Wine Bar Heaven
From award-winning vineyards to Disney springs Master Sommelier, George Miliotes, brings us Wine Bar George
Last month I had the absolute pleasure of dining at this one of a kind bar and I am already dying to go back! From the knowledgeable wait staff, to the flavorful food and drinks, this is a Disney MUST DO!
Meet the Master:
If you have never heard of a Master Sommelier before, don’t worry. It is probably because there are currently only 269 individuals who have earned this prestigious title in the entire world! And how lucky are we that one of them, George Miliotes, has come to Disney Springs to share his talents with us! In fact, Wine Bar George is actually the only Master Sommelier-led wine bar in all of Florida.
George Miliotes is not new to the Disney scene. Have you ever dined at California Grill on a previous trip to the Walt Disney World Resort? Well, George was one of the original founders and General Managers. California Grill is easily one of our favorite restaurants on property, thanks George! And are you familiar with the upscale chain restaurants, The Capital Grille and Seasons 52? Master Miliotes used to be the Beverage and Hospitality Director for almost 20 years! Also not surprising, Seasons 52 is one of my favorite off property restaurants. That is, until he decided to come back to Disney and start his own venture, Wine Bar George.
What is a Master Sommelier you may ask? By definition it is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. George was granted this certification by passing a series of rigorous exams that required him to be able to identify wines by taste, aroma and sight. Can you imagine how many years of studying and research that must take? Wine Bar George alone serves over 140 different wines! Not only has Master Miliotes already earned this highly honorable title, but he still continues to study wine on his annual trips to vineyards all over the world.
About WBG-
Wine Bar George opened in May of 2018 and I can’t believe I hadn’t experienced it before now! But don’t let the name fool you. In addition to the amazing whites and reds, they also serve international beers, cocktails and frozen drinks. Like my personal favorite, the Frozcato with Pineapple Dole Whip! Although, I must go back and try the Frose’ (Frozen Rose’) and the Friezling (Riesling with Dole Whip Lime) which I know will be equally amazing. Especially on those hot Florida days! And the best part is that Wine Bar George offers their own custom Corkcicle that comes with your choice of a frozen drink!
But remember to bring your Corkcicle back on your next visit to Disney Springs. Stop by at The Basket (quick service window), located right below the bar, to refill it for ONLY $10! During COVID, they are now offering refills in a plastic cup. But you still have to bring the tumbler as proof to receive the refill. And then of course you can always pour it into your Corkcicle and enjoy as you stroll and shop your way around Disney Springs. In addition to award-winning libations, you can also indulge in some amazing small plates, boards, and entrees to accompany your glass! Check out the Food section below for more details.
Wine Time-
Even wine connoisseurs could be intimidated by their wine menu. But, not to worry because the staff at Wine Bar George is the best of the best! They may not be Master Sommeliers, but they definitely know their way with wine. As someone who enjoys wine but isn’t the most knowledgeable, I relied on Jairo. Jairo is a Wine Sommelier at WBG and could not have been more amazing! If you ever have a question, he is your man! What I love about this bar is they offer 1 ounce pours! Feeling adventurous and want to try different wines from all over the world? Then this is THE place to do it!
My husband and I tried 7 different 1 ounce pours and I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite! They were all so amazing! And it was all thanks to Jairo’s assistance! He told us where it was all from, what it was made with, what you should taste on your pallet and what pairs nicely with a glass of it. Thanks to his direction based on my regular liking, I now found 7 more wines that I absolutely love! I am a white wine drinker and tend to usually have a Riesling, Moscato, Prosecco or Rose’. So if you enjoy dry reds, these may not be for you. But, I can assure you they have awesome reds to try! I had the pleasure of trying Selbach-Oster from Germany, Domaine Weinbach from France, Chateau De Beaucastel from France, the Nigl from Austria, Leeuwin Estate from Australia, Brega from Spain and Bien Nacido from California. 5 whites, 2 reds, all ones I would absolutely order again!
Whiskey Sippin’-
Are you or do you know anyone that is a fan of great whiskey? George himself discovered Hooten Young American Whiskey. And if George discovered it, you know it is good! The whiskey has been aged 12 years and is served in a new cocktail called, The Hoot. This elegant drink mixes Hooten Whiskey, Creme De Cassis, and a splash of Ginger Beer. I would not call myself a huge whiskey drinker and I loved it! My husband, who does enjoy a nice whiskey, loved it as well. It is very smooth, refreshing and colorful cocktail. Definitely a nice sip while you sit and enjoy the stunning views from the rooftop.
Food Pairings-
Wanting some meat and cheese to go with your glass of wine? Wine Bar George has the best Artisanal boards for your accompaniment. The cheese and charcuterie boards were so fresh, it was if it had all been sliced right then. And the honeycomb on the cheese plate was incredible! It really adds an extra layer of flavor to the cheeses. You can order a cheese board or a charcuterie board individually, or go for the big board that includes both! Any of the three options are plenty big enough to share. They also offer various small plates like hummus, salad, meatballs, burrata and more! We ordered the crispy mac and cheese bites and they were delicious! The marinara sauce had so much flavor!
For Your Meal-
While Wine Bar George is the perfect place to go have drinks with friends, if you are looking for a nice enjoyable meal to go along with it, they’ve got that too! My husband and I ordered the skirt steak, which is actually a family style meal. (Serves 2-4) It was hands down the best skirt steak I have ever eaten! The chimichurri sauce on it was divine. So much flavor in every bite!
To end the night, we indulged in a key lime pie for dessert. This Florida favorite did not disappoint. It was definitely a great light and refreshing choice after our giant meal. On their menu they also have a dessert called, The Chocolate Experience. This includes a pairing demonstration of three wines and three chocolates. Wine and chocolate? Yes please!
