Celebrate National Wine Day, May 25, or celebrate wine any day, all day, at the city’s vino hidden gem, The Wine Cellar at Rio Las Vegas. This place is literally hidden underneath the property, operating and impressing wine connoisseurs and newbies since 1997.
Take the winding staircase down to a Tuscan-inspired cellar with wrought iron, wine barrels, brick, stone, fine furnishings, cozy nooks and an air of European chic. The lounge stores more than 1,000 bottles of fine wines and spirits, as well as rare and unlimited selections. Peruse wines from around the world as well as more singular selections like after-dinner wines, sparkling wines, ice wines and tawny ports. Fans of tequila, whiskey and bourbon can peruse an impressive, high-end list, too.
The least expensive glass of wine will run you about $15 a glass all the way up to $75; bottles start around $50 with rare options costing up to $3,500. But what’s great about The Wine Cellar is its flight options—a program that wine manager Hung Nguyen is very proud of, as he curates all the flights. “Every guest has a chance to try something here,” Nguyen says. “I welcome the customer just like if they were coming to my house, and if they don’t like the flights that are on the menu I can put together a special flight for them. I have two rules down here in The Wine Cellar. Rule No. 1: Always have the guest walk in here and have the best time and the best value. And second rule is: Always follow rule No. 1.”
But fans of white or red shouldn’t miss two very delicious flights Nguyen has recently put together on the menu. (All flights include a 3-ounce pour of three different selections). The first, Nothing But Buttery Chardonnay Flight, features Cakebread Cellars from Napa Valley, Duckhorn Migration from Russian River Valley and the Rombauer Carneros from Napa-Sonoma Valley. The second is for red wine lovers, Kevin’s Cab—Cabernet Sauvignon Flight, with Justin Isosceles from Paso Robles, Orin Swift Papillon from Napa Valley and Caymus from Napa Valley. For a real treat each flight, or any for that matter, can be accompanied by The Wine Cellar’s charcuterie or cheese plate or red meat options like lamb chops or porterhouse.
Not only is Nguyen proud of the wine selection, but he raves about the cheese selection, too—so cheeseheads might want to make their way to The Wine Cellar if only for the artisan cheese flights. A favorite is the Washed-Rind Cheese Flight No. 2 with 24-month-aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, 5-year-aged Gouda and 12-year-aged sharp cheddar (this writer tried the latter, and has to say it’s the best cheese I’ve ever tasted). The cheese is served with fruit and an 8-year-aged balsamic.
Rest assured though, if the wine world seems a little intimidating, Nguyen and everyone at The Wine Cellar couldn’t be more welcoming and accommodating while being some of the most knowledgeable in the field of wine and spirits. Over its tenure, The Wine Cellar has had too many repeat visitors to count, and that’s a testament to the service and overall offerings and experience.
“I make people have fun down here,” Nguyen says. “They don’t have to pay for a ticket to a show to have fun and be entertained—they can come down here to The Wine Cellar. Try something unique and different here than other spots in town.”
Tips/Insider Knowledge
• Meals at The Wine Cellar come from the VooDoo Steak kitchen.
• The Wine Cellar has its retail license, so if you find a wine that you like you can purchase the bottle and take it home or to your hotel room.
• For a special wine-tasting experience, reserve the King’s Table.
• On May 24, join Nguyen for his monthly Hung’s Grand Tasting Experience. Each experience is themed, this one celebrating women and wine and including an exclusive nine-flight tasting accompanied by a lavish dinner.
• Artisan charcuterie board selections come in 2-ounce servings, and you can choose from such goodies as black truffle salami, lavender honey, Sofia salami, roasted almonds, Turkish dried apricots, olives and jam fig Mitica.
Rio Las Vegas, 702.252.7777. riolasvegas.com
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