The new year is often paired with new resolutions like swearing you’ll go to the gym more, cutting out sugar and carbs or going booze-free for a month. For those who choose a more realistic route, Black Mountain Wine House in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, has a seat saved for you.
My journey of finding Black Mountain Wine House traces a few years back to when I worked as a part-time bartender down the street. On my way to work, I would quickly pass the people sitting outside sipping wine and be filled with envy. I never knew the name of the place, always thinking of it as “that cozy cabin spot where people are always drinking white wine in the sunshine.” Finally, one day, I zoomed in on Google Maps to discover that the cozy cabin sunshine wine spot had a name.
Black Mountain Wine House is indeed a cozy cabin on the inside as well as the outside. The exterior looks like a wooden house you’d find on a lake upstate. Upon entering, you’ll find yourself in a cozy wine bar — the maximum capacity is 60 people. Black Mountain Wine House makes for a prime winter hideaway. Maybe it’s the wall lined with bottles of wine or the warm fireplace ablaze in the back, but something about this spot makes you want to stay awhile.
It opened in July 2007, and Tyler Maganzini of North Jersey bought it in 2010. He still runs the bar to this day. They offer anywhere between 25 and 30 wines by the glass, but the selection of wines on offer rotates as frequently as weekly. Black Mountain’s wines come from all around the globe. They work closely with Omniwines out of Flushing, Queens, which specializes primarily in Sicilian and Italian wines, though Black Mountain Wine House also purchases some Spanish and South American wines from the distributor. For those who like something consistent, Black Mountain always offers a house glass for $9.
If vino isn’t your thing, you can choose from one of their beers, many of which are made in the New York area. And whether you’re doing Dry January or abstaining for other reasons, Black Mountain Wine House makes a mean alcohol-free apricot spritz.
At many wine bars around the city, the food can feel like an after-thought, but that’s not the case at Black Mountain Wine House. Maganzini offers his own family’s meatball recipe, which is made strictly with pork in a tangy tomato sauce. If you’re feeling indulgent, their mac and cheese is the epitome of cozy comfort food, made with cremini mushrooms, truffle oil, Swiss and Gruyere, all cooked in a creamy béchamel sauce.
I did not visit Black Mountain on a Tuesday, but I will certainly be returning for their Tuesday fondue nights. If you see me sitting at the bar with a mug of mulled wine and a big pot of gooey cheese, make sure to say hello. Hey, I have to make up for lost time for all of those days I rushed past this homey, snug enclave.
Address: 415 Union Street Ground Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11231
Phone: N/A
Hours: Monday-Sunday 3 p.m.-12 a.m.
Prices: Food $6 to $17; cheese $7 each or $17 for three; house wine $9; wine list prices vary
Takeout available, no delivery, no reservations (except for large parties and rentals).
Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.
