This Elusive Underground Wine Bar Is Now Open To The Public

Cave Society is a subterranean wine bar inside the Hotel Vin in Historic Downtown Grapevine. What was once closed to non-members is now open.

It originally opened as a private wine club with a world-class wine selection and perks for cardholders, the main being access to this cave-like lounge. But with a membership, you can also get a 50% discount on bottled wines priced less than $250, invitations to exclusive events and many other perks.

There are two kinds of cards: the Vinter, which costs $1,500, and the Founder, which costs $2,500 and includes a complimentary valet at Hotel Vin, a wine locker and a complimentary stay at the hotel.

The wine destination still runs its member-only show, but now a few seats per evening are open to the public by reservation only. You can secure reservations through OpenTable for up to four people.
The menu starts with a collection of charcuterie-inspired snacks. There's a full charcuterie board, a cheese plate and other lighter snacks to accompany any wine you choose. After that are wines by the bottle and glass.

They source limited production, highly rated wines from around the world, and new and exciting vintages to support their community of wine lovers.
All the wines are served from a wine preservation system that maintains freshness, automatically decants the wine and brings every pour to the ideal serving temperature depending on the varietal.

Every wine comes in one, three or five-ounce pours. They're priced according to the wine, but some one-ounce pours start at $3, so it can be affordable to try many different wines.

We tried four varietals: Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay, Palermo Cab Sauv by Orin Swift, BACA Double Dutch Zinfandel and Borgogno No Name Nebbiolo.
We enjoyed all the wines, but the BACA Double Dutch Zinfandel 2022 was the most interesting. It comes from Dusi Vineyards, a boutique zinfandel winery in Paso Robles, California.

On the nose, it has a rich scent with a lot of dark fruit or dried fruit notes and just a touch of molasses, but when you taste it, the wine transforms with mouthwatering acidity and finishes on a wave of freshness. It doesn't taste anything like it smells, which makes it an interesting wine to taste and experience, even if you don't know much about wine.

Cave Society is an enjoyable experience that will give your next date night that extra oomph, but there are a few slips in the execution that took us out of the elusive and mysterious wine bar facade.

For starters, entry to the bar is at the bottom of one of the stairwells. Unless you're brought by one of the hosts, you'll think you're going the wrong way. Is it wrong to expect a little more grandeur to start the evening? Arriving at the bar feels more like a fire safety drill than a night out.

When you sit down, you're greeted by a server who doesn't serve you the wine. They bring a welcome glass of prosecco and complimentary snacks, then instruct you on using the machines to get the wines. You're given a small black Cave Society card that you tap on the machine to select your pours.
This could be how the seasoned vinos prefer their wines by the glass, but it had strong Dave & Buster's vibes for us. If you aren't familiar with what wine goes in what kind of glass, that can change your whole experience with whatever wine you choose.

Again, perhaps some aficionados prefer to have space for their curiosity. Still, if the bar is newly opened to the public, surely not everyone entering knows the difference between Old and New World wines. It's not the end of the world, but when you wait in line to tap a card to get a 5-ounce pour of wine, the whole underground vibe gets lost in the arcade essence.

Processes aside, we were able to try some unique wines from around the world and have an entirely new experience that no other wine bar in Dallas provides. And to that, we toast.

Cave Society, 215 E Dallas Road, Thursday - Saturday, 5-10 p.m., Sunday - Wednesday, closed.