served at cellar temp

Favorite Houston wine bar uncorks private label bottles for fans near and far

Sample the wine for $13 by-the-glass.

Courtesy of 13 Celsius

One of Houston’s most popular wine bars has added its own private label bottles to its extensive inventory. Dubbed Patina, the brand will serve as an extension of Midtown favorite 13 Celsius’s mission to encourage Houstonians to drink better wine.

True to its name, each label will feature artwork inspired by 13 Celsius’s historic building in the heart of Midtown. For general manager Adele Corrigan and owner Ian Rosenberg, sourcing unique vintages seemed like a good way to expand 13 Celsius’s reach without opening a second location.

“This idea was born out of ongoing discussions for the past 10 years of whether or not to open a second location, and how to bring 13 to a broader range of people,” Corrigan tells CultureMap. “We decided a creative option to make 13 more accessible would be to do private label selections. That way Houston wine lovers have a new option — whether they be new to 13 C, former regulars who have moved away, or people who are already fans and want to enjoy 13 from the comfort of their home. They can also gift their favorite wine bar to friends and colleagues.”

Corrigan and Rosenberg are working with a local importer to handle Patina’s logistics. For their first release, they selected a wine made with Barbera grapes from Piedmont in northern Italy. The sommelier tasted the wine during a visit to Italy in 2023 and wanted to share it with Houstonians.

Branded Patina “Due Gelsi,” it’s described as a “medium-to-full-bodied red wine with red fruit notes, a slightly earthy character, firm tannins, and a balanced finish.” Currently available for $13 by-the-glass or $47 for a bottle, it debuted on the list in time for the wine bar’s 17th anniversary on New Year’s Eve.

“It was a wine that works with or without food and is something I would want to drink every day,” Corrigan explains. “Knowing our customers’ palates, I knew with the first taste, our guests would make the connection between the wine and how it personifies the old world character of our space.”

Future releases will focus on other European wines that aren’t currently available in Texas. Expect more details to be made available soon.

nightlife wine

return of the mack

Houston restaurateur steps up with massive River Oaks-area steakhouse

Courtesy of Mack Allen's

A rendering previews the Champagne Room, one of three private dining spaces.

A massive new steakhouse is coming to the River Oaks area this summer. Meet Mack Allen’s, a new project from Rouxpour owner Mack McDonald that’s scheduled to open in July.

While McDonald is primarily known for his casual dining concepts, Mack Allen’s is a step up in terms of design, experience, and quality. To bring the vision to life, McDonald has assembled a team of hospitality veterans, including executive chef Carlos Andrade (The Rouxpour. Brennan’s of Houston, etc.) and general manager Shaun Stockton (Turner’s, Vic & Anthony’s, etc.).

Located in the 5POP office tower at 4400 Post Oak Pkwy, Mack Allen’s will occupy 16,000 square feet on the 28-story building’s first floor. Led by Montgomery Roth Architecture & Interior Design, the space has been divided into a main dining room, a fully landscaped patio with fire and water features, and three private dining rooms

The Boardroom, designed for business meetings with full A/V capabilities
The Champagne Room, designed for luncheons, bridal showers, and other celebrations
The Estate Room, a 60-seat room with its own bar.

Once seated, customers will dine on a menu created by Andrade and regional chef Manuel “Manny” Viveros. It includes prime beef, raw and chargrilled oysters, sushi, seafood, and luxury add-ons such as caviar and truffles. More information about specific dishes and preparations will be shared closer to opening.

“At Mack Allen’s we’ll embrace a guest-first philosophy of always saying yes — yes to anything we can do to make our guests feel welcome and valued,” Stockton said in a statement. “This isn’t just about exceptional food. It’s about creating a place where hospitality leads everything and guests feel a true sense of belonging.”

Courtesy of Mack Allen's

A rendering previews the Champagne Room, one of three private dining spaces.

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