Wine & Cheese, Please! – A Guide to Long Beach Pours & Treats

Long Beach’s vibrant wine bar scene is voluminous and expanding, complete with tastings, music, food and, in at least one case, art classes.

Day 1

Stop 1: Willmore Wine Bar

Willmore Wine Bar is located in Bixby Knolls, a retail, dining and entertainment hub in the northern part of the city. When Ernie Henson opened his shop a decade ago, he said he wanted it to be an upscale experience with a neighborhood feel. He’s accomplished that by offering not only award-winning wine but tastings and unique menu items like Farmers Market Minestrone and Irish Stew with homemade soda bread. It’s an easy walk down Atlantic Boulevard to Cheese Addiction, a shop so devoted to the curd that it not only has a huge selection, but classes, clubs and, if you so desire, cheese wedding cakes.

Stop 2: Water’s Edge Winery

Stop 3: Romeo Chocolates

Stop 4: District Wine

Stop 5 (The Stay):

Day 2

Stop 1: Art du Vin

Art du Vin is an easy mile and a half rideshare from the Broadlind. A cozy spot that shares a wall with local treasure the Art Theatre, Art du Vin has a lovely outdoor area on Retro Row, giving it a kind of Paris in the 20s vibe, with lots of great conversation. The shop specializes in “low-intervention” wines, vintages created naturally without additives. Give one a try; a lot of people find them distinct and alive with flavor. When done, walk literally five seconds next door to one of Southern California’s great art cinemas which got a complete renovation in 2020.