Stave Wine Bar & Market, Normal IL

When searching online for new wine experiences to check out, the word “Stave” immediately pops off the screen.  Fortunately, such a search recently led me to Stave Wine Bar & Market.

When you step off the street into Stave, you are walking into a casual yet classy environment that instantly says “wine bar”. The market area near the door holds the bottles of wine available for purchase, the beautiful ceiling reminds you of wooden barrel staves, and I understand that the owner, Greg Rose, designed the interior and created or selected the artwork throughout.

Wine bars, especially in Central Illinois, that do not cater to a larger restaurant scene are hard to find. I love the smaller establishments that focus on serving quality wines and small plates.

The menu at Stave includes a wonderful selection of domestic and international wines; six white wines and six red wines by the glass or bottle. These are rotated out seasonally, approximately every quarter. There are additional wines (not on the menu) by the bottle available. In addition, they have a large variety of craft beers, ciders, and ales.

You certainly cannot pass up the fine selections of charcuterie and cheeses. During my visit I tried the Summer Sausage, which is hand-made locally by Destiny Meats, along with Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor (Goat Cheese). These choices were made by recommendation of my server and were excellent, while my wine of choice was a 2018 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon.

I’m looking forward to making another trip to Stave, and to share the experience with friends.

Stave Wine Bar & Market, 111 W North St, Normal, IL 61761