Nothing to whine about at this winery in Long Grove

My wife likes to takes walks in the afternoon or early evening.  Most of the times they are around our subdivision, which if you like walking in a one-mile circle, is fine.  Boring, but fine.

So when she recently asked me if I wanted to walk with her, I commented on the lack of excitement of walking in a one-mile circle and suggested we walk into the nearby Long Grove instead. She liked the idea and enhanced it with the idea of stopping at a “wine place” she had seen.

           I may start walking every day.

It turns out the “wine place” was Broken Earth Winery, which has a wine bar in Long Grove (219 Robert Coffin Road).  Much to our surprise, it was far more than a tasting room or boutique of stuff with wine as an afterthought.

Broken Earth Winery:  219 Robert Parker Coffin Road in Long Grove

Its main focus is wine from their own winery.  Rest assured, however, it’s not a couple of guys who started growing grapes in their backyard and wanted to be trendy.  Broken Earth Winery is based in Paso Robles, California and opened a wine bar in Long Grove for a very good reason – the owner’s daughters live there.

It is a lucky break for people who enjoy good wines in pleasant surroundings.  Broken Earth’s Long Grove facility is extremely comfortable and pleasant and if you want to have a conversation on a Saturday night, it’s possible – even with live music.

As for the wines, Broken Earth Broken Earth Long Grove offers 36 wines.  None are available at retail outlets, although a limited selection are available at several Long Grove area restaurants while most, if not all, are for sale at the Long Grove facility.

Broken Earth offers spacious seating areas

And if you’re thinking Long Grove means expensive - -think again.  The selections are extremely affordable.  Wines are available in one-, three- and six-ounce pours. I had three-ounce serving of Broken Earth’s 2012 Limited Release Grenache and 2013 Estate Chardonnay.  The Grenache was $4.50, the Chardonnay $3.50 for what appeared to be a generous pour of each.

Want a wine flight?  No problem.  The challenge is finding them as they are tucked toward the back of the menu.  Nonetheless, they appear to be worth looking for.  Again, like their individual glasses of wine, they are amazingly well priced.  All flights feature four two-ounce samples and range from $10 to $15 a flight.  For a point of reference, a few days before I was at an event and spent $14 for a single glass of wine, which did not have the complexity of the wines I had at Broken Earth.  If you’re not a wine drinker, Broken Earth has a selection of craft beers.

The main bar

Broken Earth does not make food, but it has a cooler with a variety of cheeses and wine-appropriate snacks.  If you want a meal, Broken Earth has arrangements with several area restaurants that will deliver to the facility.  Options run the gamut from sushi to pizza.  A complete listing of wines and food items can be found on its website, Broken Earth Long Grove.

A second seating area

The enjoyment of Broken Earth is not limited to its wine selection.  They have done a great job or renovating the space, which I found later was former art gallery, into a spacious, and as previously noted, comfortable facility. In addition to a comfortable lower level, there is an attractive and somewhat secluded (in a good way) loft.  The only thing that seems out of character to Broken Earth’s Long Grove facility are video gaming machines. For some reason I’d expect to see those in a “less classy” type of operation.

The bottom line is this, if you’re looking for a comfortable place to enjoy wine and as the late Irv Kupcinet would say, “the lively art of conversation”, Broken Earth Winery in Long Grove should be on your list.

  

The Report Card

Comfort and atmosphere:  A

Wine selection and pricing:  A+

Service and wine knowledge:  A

Food Quality:  Not sampled

Hours:

Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday: Noon to 10 p.m.

Friday &Saturday Noon to 11:30 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Monday: Closed

About this review:  Stan Zoller is a freelance journalist and journalism educator.  Information in this review is an independent viewpoint based on individual observation. No complimentary services, meals, or beverages were provided by Broken Earth Winery or Broken Earth Winery Long Grove.