SUZY STUMP: NEW FORZA WINE BAR >>>

I like wine bars. Not only for the obvious reason – good wine – but because they tend to be small, cozy, and a bit quiet – the perfect place for an intimate conversation or romantic rendezvous. The thing about them, though, is they also often tend to be pretentious. Or stark. Or cold. Or all of the above. And this is too bad for someone like me, who enjoys the occasional dress-up affair, but – at heart – is more of a Pabst and jeans and easy laughter kind of girl.

Enter Forza Wine Bar, a brand spanking new (as in, less than a month old) wine bar in University Place. This place has the ambiance of a nice coffee shop – because it is!

Similar to the Forza Coffee Company that Harbor Greens market took over in March when they stacked wine in the corner to create the Harbor Greens Wine Bar, the U.P. Forza placed a wine bar in the back. While the wine rack may be in the back, you can sit anywhere after 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday to drink it.

Luckily, the food and the wine don't suffer from the more-casual-than-usual atmosphere. The wine list is extensive, worthy, and above all, affordable. Broken into 15 categories sporting two to five bottles from around the world, the prices range from $21 to $50, with a $90 of Col d'Orcia Brunello Di Montepalcino and a $170 of Bertani: Amerone Classico Cab for those with expensive tastes.

And the tapas match on all accounts (at least, the charcuterie plate and meat candy I tasted on a recent visit did). Baked brie, pizzetta Quattro formage, artichoke dip and a coupe foccacia plates round out the menu.

Yes, I said meat candy. Pacific Grill's famous dish featuring dates and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wrapped in bacon is served at Forza because the Pacific Grill prepares most of the food at Forza Wine Bar.

If Forza was in the Stadium District, it would definitely become a regular staple in my Enoteca/Pour at Four/Café Divino rotation. But even so, if I ever need to schedule a business meeting or a no-pressure first date on the other side of town, this where I'm going. For sure.

By the way, Forza Wine Bar has a wine tasting tonight featuring Stina's Cellars out of University Place from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

[Forza Wine Bar, wine served beginning at 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 27000 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.4935]