Dinner, wine at a music venue sets Atlanta’s new City Winery apart

City Winery is a setting unlike any other in Atlanta. It’s a luxury-concert concept, the brainchild of music and wine lover Michael Dorf. Also the creator of iconic New York City music venue the Knitting Factory, Dorf opened the first City Winery in the Big Apple in 2008. Since then, he has unveiled locations in Chicago, Napa Valley (now shuttered) and Nashville, and will open one in Boston later this year.

After a series of delays, the Atlanta City Winery opened June 24 for its first concert, Todd Snider with Rorey Carroll.

The Atlanta location is a multi-level space that boasts a 350-seat music venue, a 150-seat bar and restaurant, a patio and private dining rooms, all in the midst of a fully functional winemaking operation.

From a food and beverage perspective, it’s the vino that comes first, which is to be expected, since City Winery makes wine on-site. Everything throughout the complex serves as a reminder that this is a winery — from the mini barrel storage room and fermenting tank visible behind enclosed glass, which greets patrons at the entrance on Glen Iris Drive, to design elements like reclaimed barrel staves that form an undulating pattern at the bar and on the ceilings.

“Wherever you are, we want to remind you that we are making wine here,” Dorf said.

David Lecomte, master winemaker for City Winery, uses grapes primarily from California. Yet, by law, the Atlanta location must get at least 40 percent of its grapes from Georgia. Most of those will be white, purchased from producers in North Georgia.

Drinkers can select from 18 City Winery wines on tap, along with a 400-strong bottle list. City Winery has a full bar, with numerous craft beers and a focus on brown spirits when it comes to hard alcohol.

Diners can expect globally inspired, wine-friendly dishes. About 75 percent of the food menu is comprised of core offerings available at other City Winery locations. These include smaller bites like risotto balls and duck tacos, as well as heartier fare like flatbreads and burgers. The remainder of the menu was developed by Jeffrey McGar, executive chef for City Winery Atlanta.

McGar has 25 years of industry experience. The New York native has resided in Atlanta since 1997, and has worked in venues that include the Atlanta Events Center at Opera, the Atlanta Improv, Czar Ice Bar and Cellar 56. Most recently, McGar served as culinary director at Club Magnolia at the Masters tournament.

What makes a City Winery experience unique for concertgoers is that they don’t have to eat elsewhere prior to the show. Rather, they can enjoy a full dining experience in the lower-level cabaret-style venue during performances, although that menu is slightly abbreviated from the one offered upstairs.

While you might not think clinking silverware would jibe with a live concert, Dorf said sit-down service in a performance setting is not distracting. “We are very respectful of the show. The staff is trained with how to talk and act,” he said, noting that tables are not bused during shows in order to be as respectful to artists as possible.