The First Timer’s Guide To Drinking in Austin

I found this little spot on Austin’s Do512.com website one day. The DoStuff network keep locals in the loop of daily activities and events throughout the months here in the city.

Erika and her husband are the store owners of this wine tasting establishment up in North Austin. Inside they have black-clothed tables already set-up, surrounded with chairs. You do the sitting, while her team welcomes your party in with their warming personalities.

Each week at Utopian Shift, an alternating list of over 10 wines ranging from reds to whites are provided to customers to sip on for free. The team prints out a menu so-to-speak the staff gets the privilege of trying various wines from their vendors before displaying them in their storeroom for sale. Utopian Shift’s motto is, “We drink a lot of bad wine so that you don’t have to!” which is true.

Occasionally at Utopian Shift the staff will offer chocolates or special cheeses with crackers. They want you to indulge with different pairings.

Once you’ve gotten a brief history of each type of wine and had the chance to taste them, the purchasing is left up to you! My first experience here was awesome right off the bat.

I’m not only a satisfied customer but a constantly returning one as these wine bottles range from only $4 to under $15 a bottle.