The Scoop: Spare the typical imagery that “wine bar in Dupont” brings to mind; Veritas is quite t...

The Scoop: Spare the typical imagery that “wine bar in Dupont” brings to mind; Veritas is quite the surprise. Tucked into a small, brick-lined space on the corner of Connecticut and Florida, it’s cozy and appealing. Drawing the name from the phrase in vino veritas¸ their wine list is most definitely the truth. Giving it more-than-your-average-wine-bar street cred is the extreme care put into all their selections. From the charcuterie and cheese to, of course, the wine, everything on the menu has the stamp of approval from the judicious yet unpretentious staff of four. Veritas boasts a—dare we say—ridiculous 74 wines by the glass. And the list is continuously evolving. With up to 12 new wines a month, it would be near impossible to get bored with any choice of Veritas' vino.

“Hi. It’s Fred. Can I get an order of bresaola. Two orders of Coppa….You know what to do. Bye.” In a way, this unpretentious exchange sets the tone for Veritas as a whole, as I walk in during an inventory meeting. I hear bartender-turned-general manager Andy chatting over the tunes with a visiting wine rep, “This tastes like crushed stone and ash, man. No fruit at all. No way.” The staff is no nonsense and knowledgeable: a combination that is somewhat difficult to find in the wine world. Unceremoniously, he moves onto the next wine, “Now this. This is killer juice.”

In the context of a wine bar, the term “killer juice” might seem out of place, but hang out at Veritas and you’ll understand why this is the vocabulary of choice for the wines that do make the list here. Andy, Fred, Jochem and Yuri pride themselves on their unassuming wine-geeky status; their idea at Veritas is to act as your guide out of a world of mediocre wines. Give them extra bonus points for breaking another wine bar stereotype: the playlist at Veritas is hand-selected, diverse and surprisingly fresh. Whether you consider yourself a wine-idiot or you’re training to be a sommelier, a trip to Veritas with an open mind just might result in a new favorite wine. Or, hey, maybe three.

Menu Highlights:
Extensive charcuterie and cheese menu featuring four types of blues, cow, goat and sheep cheese. Duck rilette and locally-sourced bresaola shine. Two items with crackers, olives, cornichons ($12, each additional $5).

Hours:
Daily from 5 p.m. to close

Events:
Happy Hour Tuesday through Sunday 5-pm: 20% off bottles, DC allows cork and carry.