Unplugged is the newest addition to downtown Tucson's burgeoning nightlife scene. This intimate wine bar is only 13 feet wide, but don't let the modest square footage fool you. The bar features an impressive selection of hand-crafted wines that you won't find anywhere else in town.
Soft muted colors, wood tables and dim lighting create an inviting setting to help you unwind, relax and chat with friends. The new venue set up shop in a historic downtown space that was completely renovated to accommodate custom tables, bar and kitchen.
Unplugged is an intimate new wine bar in downtown Tucson. — Photo courtesy of Unplugged Tucson
Owner Frank Lietzau opened Unplugged to fill what he saw as a void in the Tucson wine scene. The casual setting is patterned after European-style bars, where patrons are invited to stake out a table for a long night of sipping and talking.
While it carries top wine brands, Unplugged also offers find hard-to-find bottles imported from Germany, Italy and France. The bar also has a large selection of organic wine from small wineries in Arizona, California and the Pacific Northwest.
The bar hopes to widen the appeal of good wine by catering to both serious oenophiles and casual wine drinkers alike. To that end, the bar is staffed with experienced sommeliers who are available to answer all your wine questions. But the ambiance is deliberately friendly and laid-back, so information won't be forced on patrons. You can choose whether to learn more about the wine, or simply sit back and enjoy a glass.
Another house rule: no keg wine. Unplugged serves only rare and high-quality wine from small producers. In other words, don't expect to find stale, flat or lifeless wine here.
In addition to wine, Unplugged also features a small menu of food. Chef Pierce Van Ardoy created the bar menu to highlight the flavors of different wine varietals. Cheese plates, fresh-made paninis and salads are designed to make your wine taste even better.
Not sure where to start? Unplugged has six different wine flights to help you discover new varietals. Choose from a selection of whites, sauvignon blancs, fruity whites, reds, obscure varietals and pinot noirs from around the world. Wine flights start at $12.
If beer is your drink of choice, Unplugged also has a carefully selected menu featuring local craft brews and imported beers. Beer drinkers can also take advantage of the special beer flight, which offers a generous four-ounce pour of every beer on tap.
Live jazz is hosted during the week, and Unplugged is also launching a series of wine tasting classes. So far, Unplugged has generated raves from patrons, who have found a new favorite tasting room in Tucson.
