culture
Unwined: You’ll Find Me at Archive
This is going to come as a surprise to no one, but when my friends feel like heading out for a drink, I’m the guy in the group asking, “How about a wine bar?” Unless I’m with a group of seasoned wine drinkers, I’m usually met with some skepticism. That’s not to say that there isn’t interest or curiosity about discovering one of the great wine bars in the city, but it can be tough to find ones that are casual enough to be accessible while maintaining high standards.
Luckily, when I discovered Archive (909 Dundas Street West), I learned I could have it all. The atmosphere in the bar is relaxed and unpretentious, but still classy. A visit revolves around the ever-changing blackboard with an expansive “by the glass” menu, where wines are poured in 3oz or 5oz servings. The small serving size means you get to explore more of the menu.
The wine list at Archive features about 50% Ontario wines. You will find a couple examples of core Ontario varietals including riesling, chardonnay, and cabernet franc. But what really stands out are unique bottles like the zweigelt from Lailey, or the Fielding Lot S-F Viognier. The zweigelt is a varietal only found at a few wineries in Ontario. It strikes a balance between dark colour and lighter fruit flavours. The Fielding Lot S-F viognier is an “orange wine”, and the winery only produced 408 bottles.
By the bottle, the wine list gets even more interesting, with Ontario gamays listed alongside very good cru beaujolais (some of the most underrated wines on the planet). The markup on most bottles is lower than any wine bar I have ever visited.
If you have no idea what to order the staff will be more than happy to help find a wine to suit your palate. If you’re feeling lucky, you can order one of the flights where you get three glasses of wines built around a theme. If you’re feeling really lucky, you can order a blind flight and leave your taste buds in their hands.
The food menu is focused and designed to be an easy match with whatever is being poured. Charcuterie, cheeses, olives and nuts are available if you just want a few nibbles. There is a selection of small plates available to share if you’re looking for something a little more substantial. I highly recommend the steak tartare.
In short Archive is a great place to take a first date if you want to impress them with your knowledge of wines (just point at the blackboard … you’ll be fine) without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a quiet space to impress a client same thing goes. If wine isn’t your thing, you will still find a nice selection of spirits and beers by the bottle or can.
You can also frequently find co-owner, Joshua Corea, behind the bar. His philosophy behind the wine list is that he wants to pour only “the great wines.” Let me assure you that Archive delivers.