I had a dinner meeting tonight, so a few of my friends and I decided to hit the bar at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House for a glass of wine first (http://www.400beachseafood.com/drinks.html).

Other than the Grand Opening Party, this was my first visit to the new spot to see and be seen in St. Pete.  The wine and beer list is impressive and the friendly Bartender helped. (Although she miss-heard my friend’s BEER order and gave her a WINE with a similar name, not quite the same, however.)  Also, that wood bar is something to look at.  We all marveled at the sheer amount of booze on display!

With any impressive wine list a trendy spot, the glasses are a bit expensive.  I was happy to sip on a crisp, fragrant Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc.  It’s one of my favorites, but always makes me sad to see how much restaurants mark up the wine prices.  Given today’s economy, it is hard for me to justify paying $7.75 for a glass from a bottle that I know goes for approximately $15 in retail.  Then again, I know I’ll continue going out as I can.  Sometimes it is the company and the socializing much more than it is the glass of wine.

And I love my wine.  So that’s saying a lot.