Laid-back Brix makes wine novices feel at home

Expanding your palette can be a financially risky endeavor. A pricey glass of wine may be worth it if you love the taste, but if you were just experimenting with something new you can be left paying for an expensive mistake. Fortunately wine novices have little to risk at Brix Wine and Cheese. The second location for the Quincy-based wine bar offers low prices while focusing on education, so you can learn more about wine without breaking the bank.

Motif: The space is long and narrow without feeling claustrophobic. A black bar top cuts through the middle, leaving plenty of room behind the bar for the staff to move around. A narrow counter provides space along the wall. Candlesticks, glass vases and wine bottles are displayed behind the bar, along with hanging wine glasses. Leather stools and comfortable chairs encourage people to relax and linger. Lighting comes from candles, and small overhead lamps and potted palms decorate the corners. A 3D television is mounted along the back wall. Guests are welcome to grab a seat on one of the couches and watch movies weeknights, and the bar plans to host tailgate parties for football season. The walls sport an eclectic mix of art, ranging from beer- and wine-themed images to pictures of James Dean and The Beatles.

Service: The bar was pretty full when we were there, with the casually dressed bartenders in tank tops and long flowing skirts buzzing around and going over the menu with customers. Even with the crowd, we never had to wait long for attention. The owner has sampled every wine on the list and is happy to offer up advice to novices, chat with wine pros or just generally joke with customers.

Liquid consumption: The user-friendly wine list is categorized by flavors like light reds and creamy whites. Most of the more than 50 wines available by the glass are between $6 and $7. There are about 25 other wines by the bottle on the menu, plus a list of 10 to 15 specialty bottles that change so frequently they're just listed on a chalkboard. The regular wine list will also change seasonally, with summery whites giving way to more hearty reds for fall.

Sangria is a specialty, a light fruity drink with a touch of cinnamon. If you're more of a cocktail fan, try one of the bar's regularly changing vodka infusions, which can include pineapple, cucumber-basil and a mix of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. The menu also has a selection of domestic and imported beers including Guinness, 312 and Blue Moon.

Food: The menu features classic wine pairings like cured meats, hummus and 10 seasonal cheeses. Chocolate has been a huge hit. For $3.50 you can try the My Chocolate Plate, a sampler including pieces of a variety of chocolate bars including a lightly lemony white chocolate and dark chocolate with crushed candy cane or toffee.

Sounds: Brix offers music on Saturdays, alternating between a DJ and guitar player.

Crowd: The bar brings in a steady crowd from 6 to 10 p.m. While it skews young, the age range goes from early 20s on up. Jeans and shorts mix with dressier attire and groups of friends congregate at the bar while couples take over the small tables.

Parking: There's plenty of street parking available within blocks of the bar.

Overall: A laid back hangout for wine drinkers of all stripes.