I'll jump on the wine bar bandwagon...

Since it's Passover and I won't be partaking in too many gastonomic delights this week, I decided to dedicate this post to a passion of mine: wine bars.

In Vino: A teeny piece of Tuscany in the East Village, this is a fantastic date place with a wine list that rivals, well, a very prolific one. The 12 or so pages of wines listed are categorized by region in Italy and the waiters are all well-versed in which wine best complements, say, the porcini ravioli with truffle cream sauce. I can personally vouch for the beef carpaccio (the parmigiano and arugula are the key here), the homemade gnocchi (insanely rich yet delicate enough to polish off) and the Tuscan Chianti.

Uva: Another Italian haven on the Upper East Side, Uva is another wonderful place to go with friends or a date. The patio in the back is adorably adorned with vines and space heaters in the winters which made for a super cozy meal of Pinot Grigio, amazingly creamy and fresh (I'm talking straight from the cow fresh) mozzarella with fava beans and yellow tomatoes, homemade papardelle with veal ragu and a duck carpaccio. HIGHLY recommended for both the atmosphere and the incredibly authentic, fresh Italian delights!

Tarallucci e Vino: Probably holds the most wine bar memories for me as the Viognier, Müller Thurgau and Gruner Veltliner completely transport me into white wine heaven. The homemade pastas (tagliatelle and gnocchi with wild mushrooms are a must) as well as the extensive cheese list make this one of those places that you just simply cannot gather the strength to leave.

Runners-up: Gottino (the latest gastroteca), 'ino, Accademia di Vino