‘Friendly’ wine bar opens blocks from the bay in SLO County. What’s on the menu?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coastwine opened in Morro Bay, offering approachable wines and bottles to-go.
- Bar stocks about 50 bottles now, plans to expand selection and rotate menu.
- Owner plans tastings, pop-ups and a wine club; open Thu–Sun afternoon hours.
An airy, affordable new wine bar is now pouring glasses of vino four days a week in San Luis Obispo County.
Coastwine celebrated its soft opening at 257 Morro Bay Blvd. in Morro Bay in early October, owner Amy Monroe told The Tribune.
The relaxed wine bar and shop offers a wide selection of Central Coast and international vintages from independent producers in an intimate space only blocks from the bay.
“It’s meant to be a friendly place where locals can enjoy a glass or flight of wine before dinner or pick up some bottles to go, and where tourists can experience some great wines even if they don’t have time to visit local wineries,” Monroe said.
How California retailer became small business owner
Opening a business in Morro Bay represents a homecoming for Monroe.
“I lived in this town about 20 years ago, right before I started in wine, and I’ve always just had a soft spot in my heart for it,” she said.
She began working on the Central Coast in the nonprofit world before embarking on a 22-year career in the wine industry which took her to the East Coast and Northern California.
Monroe worked at Best Cellars in Washington, D.C., spent time as the hospitality and events manager at Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and most recently served as the general manager of K&L Wine Merchants’ San Francisco location.
“As you move up in larger jobs, it becomes more administrative and sort of less about the wine and the people, and more about managing processes and managing people,” she said. “I really wanted to get back to the wine part of it, the part that I fell in love with.”
What is new Morro Bay wine bar Coastwine?
On a warm weekday afternoon, Coastwine was filled with sunlight that splashed across shiny white counters and cyan walls.
Wide windows swung open to let in coastal breezes into the welcoming wine bar as Monroe explained that the downtown Morro Bay business was crafted to be light and airy, with a slight feminine touch.
“I just really wanted to do something that felt ... modern and clean and inviting,” she said.
Fresh flowers sit on the L-shaped bar, which seats about 10 people. About 50 types of bottles for sale are organized on wine racks behind the bar.
Wine is available to sip by the glass, bottle or can on inside or at several turquoise tables located on the outdoor patio adjacent to the shop.
Monroe said it was essential that Coastwine felt like a approachable, laid-back drink spot lacking the pretension associated with the wine world.
“I try to take people as they come,” she said. “Some people want to talk wine with you, and some people don’t. Either way, it’s fine with me.”
Monroe plans to offer events at the new wine bar, ranging from winemaker tastings to small business vendor pop-ups, food trucks and live music.
In November, Coastwine will offer a five-wine tasting flight from bottles that perfectly pair with a Thanksgiving meal, she said.
What wines are on the menu?
Coastwine carries about 50 different varities of vino from small, independent producers from the Central Coast and France, Italy and Spain.
Monroe plans to double the shop’s wine collection in the months ahead.
Visitors can buy bottles to go at the wine shop or sit down at the bar and enjoy a flight of three pours, a glass of wine or a bottle off the menu.
Monroe crafts a new menu each week with rotating wines. Glasses are priced around $10 to $15, and most bottles cost between $20 and $40, she said.
“I want it to be reasonably affordable,” Monroe added. “I do, of course, have some things that are more expensive, but that’s where I feel the sweet spot kind of is. You can get really great quality in that price range.”
In the future, she intends to have a small snack menu that includes bites such as charcuterie and fancy nuts.
How much does wine club cost?
Coastwine has a wine club available for those who want to receive hand-picked wines. Patrons can choose to pick up two, four or six bottles each month, every other month or on a quarterly basis.
Subscriptions to the Coastwine wine club range from $60 a month for two bottles to $155 a month for six bottles, according to wine bar’s website.
When is new Morro Bay wine bar open?
Coastwine is open 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
