Best Of CLE: Wine Flights

Lindsay Smith was used to ordering wine by the bottle, until a trip to Bourdeaux, France, turned her on to the shockingly unpretentious idea of three-sip flights.

The simple way of drinking wine inspired her to open Flight Cleveland, the flight-focused Gordon Square Arts District wine bar last December. The spot, which delivers an unfussy mode of vino exploration in the exposed-brick, uber-modern setting of an Instagram influencer’s dreams, is centered around a 29-bottle Cruvinet system that dispenses wine like draft beer. It allows Smith to curate a seasonal menu of 13 wine flights, which showcase a wide range of varietals and regionals.

Netflix and Chile ($11), features entirely Chile-sourced pinot noir, cabernet and the rare sweetly tart Sauvignon Bree. I Can’t Believe It’s Not France ($9) surprises by pulling American-made versions of three traditionally Euro grapes, while the Basic B-tches ($9.50) gives the big three — pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay — a twist by replacing the usual tastes with surprising French grape expressions.

“It’s fun for us to find these little gems and get to put them out there,” says Smith. 5712 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-400-6867, flightcleveland.com

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Celebrate with us at the Best of Cleveland Party Friday, Oct. 25 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.