In a beautiful, historic stone building nestled on the corner
of picturesque Main Street Spearfish, appreciation of wine and design is being
taking to a whole new level in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota…pun
intended. Level Design Lounge acts as
the anchor to a bustling downtown block, offering much for wine lovers and wine
newbies to enjoy.
Beautiful, historic stone buildings.
Inviting from the outside in.
Level’s wonderful ambiance starts before ever entering the
door to the lounge. The entire building
(and those surrounding it) is constructed of large sandstone blocks, speaking
of a simpler time. The instant one
enters, the décor is modern yet inviting at the same time. A seating area of mosaic mirror-topped tables
is near the bar, and other smaller seating areas are dotted throughout the
lower level. Home décor, jewelry, art,
and wine supplies for purchase are found throughout. The upper level is a true lounge area,
sporting such comfy looking couches one can barely wait to grab a glass of wine
downstairs before relaxing with a friend, chatting on the couches above.
Reusing wine bottles as interior art.
Lounge area, ready for wine and relaxing.
What a beautiful interior!
Once settled in the comfort of the coolest space ever, now
is the time for wine. Level has a nice list of
by-the-glass options, from white blends to Chardonnays to Pinot Noirs to
Zinfandels, with many in between. The
by-the-bottle list is even more impressive for an establishment of its
size. Whether one is in the market for a
reasonably priced Moscato or is going all out for a budget-breaking Opus One,
the bottle choices have every aspect covered.
I particularly appreciated some very unique varietals not found just
anywhere: a Picpoul Blanc, a Gruner
Veltliner, and a Cabernet Franc. We all
know that these wine choices deserve at least some finger foods for
pairing. Cheeses, meats, breads, olives,
hummus, and chocolates make up combination plates to please any palate.
My wine and cheese.
Loved the glass top tables!
If a great atmosphere with excellent wine and light food
options is not enough, Level is still the stop to make. Its events are first class and are worth the
drive from any spot in the Black Hills.
Level has fun holiday events, such as a masquerade for Halloween, but
the establishment also hosts monthly wine tastings with musical entertainment;
the event is open to the public, but free for members of Level’s wine
club. Level also holds some very, very
special wine events. Three winemakers
have hosted tastings at level in the past six months—Gary Wooten of
Croze-Wooten Wines, Sean Minor of Four Bears Wines, and Erik Miller of Kokomo
Wines. These one-of-a-kind events are so
important in our somewhat remote area, offering attendees the ability to learn
more about wine in order to appreciate wine on a whole new level…again, pun
intended. The upcoming Riedel and Reds
event in December is yet another opportunity for Level to increase wine
knowledge and enjoyment in our little area of the American west.
Your Sweet Sommelier with winemaker Gary Wooten.
Enjoying one of the wonderful seating areas at a winemaker tasting event.
Yes, Spearfish is one of the most beautiful and charming
communities in the Black Hills. Its
quaint downtown made of gorgeous historic sandstone buildings is a site to
see. Though Spearfish boasts many
businesses worth a stop, Level Design Lounge is also a must. The inviting atmosphere from the moment one
sees the building is only increased by the wine, small plates, and events. This business is a Black Hills beauty and
wins the award for helping wineauxs appreciate wine on a whole new level!
