The Amazing Bonterra Dining & Wine Bar in Charlotte, North Carolina

Bonterra is unique, not just for Charlotte but internationally as well, with its nearly 200 selections of wine by the glass.  I have never seen a more fabled by the glass variety anywhere!  Pair with that a culinary staff that is steeped in experience with a love for food.  This begins with the owner, John ‘JD’ Duncan, a South Carolinian who cut his teeth in hospitality in Nashville and Atlanta as well as being an alumnus of The Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.  JD and his father, Jack, took an old church and in 1999 opened Bonterra.

Duncan furthers his culinary team’s depth with Executive Chef Bill Schutz who has sharpened his culinary skills in restaurants from New York to Paris.  Joining Bonterra in 2012 he brings Southern cuisine center stage with a variety of food from farmers in the area.

The open kitchen is visible to the left upon entering Bonterra with the dining room and bar to the right.  The bar surrounds the large open coolers housing the collection of wines available by the glass.  The bottles (red and white) are kept chilled at the right temperature and each night are filled with nitrogen from a nozzle at the bar.  Nitrogen is heavier than air and provides a layer between the wine and the air suspending oxidation of the wine which is what eventually turns wine into vinegar.  An ingenious idea that makes you marvel at why no one else has used the idea of a large tank of nitrogen in the basement with a hose leading to the nozzle at the bar.

The list of wines changes constantly so refer to the Bonterra website to see the current listing (click here to see the Bonterra wine list).

The dining room is next with white table cloths, arched windows, a high vaulted ceiling and a balcony loft above that can be used for large parties.  It’s an interesting setting and it’s no surprise that it is also a perfect location for wedding parties.  Keeping the wine theme flowing, there is also a private wine cellar dining room that can be booked for events or a group.  For beautiful fall evenings, dining on the patio is one more choice for diners.

Whether you are dining at the bar by yourself or with friends at a table, the staff allows you to feel comfortable and at ease with the choices that you will need to make during dinner.  With almost a daunting task before you, the staff is trained to guide you through the wine and culinary selections.  I loved the experience and urge you to taste Bonterra for yourself.

Contact Information

Bonterra

(704) 333.9463 (WINE)

1829 Cleveland Avenue
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203
http://www.bonterradining.com/

Tweet