid in the shop. Â I have to admit, this place is pretty darn cool. Â They have a great selection of wines with detailed descriptions of each, and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Â Inside the wine bar, it is very comfortable and has a very fun, eclectic atmosphere. Â They had some live music going on too.
We sat outside (in the middle of January, yes. Â Crazy!) and I felt like I was hanging out in a little street of Paris. Â There were white lights strung all around above out heads, brick walls, couches, tables, chairs and a fire pit. Â It was really an enjoyable experience, and I quite liked my extremely over-priced bottles of wine...until I woke up this morning, that is.
I'll come again for sure.
I've been a patron at Swirl since pretty much day one and send as many people there as will stand still long enough to listen to me rave about them! Â Up front in the shop, Sharon is by far the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to wines, keeps notes on her impressions of the wines she tastes/stocks, and after only a couple visits remembered what I like with respect to varietals and characteristics and has made excellent recommendations for me ever since. Â Their inventory, while not massive, is hand picked and nicely varied...this is in essence a boutique shop where you get excellent advice from the owners, not a response of "umm, lemme ask somebody" from the hourly register help at a liquor warehouse.
Out back in the wine bar, Andrew and crew are attentive but not overbearing, as evidenced by Andrew's fine dining background. Â The wine, beer, and spirits selection on the menu changes frequently, making almost every visit an opportunity to find a new favorite. Â And while small in selection, the nibbles and bites on the menu are a nice complement to the drinks, and frankly I don't go there to eat! Â It's all about the community and delish drinks! Â The atmosphere is cozy thanks to a mix of vintage upholstered furniture and tasteful contemporary tables/chairs, local art on the walls, and a pair of fireplaces and friendly bar staff round out the experience inside. Â Out back, you'll find my absolute favorite patio in the area, with plenty of seating, a couple of firepits for those cooler nights, and a smaller nook or two for privacy. Â Nestled between a high wall and the red sandstone building where Swirl resides, I dare you to find a better patio to spend a spring/summer/fall evening with friends!
Decent wine list, good atmosphere with nice vibe and good comfy chairs. But the app menu...ugh!! Double ugh. We went on a Friday night, so no excuses for leftovers. But the 'artisan bread' was stale and looked/tasted like Safeway leftovers. The olives were pitted and shriveled. The cheese was acceptable, but lost in the stale bread. So so close to being really good. We'll try it again in hopes that we hit an off night.
Review Source:The wine is wonderful, if a bit over priced. The 2 oz. Tasters are an excellent and efficient way to try everything on the menu. Â It was wonderfully entertaining to people watch on their patio, enjoying the cool shade in the afternoon, listening to the group of post doctorate teachers loudly discussing the merits of Plato's Phaedrus and the meaning of "gerund"... until the dog on the balcony above us peed on them. Â They remained undeterred. Â They moved on to Hesiadic reconstructionism as if nothing happened. Â The clientele, like their menu, adapts at a moment's notice.
Review Source:Swirl satisfies and it does it effortlessly. Â When I came here, it just hit all the right notes.
Just before the shop closed, my best friend and I, who I was fortunate to be exploring Manitou with, searched through the wines and found what we were looking for: a smooth, sumptuous red and a refreshing white, along with some chocolate flavored micro-brews from their fridge to save for much later in the evening.
In the back room, they have a wine bar - it's relaxed, comfortable, and perfectly lit. Â There are cozy chairs and a corner with a couch indoors, Â more bar-like setting, and then a hidden alleyway - you can dine outside here and pretend you're in some small European setting, with twinkling lights, brick vine-laden walls, and flickering candles.
We chose to sit on the comfy couch indoors and had the whole place to ourselves. Â Our server/bartender gave excellent opinions on all of the wines and explained how the cheeses would taste and we wound up trying almost all of them! Â The textures varied wildly so be sure to ask so you're not surprised - they're all very fine and went great with the red and white's suggested as well.
The music playing on the sound system was great, a non-stop string of songs I wouldn't label as any one thing other than mellow and fun, that added to the conversation and chilled out setting, fulfilling the "bar" feel yet not making you feel like you had to pick anything. Â It was as if they knew all of these tracks would make us go "cool!" within seconds of them starting.
We also got some french press coffee to go with our sips and snacks and it was warm and smoky. Â Our server was helpful without being intrusive, and let us do our thing and enjoy the place, conversation and each other. Â
It was an evening well spent - for those curious about price, it was what is to be expected buying wine and cheese and tapas as stomach and soul food - well worth it for the flavor, service, and overall experience.
I had a memorable night here and am eager to come back with de lovely lady.
I suggest you check it out for yourself!
The shop carries a small, but awesome selection of boutique wines and spirits and the lounge in the back has a hip, relaxed vibe. The lounge itself reminded me of the Paradox, or 15C, but way cooler, no smoke, no pretentious attitudes, no crowds of people to fight through just to get to the bar. The guys working at the Swirl lounge the night my wife and I went in were very nice, helpful and made us feel welcome. Also, the music they were playing while we were there was a great mix of indie rock, Band of Horses, KOL, Modest Mouse, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. We'll be back to this place soon.
Review Source:Beautiful wine shop with a great selection at every price point. The beer cooler is well-stocked with hard to find brews. A great place for drinkers with tastebuds and class. The wine bar is a great addition, can't wait for cold weather to hide out in there with a glass of red and a selection of cheeses. (Dog friendly, too, hooray!) Nice, knowledgeable staff with a welcoming atmosphere.
Review Source:Swirl consistently has a great selection of wine and beer that fits whatever price range I am looking for and from all over the world. Â The owners are super helpful with pairing wine with food and have even helped my friends and I host wine nights. Â From sustainable Argentine wines to French chateaus there is wine in all price ranges.
Review Source:This wine store has a great local vibe to it!
The owner Sharon is certified court of master, 2nd level. She has great knowledge about all the wines they have to offer. They also offer a good variety of specialty and micro-beers. Not only friendly but Sharon also shares her passion of wines and offers wine tasting classes at least 2 times a month. Swirl has local art for sale all through-out the store. My over all experience was defiantly a great one and when I come back to visit I will be sure to ask what their wine on the week is.
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