Feeling festive? How about celebrating the holidays with a Philly wine walk?

Readers may recall in my last column, I promised to check out some of Philly’s wine bars that are getting great reviews, especially those recommended on www.theinfatuation.com, and to report back. So, with my fun-loving, city-savvy cousin, Christian, who was game for the walking and drinking tour, we charted a plan to visit three restaurants noted for their wines by the glass and to indulge in a small plate or two at each. My thinking is this could be a fun thing to do with friends or family during the holidays while taking in the seasonal decorations, pop-ups like nearby Tinseltown, and maybe even some snowflakes along the stroll from stop to stop.

Its also a great excuse to walk around a lovely part of town, known affectionately as the “Gayborhood” (even comes up on OpenTable as such), and we visited some fantastic spots that live up to the praise.

Our first stop, Tria Café Wash West (1137 Spruce St., 215-629-9200, www.triaphilly.com) offered cozy candlelit nooks or more lively sidewalk tables, weather permitting. Our server Maryn said the wine list changes seasonally. Christian and I enjoyed a refreshing Bordeaux Rose: Caves de Rauzan 2023 Fleur that went down rather easily accompanying a yummy artichoke hummus with feta and grilled focaccia appetizer. Tria’s staff are welcoming, and the wine list has a sense of humor.

Next we hit Vedge (1221 Locust St., 215-320-7500, www.vedgerestaurant.com). Some of you may remember the longstanding restaurant, Deux Cheminees, that formerly occupied this building. Vedge does it justice as an exquisite vegan restaurant where I’m sure carnivores can find something satisfying. First and foremost, however, we were there for the wine. Ahem. That was until the signature cocktail menu caught our eyes.

We couldn’t help but deviate from our initial mission once the knowledgeable bartenders, Brian and Yvette, showed us a copy of the restaurant cocktail book released on Nov. 19, 2024, “The Vedge Bar Book.” Too tempting to pass up, I had an outstanding smoked, spicy Mezcal concoction called Mango No. 5 that was so deliciously satiating, I could have (and should have) called it a night after that.

Christian had an equally compelling gin martini variation with lion’s mane mushroom called Underdark. He described it as a cold, dirty martini with a just a hint of fungi. Many of the cocktail recipes are created and handcrafted by the resident bartenders and included in the book, which also contains a holiday section. Still, the wines are a focal point with a very diverse selection of which the bartenders can describe fluently.

After the mezcal, a little fresh air was welcome as we walked from Vedge to Superfolie (1602 Spruce St., www.superfoliephl.com). At this little French gem, it felt as though we were walking into a best-kept secret. The bartenders seemed to be on a laboratory mission muddling and mixing quietly behind the intimate bar. Though headache-wise, going from wine to a mixed drink and back to wine wasn’t the smartest choice, the Tempranillo was smooth and complemented the duck charcuterie. Christian enjoyed a Grenache Rose. I must admit, I had stopped taking notes by that point so I can’t share the vineyards or names. Suffice it to say, there’s probably not a “bad” wine on the list.

Our little wine stroll was really enjoyable and quite practical even for those who aren’t walkers. I loved the experience of sampling a variety of small plates and spirits at different restaurants with short reprieves between to take in the vibrancy of the city. And, as far as restaurant choices go, each outdid the last. I can imagine doing the same mini-tour during December and January with a festive backdrop and brisker air.

(It’s worth noting that each of these establishments offers mocktails and alcohol-free spirit options so non-drinkers can also enjoy a holiday wine walk, too.)

Natalie Pantaleo is a marketing communications consultant, brand strategist, and consummate storyteller based in the greater Philadelphia area. In addition to being a published features writer, Natalie is the author of “Lying Down with Dogs,” a novella globally released by The Awakened Press in September 2022.