Relaxed, sipping a glass of nice wine on a warm Spring evening in a cobblestone alley is the stuff great memories are made of. Maybe you've done it in Paris or Madrid or Rome — and if you have, then you know what a transformative effect those little moments will have for the rest of your life. They sneak up when you least expect and overwhelm you; just a whiff of a familiar flavor transports you back to that time, and all its calm and simplicity.

But after months of quarantine and locking down, it's the sort of memory you might want create again. In fact, it's the sort of memory you should recreate for yourself again.

The Wine Room at Taylor Pavilion has all the character and simple elegance to make a new wine memory as vivid and beautiful as Rome or Paris ever could — and right on Winchester's Old Town walking mall.

Not to overplay the "Old World charm" card, but there's really something inescapably continental about The Wine Room's patio seating, thoughtful decor, and attentive service that provides a cultural dimension not typical of an (affordable) American wine experience. Let alone one you can walk or drive to in five minutes.

Of course, the wine is the focus at The Wine Room; and the selection seems cultivated to be great but not overwhelming. There's something you'll like, and still plenty of new things to try. But good wine is best enjoyed with a little food, and The Wine Room does that quite well, too. They offer traditional-style small plates as the focus, but also more substantial options — especially helpful if you're going to sit for a while and make an evening of it.

From the street, The Wine Room looks classy and polished. But what makes it truly great is that it's also remarkably comfortable, friendly, and the kind of spot you'll quickly find yourself sitting at for hours — watching locals stroll by, chatting with the staff, and creating new memories that'll be as powerful and vivid as the old.