Boozy Deals: Liberty Bar’s Monday Night Wine

Jessica Elizarraras

Don’t fill up on bread; go for a full-bodied wine

Turns out Mondays are made for drinking. Though I’ve never had a hard rule on AM imbibing (hello, this is what brunch was created for), drinking on a Monday was always a bit taboo. Mondays are a clean slate: We’re going to eat better, get up early and go for a run, not waste time on Buzzfeed. It’s the dawn of a new age where we eat more greens and exercise.

But this particularly shitty Lunes, with its dark gray skies and even more foreboding deadlines, drove me straight to Liberty Bar. Considering the sizeable crowd of winos that flooded the bar area, Mondays are absolutely made for taking down a bottle (or two) of vino or bubbly.

According to the website, Monday Night Wine is back, but why would it ever go away? General Manager Rene Guerrero assured that Mondays have been one of the busiest nights for the eatery since the special was launched around eight months ago, and it’s easy to see why: the purchase of any lunch or dinner entrée guarantees you a half-off discount on any 750 milliliter bottle of wine. Splurge on great wines and treat yo’ self, without breaking the bank.

Curated by manager Katie McKee, the wine list features a varied collection set at affordable prices. Reds include pinot noirs, merlots, zinfandels, malbecs, blends and “other reds.” On the flipside you’ll find torrontes, blanc du bois, chardonnay, graves, picpoul, sancerre, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, Riesling, vinho verde, rose and, of course, champers.

For McKee, an industry vet, the goal is to keep the list fresh and bar guests on their toes. When rejoining Liberty’s staff over a year ago, McKee found a stagnant list that still carried wines from 2007.

“I have, as quickly as possible, tried to elevate the wine list so guests can explore and have a moment,” McKee said. Still, there are those who know a deal when they see one and spring for the $100 bottle of Oakville’s 2009 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon.

During our visit, we ordered a 2012 Cortijo rose from Rioja, Spain, described by McKee as “fresh, medium-bodied, dry and expressive” Paired with a savory cheeseburger and at $13 (normally $26), the wine was more than enough for my dining companion and myself.

If you’re feeling bold, grab several friends and really dive into that list. Most bottles are regularly priced under $30 with the exception of all the Champagne options on the menu.

Not into wine? The restaurant also holds a daily happy hour from 5-7 p.m. with $3 select draft beers, house wines and well drinks, and half-off appetizers. At 10 p.m., reverse happy hour kicks off with the same drink specials and half-off homemade pizza.

“I want to give guests a better experience within range,” says McKee. “I’m trying to put the bar back in Liberty Bar.”