Benjamin Franklin once said, “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” Relatively speaking, hard, hurried and tense hardly describe the lifestyle of our little island town, but Franklin did invent electricity and spectacles, so it couldn’t hurt to heed his advice and improve our daily lives with wine!

Happily, Coronado boasts several tasting and drinking options for all wine lovers, from novices to connoisseurs. I’m re-introducing Coronado Lifestyle’s wine column this month with an overview of the many places where Coronadans and visitors can enjoy a glass (or more) of grape here on the island (along with a few nearby environs.) Whether you are looking to learn more about wine, expand a notable wine collection, impress your date, or simply dissolve the stress of a workday, Coronado has a wine stop for you.

WineStyles blazed the wine-tasting trail on the island when it opened just over a year ago in Coronado’s “Downtown.” Its comfortable and friendly atmosphere offers all things wine related except snobbery. Patrons can enjoy wine tastings with live music every Thursday through Saturday (seven tastes to a flight), dine on imported cheese and olive selections, shop for unique wine gifts, browse over 180 boutique wines, or simply have a glass of wine and people-watch on the sidewalk patio. Red wine drinkers should try the Bianchi Malbec from Argentina – it’s rich, warm, and versatile. White drinkers will love the New Age Sauvignon Blanc – served over ice with a slice of lime, its subtle fizz and crisp finish make it a perfect spring and summer wine.

ENO is the Hotel Del’s sleek new wine room dedicated to providing an indulgent tasting experience. Tasters can choose from almost 500 varieties of fine vintage wines (with a focus on California wines), served either individually or in flights of three. Also available for your palette’s pleasure are 35 exotic cheeses, cured meats, olives, and handmade truffles and chocolate bars made by local chocolatiers. Ted Glennon, 27, the knowledgeable wine director of ENO, explains that everyone will feel welcome here. “Whether it’s wine, cheese or chocolate my guiding philosophy is, ‘Is it fun and is it delicious?’” Glennon sees to it that both sides of the equation are met with a visit to ENO.

When hunger calls and you’re also in the mood for a little vino, a delectable wine-pairing dinner at Tartine might be in order. Tartine is a charming European-style café that offers an unpretentious yet sophisticated menu. Once a month, the café offers a five-course meal and pairs a featured wine with each course. Depending on what’s being served, prices are between $49 and $69 per person, including tax and tip. Tartine also hosts “Women Who Wine” every Wednesday night, when they offer half-price bottles and glasses of wine. Men are welcome, too!

On the first floor of the Coronado Museum of Art building, Tent City Restaurant is another great place to sample delicious wines with yummy food. The sidewalk patio and small bar offer convivial spots for a pleasant wine-drinking experience. On Monday or Wednesday nights, half-price bottles of wine are offered…enjoy one with your meal or with an afternoon appetizer and a friend.

In Coronado, grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. Every other Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m, Boney’s Bayside Market offers a wine tasting featuring a few of the many wines they carry. Tasters enjoy five or six tastes in a flight, each paired with a savory cheese, for only $5. You’ll also receive a coupon for $5 off any bottle of wine in the store, good for two weeks after the tasting. It’s a great way to learn about wines in a casual atmosphere.

If you’re looking to venture off the island, the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center is a terrific place to learn about and enjoy wine. The center offers five different types of tastings, including “Sommeliers’ Choice” and “Ports and Dessert Wines,” accompanied by live jazz several nights throughout the month. In addition, the happy hour every Tuesday through Saturday from 5-9pm offers $5 glasses of wine. Perhaps what makes the center most unique is that every Wednesday they host “K-9’s-n-Wine” where wine-lovers are invited to bring their canine friends to mingle during wine tastings on the center’s sunset patio. The event runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and includes doggy raffle drawings, activities for dogs and a great selection of wine and food for humans.

And, if you like pairing wine with travel, check out some of the center’s unique wine excursions, including tours to Julian and the Baja wine country. There’s also a catamaran tour of San Diego Bay, with wine and cheese tasting along the way. The center, on Harbor Drive downtown, is a perfect stopping off point on your way to a Padres game.

These are just the tip of the grapevine! Whether you are looking to learn more about the wonderful world of oenology, try some new varietals, or pick up a great bottle for a summer barbecue, these close-by wine venues are great places to get started. I’ll see you along the Coronado grape trail!