Western Wake County drinks a lot of wine at home and has surprisingly few places to drink it out. Here are the best wine bars in Apex and Cary, NC – ranked on the by-the-glass list, the pour, and whether you can actually sit and talk.
At a glance
- Aqua Vitae, Apex – red, white, sparkling and Champagne by the glass, plus non-alcoholic wine, in a cocktail lounge.
- Cary wine shops with tasting bars – retail-price bottles, casual seating.
- Fenton and downtown Cary restaurants – wine with dinner.
- Downtown Apex restaurants – short lists, good for a glass with a meal.
1. Aqua Vitae – wine by the glass in Apex
Aqua Vitae is best known for cocktails and whiskey, but its wine programme is the deepest by-the-glass list in Apex: a rotating selection of reds, whites, sparkling and Champagne, plus non-alcoholic wine for guests not drinking. Charcuterie and small plates are built to pair. Look out for wine specials on quieter weeknights.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 4–11 pm, Thursday 4 pm–midnight, Friday and Saturday noon–midnight, Sunday noon–11 pm. Reserve a table.
2. Cary wine shops with tasting bars
Several Cary bottle shops pour flights and glasses at retail-plus pricing. Casual, knowledgeable and good for discovering a new producer.
3. Fenton and downtown Cary restaurants
Cary’s newer restaurants carry solid lists; wine here is with dinner rather than the point of the evening.
4. Downtown Apex restaurants
Salem Street’s restaurants keep short lists that work for a glass with a meal.
Choosing a wine night
Buying a bottle to take home: a Cary wine shop. Sitting down for two glasses and a plate of charcuterie with music: Aqua Vitae.
FAQ
Is there a wine bar in Apex NC?
Aqua Vitae functions as Apex’s wine bar, with red, white, sparkling and Champagne by the glass.
Does Aqua Vitae have non-alcoholic wine?
Yes, zero-proof wine is available by the glass.