Epicure

Six years ago, Chris Spann and his wife, Shannon Wood, started The Wine Market— a café, wine bar and wine shop all under one roof.  And like a fine wine— and with a new renovation by Charles Patterson of SMG Architects— it’s aged beautifully. There’s more depth in the lighting, the beams in the ceilings are more visible, the front and back bar have been revamped with an industrial steel look (in keeping with the character of the old warehouse in which the market resides).  There’s also a wine wall that Patterson says creates “beauty through repetition,” where wines are now prominently displayed.  Says Spann, “In our original design, we tried to work with the large beams and columns and the character it had, and because we were doing it within a budget, we leaned on that a lot. So now we’ve reinvested and tried to add more sophistication to show off the great character of the space.” And sophisticated it is— as well as warm and inviting.  Add to that Lucien Walsh as the new wine director, overseeing the 900-bottle selection and more than 30 wines by the glass (not to mention the pan-seared spiced sea scallops with braised speck risotto, and a kitchen that’s now big enough to bake bread), we’re talking a complete package.  Says Spann, “This is just another step in trying to put together top-notch food in an environment that lives up to its cuisine.” 921 E. Fort Ave., 410-244-6166, http://www.the-wine-market.com