Refucilo Winery

We were on our way to a Steelers preseason game when we passed by Refucilo Winery, a place we hadn't visited in a while. On a whim, I suggested we stop in. As we walked in, the staff mentioned that they rarely see Steelers fans come by before a game. I joked that we're a bit classic and prefer wine over beer.The visit started with a fascinating story I already knew. The owners have a winery in Mendoza, Argentina--a spot on our travel wish list. They own 5 acres of vineyards where they make and bottle the wine, then ship it to Pittsburgh. The owner, who happens to be a doctor in Pittsburgh, chose this location to bring a taste of Argentina to the North Side of the city.Everyone was incredibly welcoming. I opted for a glass of Malbec and asked which vintage was better. The server said both were excellent, so I chose the 2015. It had notes of blackberry, cherry, currant, plum, and raspberry, but the most intriguing aroma was a hint of something meaty. My wife went with the Sauvignon Blanc, which she enjoyed; it had lovely lemon-lime aromas, citrus notes, and a creamy finish.As we were sitting, the staff, including the owner, Juan, came out to chat. We got a good laugh when he told me that the chef in the back thought I was Ben Roethlisberger. Juan was very friendly and recommended I try something special--a 2018 Malbec Reserve. It was delicious, with a lighter body and fruity notes of vanilla, raspberry, blueberry, and plum. I loved it and would have bought a bottle, but we were heading to the game.Juan also had my wife sample a wine that smelled sweet but was on the drier side, though I can't recall the name. We talked a bit more about the wines, and he mentioned that the 2018 Malbec requires a lot of rain and that they plant the vines up to three feet deep to make it work.This visit was an unexpected delight, and I'm eager to return. I'd love to sit down and pick Juan's brain on wine. We're so glad we decided to stop in and can't wait to go back soon.

Randomly stopped in for a glass of wine while waiting for a dinner reservation. They had live music and the ambiance was a cozy vibe. The owner was lovely he explained everything to us and told us about his vineyards and even showed us pictures. The wine was great, so smooth and could taste all the notes. I would like to try their food, it smelled amazing! I would highly recommend and will be returning.

I cannot speak more highly of Refucilo Winery! It's such an intimate and lovely establishment. Juan absolutely makes the experience here. I attended an event hosted by the winery and a local foodie group over a year ago. My book club later hosted an event here and we enjoyed empanadas, stuffed mushrooms and so many yummy cheeses in addition to their wines. My husband is a little wine nerd so I decided this was the perfect spot for his 42nd birthday. We had the back room to ourselves, about 10-11 of us. Juan spoke to us about his winery telling his story and educating us on Refucilo's wines. It was such a intimate experience for our guests and my husband was over the moon about it. Even if you're in the neighborhood or making a special trip across town for a glass of wine and tapas, their service is always top notch. The tapas are delicious; especially the chicken empanadas and the flat bread. It's such a cozy setting on Western Ave. I look forward to date nights with my husband there after I have our baby girl!

Is it really an update if your score is still the same?I have to champion these people all day every day. Juan and Cecilia, their fried up front and everyone who works for them are the most genuine, kind, funny and knowledgeable people and the Tapas are always amazing. Everything comes out piping hot too.The one slight knock on them is that, on the food menu, they've gone back and forth on including how many empanadas or bacon wrapped dates, for example are in a serving and considering you order by serving, I feel like that's generally helpful knowledge. If you're in Pittsburgh, near north side, Come here!

Came here with a group of 6 and they were able to accommodate us by pushing two tables together. There's a good selection of wines by the glass, and tapas. On the tapas menu, "serving" = 1 piece. So come for snacks and a drink, but don't expect to get filled up.When we came on a Friday night they had live music going on outside, and some tables setup to watch it. Atmosphere is cool, and the wine and food all tasted great too.

A comfortable meeting place with good wine and friends! We will return often I am sure!!!

I had no idea this quaint little winery on Western Ave existed but I'm so excited that it does!I visited Refucilo on a Friday evening and sat on the back patio, it was fairly busy but my friend and I were able to get a table right away. The owners and staff were so sweet and attentive, stopping by our table a few times to see how we liked everything!We tried a few different red wines and appetizers and they were all delicious! The apps/tapas were also really affordable compared to other wineries I've eaten at as well. We didn't get a flatbread but overheard a man at the table next to us saying that he would pay double the cost of the prosciutto flatbread to eat it again, it was that good!!Anyway, highly recommend this spot.

Refucilo winery is the perfect destination for girls night out or date night. Their wines, imported from Argentina, are absolutely delicious. I was so impressed by the quality of the wine and handmade empanadas. 3 rounds later I was taking 3 bottles home with me!I really enjoyed experiencing Refuclio and witnessing the family & staff's passion. They were so hospitable. I loved hearing about the wine making process and seeing pictures from the vineyard. You can tell that this is the family's & staff's passion.I look forward to visiting again. Maybe I'll even try salsa night!

What a little gem Refucilo is. They're located on the North Side but their vineyard is in Mendoza's Uco Valley, surrounded by the Andes Mountains. I tried a flight of their thoughtfully crafted Argentinian wines and especially enjoyed the fruity 2017 Pinot Noir and single vineyard Malbec, one of the varieties this region is most known for. I proceeded to order full glasses of those, and take a bottle of the Pinot home with me.Refucilo has a fantastic tapas menu headlined by their delectable housemade empanadas. I had a few of these! I also had a stuffed mushroom with peppers and onions, and a cherry crumble dessert. Also at our table were flatbreads, hummus...lots of vegetarian options, which I appreciated.There's a bar seating area and a couple of more private seating areas you can call to reserve if you're coming in with a group. There is an outdoor patio for nice weather, too, and they host live entertainment there. Really nice people here, and they are turning out some excellent wine.

The place is so cute! Wine fantastic! The Jazz Trio playing the night we attended was very good! The owner is such a sweet guy! Check this place out! The empanadas here were amazing!