Postino Wine Cafe began in Phoenix, Arizona with a simple idea. The founders, Craig and Kris DeMarco and Lauren and Wyatt Bailey, wanted to recreate the small, yet friendly village wine bars they found in the Italian countryside. These bars and cafes served simple meals with flavorful local ingredients and paired them with the area’s best wines. Each one was relaxed, and entire evenings were spent there just hanging out over plates of Bruschetta. Could such a place survive in fast-paced Americana?

Postino, which  started in 2001, has grown to six locations, including the newest one just opened in the Highlands of Denver. Postino’s owners take pride in finding old, historic buildings and renovating them into beautiful spaces. The Denver location just happens to be in the former Denver Book Binding Company building, which was built in 1962. On the concrete floors, guests can still see spots and scratches from the company’s heavy book binding equipment. Owner Lauren even created a giant “book wall” across from the bar, using books as bricks.

Postino is not a typical Denver restaurant. The most important menu is the wine list, but that’s not to say the food isn’t delicious — actually, it’s amazing. However, the focus is on the wine. Bar Manager Dan Hildebrand says servers have daily wine tastings to ensure everyone understands the list, which changes seasonally. The current list has 27 wines, and a select few are exclusive to Postino. There are also wine racks at the front entrance with special and exclusive bottles that are available for purchase that are not listed on the menu, which is a fun way to experiment for those with adventurous palates. Best of all, Postino doesn’t have any re-corking fees, and guests who purchase these bottles can take them home.

While wine is the main focus, Postino and its staff are well aware that this new location is in Denver, the "craft beer capital of the world." The bar has 10 beer taps serving the best the state has to offer, including Funkwerks, Great Divide, Odell and Upslope. Also available are cans of Ska and bottles of Crooked Stave. There is also a rotating tap serving premium beers from across the country. Currently, Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing Prima Pils is available.

What guests won’t find at Postino are cocktails. There are no spirits here, just like in the traditional village bars in Italy.

Something else Denverites will enjoy is Postino’s all day happy hour. It begins at 11 AM and runs until 5 PM everyday. All wines by the glass and small pitchers of beer (serves two) are only $5. An even better deal is the Monday and Tuesday night Board and Bottle special — for only $20, guests can get a four-piece Bruschetta board with their choice of flavors and a bottle of wine. It can feed up to four people and is a complete meal for just two.

The Bruschetta Board is four large pieces of fresh baked bread (with gluten-free bread available for only $2 more) with a choice of 12 different toppings. A house specialty is the Tomato Jam & Fresh Sheeps Milk Cheese. The Tomato Jam, which is sourced from Arizona, is surprisingly sweet. A dish that's also perfect for those with a sweet tooth is the Ricotta with Dates and Pistachios. For some heat, try the Roasted Peppers with Goat Cheese, or choose the savory Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato & Basil.

Now that spring is finally here, enjoy a bottle of wine on the large dog-friendly patio overlooking downtown. There is also a Saturday and Sunday Brunch menu featuring $5 Mimosas and Bellinis. Postino is located at 2715 17th St.

Photos by Carrie Dow