January’s Where to Drink Now: Table Wine

“What’s for dinner?” is the first question Ernesto Vega will ask when you step into Table Wine, the Queens, N.Y., bottle shop he opened in mid-November. The historic storefront was restored to its pre-war glory (think brass window detailing, a tin ceiling and refinished hardwood floors), but the focus, Vega will tell you, is on the wine. “It’s about food and friends, and the wines you want to bring home and share over a meal,” he says. Hand-written tasting notes accompany each wine from the 250-bottle selection, and most are priced between $10 and $20. “I want to encourage people to try out a smaller producer or new wine region,” Vega says, “and I’ve tried to price my wines to encourage that.” Vega’s current favorite? A $16 Verdiccio from Bisci in the Marche region in Italy—he says the bright acidity and salinity of the wine pairs perfectly with seafood, especially shrimp risotto.

Coordinates: 79-14 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, New York; 718-478-9463; twitter.com/tablewineny