New neighborhood wine destination, APT 115 situated on the ground floor of 7East Urban Homes in East Austin, is now open. APT 115 offers a thoughtfully curated wine list highlighting a number of off-the-beaten path wines, from region to varietal, all the while keeping value in mind.
Austinite, musician and hospitality veteran Joe Pannenbacker curates the wine list, which changes daily. He also designed the intimate space, which comfortably seats up to 20, to make guests feel as if they haven’t left home while trying wines that span the globe. That’s to say though that guests won’t need to worry about pretension or fuss often associated with some oenophile spots, because at Pannenbacker’s spot, rules are thrown by the wayside. The home-like space elicits the feeling of gathering at a friend’s place for a great night in; albeit one with great, yet eclectic taste, who knows their stuff when it comes to wine and vinyl for that matter.
The aim is to give fine dining service in a laid-back atmosphere. While Joe himself isn’t a sommelier but to him that’s all a part of the plan. “Wine to me is like music. It’s meant to be fun,” said the owner and curator. “When Eddie Van Halen was asked who taught him, he said, ‘I didn’t go by the book, I wrote that book.’ And that’s exactly what I am trying to do here. Sometimes we work outside the rules but the aim is to always help guests enjoy wine without any intimidation factor, facilitate fun and let people enjoy the music, or in this case, the wine and the music.”
APT 115’s wine list has a strong focus on boutique North American wineries but also features a great selection of off-the-beaten-path wines from Tikves, a 2015 white varietal from Macedonia, Rkacieteli priced at $7/glass to the 2017 Southtold Farm + Cellar’s Call of The Brave, an excellent Sangiovese, Cab Franc from the Texas High Plains. Ranging from $7 to $400, the breadth of the list varies greatly, and guests can also find exceptional value in exciting and unique, sometimes funky, wines that you won’t find on many lists around town. With a retro vibe (the wine list stored in an 1970’s trapper keeper), an exclusive wine menu that changes daily, and light bites, APT 115 has during its soft launch quickly amassed a group of regulars who flock to the space for the daily wine by the glass offerings, as well as a thoughtfully beer program which features rotating beers on tap that are both local and from around the world, local craft beer in cans, large formats and ciders. Wines by the glass are available from $7 with beers beginning at $3.
Born and raised in Austin, Pannenbacker has concurrently always had a true passion for music. A musician himself, having toured with artists such as Black Joe Lewis and playing in a number of Austin bands including Think No Think, and at APT 115 guests he plays vinyls from his personal collection.
Situated on the ground floor of 7East Urban Homes in East Austin, APT 115 is located at 2025 East 7th Street, Austin, TX 78702. APT 115 is open seven days a week from 5pm-11pm, though they pour until midnight. Retail wine is available for purchase and is 30% lists price and the apartment is also available for buyouts.
For more information visit www.apartmentonefifteen.com or check out: https://www.facebook.com/apartmentonefifteen/ and @apartmentonefifteen on Instagram.