What do you like to do in your free time? For wine lovers, the answer to that question almost certainly involves a glass of wine and something delicious to eat, preferably shared with good company. In South Lake Tahoe, locals and visitors come to the Idle Hour to fill life’s leisurely moments with great food and wine in a stunning lakeside setting.
Opened by Lake Tahoe local Karen Walsh in 2018, the wine bar earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence earlier this year. It occupies a converted lakefront office building and doubles as an events venue, with a large panoramic deck offering sweeping views of the lake. If you ask Walsh and her team, it’s the best place to watch the sunset in Lake Tahoe, hands down.
Local California Gems and Beyond
Wine director and general manager Alex Reber oversees a program of 300 wines, with more than 2,000 bottles in the cellar. More than 40 pours are available by the glass, including 10 dessert wines. Ten tasting flights are on offer, including a local flight spotlighting Sierra Foothills producers and a luxury flight featuring pours from Frank Family, Chateau Montelena and others. The Idle Hour hosts regular tastings, typically highlighting local producers, as well as special wine-pairing dinners, the most recent being a five-course meal featuring Twomey and Silver Oak.
Reber told Wine Spectator that she’s proud of the Idle Hour’s commitment to representing local wineries. She also highlights the ongoing expansion of the wine bar’s Old World offerings to complement the list’s strength in New World wines. “At the Idle Hour, we believe wine is a celebration of diversity, craftsmanship and discovery,” Reber said, “We are dedicated to curating a selection that not only highlights the rich tapestry of the world’s vineyards but also fosters an engaging and educational experience for our patrons.”
In an age of rising wine prices, the list offers impressive value, with most bottles under $100 and many under $50. While there’s no shortage of famous names—Trefethen, Argiano and many more—the beauty of Reber’s list lies in the surprises and the less familiar names, particularly the many California wineries located in regions beyond Napa Valley and Sonoma.
Whether you’re in the mood for an old standby (there’s no shortage of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon) or are feeling adventurous, plenty of delights await. The list particularly rewards vinous curiosity. When’s the last time you saw Brachetto, Cienega Valley sparkling Sangiovese, dry Tokaji and four California Barberas in the same wine program?
From Charcuterie to Fondue: A Bite for Everyone
The tinned fish, potato chips and other ready-made snacks available at many wine bars are delicious, but sometimes you want something more substantial to accompany your libation. To that end, chef Rob Schmidt’s menu focuses on hearty small plates and shareable dishes, all crafted to complement a glass of wine and please a range of appetites. (Nuts, olives and pickled vegetables are also available for when just a snack will do.)
The small plates include several crowd-friendly dips, such as pesto burrata, spinach artichoke with chèvre cream cheese, and cucumber caprino with honey and pistachios. There’s also a grilled brie sandwich, a lobster roll, shrimp ceviche, slow-roasted pork and more.
The Idle Hour’s charcuterie boards feature cured meats from Journeyman Meat Company in Sonoma. Pizza lovers will enjoy offerings of pinsa, a style of flatbread that originated in Rome, including one with olives, artichoke hearts, goat cheese, onion and pepperoncini. For a truly indulgent, wine-friendly option, try the cheese fondue, available with your choice of bread, veggies and cured meats.
The Idle Hour is open seven days a week, from noon until closing.
