When so many new exciting concepts open in Houston all the time, it’s easy to forget the OG: 13 Celsius. And it’s delightful to discover that it hasn’t lost any of its sparkle over the years. Houston’s wine scene was a very different place when 13 Celsius opened in 2006. It’s kept up with the times with a list that offers approachable as well as of-the-moment selections (hello, “super-natty red wines”), while still catering to those who might appreciate—and have the wallet for—a premier cru Burgundy or vintage Champagne. The bar also makes a mean cheese and charcuterie plate.

Next door to Italian restaurant Paulie’s, this is the wine bar you want in your neighborhood. Spacious while retaining the coziness of a living room, Camerata also offers some of the city’s most affordable pours, with three-ounce glasses as low as $6 and many six-ounce options in the $12–$14 range. The list, which changes every day, comes with a fun little intro that tells the “Cam Fam” what to expect that night—a Chenin pét-nat from Australia, perhaps, or a Mexican sauvignon blanc. The affordability carries over to the food, too. We’re obsessed with the $3 mini bowl of quail eggs and the (extremely generous) $6 bread plate that comes with an addictive caramelized onion butter. Want something completely different? Delve into Camerata’s sake selection.

This wine bar in the Montrose Collective is a great option for happy hour, when the sun is still up and streams through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Fiora’s corner space in the new development is great for people-watching, too—it’s not often you get to watch foot traffic go by in Houston. The concise wine list keeps it simple, with a smattering of selections primarily from Italy, Spain, France, and California. Fiora’s also highlights different producers or regions with a rotating wine flight ($25 for three pours).

If you don’t fear the funk, this spot is for you. Light Years rode the natural wine wave shortly after it arrived (fashionably late) in Houston, becoming the first bar in the city dedicated to the stuff when it opened in 2018. Come here for all sorts of organic, biodynamic, low-intervention, insert-buzzword-here juice, none of which are written down on a list, encouraging a conversation with your bartender. There’s plenty of room to sit inside the cute converted bungalow, either at the bar or a table, or sit outside on the patio.

A sister concept to Rosie Cannonball and March, located right next door, MCW is part cheese shop, part wine shop, and if you mosey to the small but charming patio, you also have yourself a wine bar. The list leans toward lesser-known selections; you might find an Austrian bubbly, a California albariño, or a South African Cinsault. If you get peckish or tempted by the cheese case you walked past on entering, order one of MCW’s boards or spring for the warm brie with preserves. Not enough cheese for you? Every winter starting in mid-October, the bar hosts a raclette party on the patio once a month.

A relatively new addition, Padre’s is another one of those spots that’s a bottle shop and wine bar all in one. The spacious and sparsely decorated main room feels a little clinical, but the small patio in the back has its charms. Friendly staff will help you find something you like on the wine list, which is focused on discoveries like a field blend of marsanne, roussanne, and chardonnay from Argentina’s Uco Valley; and other under-the-radar selections from Italy, Austria, South Africa, and beyond. Leave some room for a snack—the $12 crab roll is teeny-tiny but satisfying.

Stepping into the hole-in-the-wall Reata feels like entering owners Sandy Epps and Mary Dodson’s home. Their style of hospitality is more like hosting than serving—they mingle, they socialize, they remember your first name. The day’s selection is scribbled on a blackboard: four whites, four reds, and an option to taste any four for $18. The latter is a great deal, as the pours are quite generous. And you must let them make you a cheese and charcuterie plate, which they customize after asking a few questions about your taste preferences.

Stella’s—which, we will have you know, is named after owner Tilman Fertitta’s pet pig—shares a wine cellar with Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning Mastro’s Steakhouse at the Post Oak Hotel. Expect premium and classic selections here, the kind of place where you could have a $48 glass of Domaine Leflaive if you so choose. We particularly appreciate the “Explore” section of the list: themed tasting flights of three wines of a specific region, producer, or style. The food at Stella’s is what you’d expect for this area: overpriced for what it is, but does the trick if you’re hungry.

The Library is without a doubt the best new wine bar you’ve never heard of—unless you live in Spring Branch, in which case, just know that we envy you. Fittingly, there are books everywhere: on bookshelves on every wall and even displayed in the bar’s glass countertop. Look a little closer and you’ll realize every single book is wine-related. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about the well-curated selection that includes everything from esoteric Savoie and Jura wines to cult-favorite Italian and Spanish producers. There’s a “Head Librarian’s Preferred Drinking List” section for those who want to order a bottle but need help choosing. Oh, and the food here is stellar, too. Opt for a smoked salmon flatbread and end with an affogato.

Vinology is a robust wine shop that happens to have a small bar inside it. Tuesday’s all-day happy hour gets raucous (in a good way), so if that’s your scene, try to find a stool at the U-shaped bar and browse the day’s specials on the two blackboards. A small one shows by-the-glass pours while a larger one displays tasting flights like a producer focus or a deep-dive into one grape. The staff is friendly and always willing to pour you a taste of something to help you decide.