What wine to serve by the glass in a bar?
Quick answer
A bar should offer 6-10 wines by the glass covering the main taste profiles: a fresh aromatic white (Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling), a rounder white (Chardonnay), a fruity easy-drinking red (Merlot or Pinot Noir), a bolder red (Syrah or Malbec), a rosé, and bubbles (Prosecco or Crémant). Glass prices typically range from EUR 5 to EUR 10 in a standard bar.
Detailed answer
In a bar setting, wine by the glass is an impulse buy — the guest decides in 10 seconds. Keep the list short, readable, and covering the fundamental taste profiles without unnecessary complexity.
The minimum viable selection is 6 wines: 1 crisp white (Loire Sauvignon Blanc or Picpoul, EUR 4-6 wholesale), 1 rounder white (Languedoc Chardonnay, EUR 5-7), 1 easy red (Merlot or Gamay, EUR 4-6), 1 bolder red (Côtes-du-Rhône or Argentine Malbec, EUR 5-8), 1 rosé (Provence or Navarra, EUR 4-6), and 1 sparkling (Prosecco or Crémant de Loire, EUR 6-9).
Pricing is key: wine by the glass competes directly with draft beer and cocktails. EUR 5-8 per 150ml glass is competitive; above EUR 10 you are in specialist wine-bar territory.
Rotation in a standard bar means 2-4 bottles per reference per evening. Choose wines that drink well young, with no need for decanting. Avoid heavily tannic wines that need extended aeration — they disappoint on the first pour.
Trend tip: natural wines and orange wines attract a younger, curious crowd. Adding a rotating weekly discovery pour creates a reason for regulars to come back and ask what is new.
| Style | Grape / region | Wholesale cost | Glass price (150ml) | Gross margin/glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crisp white | Sauvignon, Picpoul | EUR 4 - 6 | EUR 5 - 7 | EUR 3 - 5 |
| Round white | Chardonnay, Viognier | EUR 5 - 7 | EUR 6 - 8 | EUR 4 - 6 |
| Easy red | Merlot, Gamay | EUR 4 - 6 | EUR 5 - 7 | EUR 3 - 5 |
| Bold red | Syrah, Malbec | EUR 5 - 8 | EUR 6 - 9 | EUR 4 - 7 |
| Rosé | Provence, Navarra | EUR 4 - 6 | EUR 5 - 7 | EUR 3 - 5 |
| Sparkling | Prosecco, Crémant | EUR 6 - 9 | EUR 7 - 10 | EUR 5 - 8 |