Barfly: Stop for a sip at Wine Exchange in Hyde Park Village

Saturdays should be spent relaxing poolside with a good read and a refreshing beverage. Or in a buddy's back yard grilling out with a cooler of cold ones. Beach bars are nice, too.

But as I got ready to move to Fort Collins, Colo., I spent the day stuffing belongings into boxes. By the time 10 p.m. arrived, I had to get out of my apartment.

I'm about a 10-minute walk from the Wine Exchange and arrived with only minimal sweat dampening the back of my dress shirt. I took a seat at the handsome bar. A few smartly dressed women who appeared to be in their 30s were seated to my left. Two men of about the same age and status occupied the bar, as well. The rest of the dozen stools were empty. Wine Exchange is more of a happy hour stop than night destination.

The bar features an excellent cocktail and beer selection, but I stuck to its terrifically extensive wine list. About 40 varieties of the almighty grape are available by the glass. I ordered the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($12). Each selection comes with a succinct description. This one read, "Crisp, Sancerresque quality coalesces with a citrus zeal that harkens good things to come." The dry, fruity wine — that's what "Sancerresque" means, I had to look it up — hit the spot.

I sipped from the killer crystal stemware and admired the beautiful room. During the day, its abundance of glass allows for ample natural light and provides a fantastic view of the well-heeled Hyde Park Village shoppers passing by. The positively vibrant artwork of Marc Seidenberg — a man I had a pleasant drink with during a previous visit — adorns the walls. A former co-worker introduced me to super attorney Barry Cohen on the same occasion.

Wine Exchange has been a South Tampa institution for nearly 20 years. Movers and shakers come to unwind after work and rehash the day's accomplishments. The bar area, which is often two or three deep, is a prime hookup spot for the professional, philandering and post-divorce set.

In March 2008, Wine Exchange moved from the outskirts of Hyde Park Village to its heart and the new digs have earned rave reviews. Let's hope that means it'll be a fixture for another 20 years.

I called the Hyde Park area home for two and a half years. If I ever make it back for a visit, my to-do list will definitely include a nostalgic glass of sauvignon blanc — or perhaps cabernet— at Wine Exchange.

This is Wade Tatangelo's final Barfly column. He can be reached at wtatangelo@hotmail.com.