GinO12 
Graffiti, elegantly peeling walls and that “underground” atmosphere that ages the traditional concept of a wine shop: Champagne Socialist – wine shop & bar – welcomes its guests in a relaxed, informal and convivial environment. The apparent oxymoron of Champagne Socialist is also explained by describing the frame in which it is inserted. A stone’s throw from Corso Buenos Aires, among the longest shopping streets in Europe, this place manages to detach itself from the consumer frenzy and carve out a particular identity, that’s intriguing and relaxed. It’s a safe refuge where you can detoxify from traffic and crowds while remaining in the heart of the city.
The musical selection gives that further touch of alternativity necessary to fully identify with this pleasantly distorted universe that guides the discovery of natural wines. Bold labels are offered by Champagne Socialist. There’s a selection of wines by the glass that changes hand in hand with the mood of the management, even several times a week, guaranteeing novelty at each visit. The same attention is paid to the choice of appetizers. In addition to the traditional cutting boards you will find delicious gourmet ideas that enhance the wine and vice versa, such as Cantabrian anchovies, but also cheeses and pickles, to feed the appetite of vegetarian customers.
The service reflects the same nuances of the place: an informal presence, never intrusive, completely at ease in learning the customer and dispelling their doubts. If you need advice on a food / wine pairing, you can rest assured that you will receive pertinent suggestions seasoned by a frank way of doing things. An ideal address to disconnect from the city frenzy, Champagne Socialist is perfect for different occasions: from the solitary visitor looking for friendships and chatting at the counter at the entrance, to the couple on the first date, to a group aperitif that can be arranged on the outdoor tables during the summer.
But are the prices Socialist enough? For the quality and refinement of the products and service, also taking into account the area where we are located, we can say yes. It’s a breath of fresh air for a Milan that recognizes the true value of an aperitif to be enjoyed alone or in company: a well-deserved prize after a tiring day. A place that must be sought and that only the luckiest will find by chance; yet when you find it you can be sure that you will be back soon.
Before or after, to complete the experience, a walk to the nearby Porta Venezia Gardens, now Indro Montanelli, is recommended to continue with the theme of radical-chic decadentism. In the ruins of the old zoo, you will still be able to perceive the goodness of an aperitif just finished or foretaste it.
