# Stylish Underground Wine Bars The Riddling Widow Brings a Gothic Edge to a Sophisticated Concept By Charlotte Joyce Kidd | Published 2015-10-06 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/underground-wine References: [gothamist](http://gothamist.com/2015/10/05/riddling_widow_champagne_bar.php) & [riddlingwidow](http://www.riddlingwidow.com/) The common aesthetic associated with wine tasting is fairly conventional -- conjuring images of design-y chrome and glass bars and high, airy ceilings -- but this NYC underground wine bar is changing all that. The Riddling Widow is a newly opened underground wine bar in New York City. The bar's decor drips in velvet and gold and is adorned with rustic wood features reminiscent of a speakeasy. The interior design is edgy and lush, tending more toward [elegant lounge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starchild-rooftop) than typical wine bar. The menu ranges from affordable to high-end, specializing in [champagne and sparkling wine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/curated-european-wine). Guests can pair their wine selections with oysters, cheese, bread and butter and a range of gourmet salts. The Riddling Widow underground wine bar is making wine accessible and attractive to a new generation of drinkers and bar-goers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 50% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Underground Wine Bars:** The popularity of underground wine bars with unconventional aesthetics is disrupting the traditional image of wine tasting, providing an opportunity to attract a new generation of customers. - **Edgy Interior Design:** Edgy and lush interior designs which are more reminiscent of a lounge than a typical wine bar are shaping up to disrupt the hospitality industry's traditional approach to wine tasting experiences. - **Champagne Specialization:** Specializing in champagne and sparkling wine is creating disruption by giving customers access to lesser-known varieties and inviting them to experience a new level of mixology in their wine selections. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can capitalize on the trend of unconventional underground wine bars with edgy decor to cater to a younger generation of wine enthusiasts. - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can capitalize on the trend of underground wine bars by diversifying their menus to include oysters, cheese, bread and butter, and a range of gourmet salts, providing an opportunity to attract new customers and increase revenue. - **Wine and Spirit:** Wine and spirit industries can capitalize on the trend of champagne specialization by providing a variety of lesser-known varieties and inviting customers to experience a new level of mixology in their wine selections. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Restaurant-Expanding Wine Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sophisticated-wine-bar.md) - [Overlooked Wine Bottle Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/an-a-to-z-di-vini-divini.md) - [Bookstore Wine Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bookstore-wine-shops.md) - [Subterranean Social Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-vale-hotel.md) - [European Wine Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thatchers-wine.md) - [Cozy Neighborhood Warm Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gachot.md) - [Dual-Floor Cocktail Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sip-guzzle.md) - [Adaptive Wine Workspaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flint-wines-office.md) - [Artful Listening Wine Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodbye-horses-1.md)