Postino picks perfect pad for new wine cafe: Dallas

Wine News

Food and wine from Postino.

Swanky new Postino Wine Cafe opens near Addison on August 7, representing a second coming of sorts in Dallas for the chic, Arizona-based chain.

Postino is the wine bar-restaurant founded in Phoenix in 2001 with wine as a centerpiece, available by the glass and bottle, as well as beer, charcuterie boards, panini, soups, salads, and snacks.

They made their Dallas-area debut in April 2021 in Deep Ellum, a neighborhood that fit their policy of re-purposing older buildings. The location earned nods for Best Wine Program, Top 5 Places for Wine and Beer, as well best place to get wine by the glass.

But facing changes in the neighborhood and a challenging parking situation, they closed Deep Ellum in March 2023. Thankfully, the Addison location is in Prestonwood Place, a shopping center with ample parking. (Though it's called Addison, the address at 5280 Belt Line Rd. in the former Meso Maya is actually Dallas.)

No two Postino locations are alike, and the Addison location boasts decor and fixtures honoring the city’s namesake, Addison Robert. The walls are bedecked with handwritten letters, and vintage typewriters can be found throughout the space.

The restaurant has also partnered with Addison-based vinyl record manufacturer Hand Drawn Records to create unique acrylic community tables and high-tops.

Chic, casual Postino Wine CafeJenn Duncan

Cofounder-CEO Lauren Bailey says that the wine list by location is equally as unique as the interior design. Each location changes up its wine list three times a year.

According to Bailey, 95 percent of their wines come from small-production wineries, and Postino's advanced sommelier Brent Karlicek will fly to wineries to vint selections that Postino guests won't find anywhere else.

For Addison, Karlicek has curated a list of 40-plus wines, and 30 domestic beers.

"When I tell you that Brent is obsessed with wine, that is an understatement," Bailey says. "It always surprises me even after all these years, his level of knowledge and the studious way that he goes about this. And we're pretty excited to bring some local beers to the table, as well."

The list offers something for novices as well as wine aficionados who know exactly what to pair with each plate.

"We have the hallmark favorites like pinot noir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, but we also source lesser-known varietals like Colombard, a French white, and Gruner Veltliner, a white most famously produced in Austria," she says.

They make it more enticing to try by offering deals during the day.

"We lower that risk for ordering something that you may not know you like, because we serve everything for $6 a glass during the day, seven days a week, until 6 pm," she says. "We like that programming because it gives people the opportunity to try something that they may not otherwise try."

Dishes like customizable charcuterie boards as well as small bites like meatballs & goat cheese are perfect for pairing with wines.

Postino's big presence in Texas — they're also opening locations in Southlake and San Antonio — is no coincidence: Bailey hails from San Antonio, and she’s been an ardent Texan all her life.

She'd been looking in Dallas for nearly a decade, recognizing its vibrant dining and nightlife culture.

"Dallas is one of the biggest cities for dining out in the country," she says. "Addison, in particular, is filled with people who love to do that."