House Wine fits right into the eclectic Bouldin Creek neighborhood off South First Street in South Austin. With its brightly painted walls and lush floral decor, this cozy wine bar has been a staple in the community since opening its doors in 2008.
Over the years, guests have celebrated birthdays, engagements and anniversaries while sipping perfectly curated glasses of wine on the patio and making new friends.
“What I love about this place,” Owner Kerry White said, “is that people tell me all the time that coming to House Wine feels like being at a house party. Different groups of people start chatting with one another and bonding over their love of wine. So many of my regular customers have met their boyfriends or girlfriends or have gotten engaged here. It’s magical.”
Hailing from San Diego, White opened the wine bar because she missed sitting on a greenery-covered patio, enjoying a favorite glass of wine and catching up with her friends.
“When I moved to Austin, places like this didn’t really exist,” she said. “I guess I was a little homesick and wanted to go somewhere that I loved, so the wheels started turning, and before I knew it, I was opening House Wine.”
After 16 years at the Josephine Street location, she reopened last September, a mile down the road. Much of the old place, including the House Wine memberships, is still present in this new spot.
It offers a tiered wine club designed for enthusiasts seeking to explore boutique producers and emerging trends. Memberships start at $29 per month and provide benefits such as discounts on to-go bottles, in-house purchases and personalized recommendations from sommeliers.
Members of tiers 2 and 3 can join complimentary monthly tasting parties led by industry experts and guest winemakers. These gatherings offer members the opportunity to sample their monthly selections, discounted bottles of wine, enjoy appetizers and connect with fellow wine enthusiasts. Members also receive discounts on guest tickets and additional featured wines.
“Investing in one of our signature membership tiers is a wonderful way to broaden your wine knowledge and your palette,” White said. “It’s an investment in yourself while making new friends and exploring delicious wines from all over the world.”
“Coming to House Wine feels like being at a house party.”