Why Fine Dining Chefs Are Turning Their Attention to Casual Wine Bars

For a lot of people, few things about eating out are more daunting than staring at a leather-bound wine list, hoping to make a good choice for the table.

This is exactly the kind of thing that the new crop of wine bars avoids. With wine lists printed daily—or written on chalkboards—these spots seek to be come-as-you-are places. That they also serve...