Las Vegas has always been a party town, morphing from an oasis of free cocktails at the gambling tables 20 years ago to a place where party-goers pay big bucks for bottle service in nightclubs. Now, thanks to a community of culinary talent, with names like Wolfgang Puck, Guy Savoy and Jo¡l Robuchon, and an amazing range of sommeliers at each property, Las Vegas' most recent reincarnation is devoted to the fruit of the vine. Vino Las Vegas!

You can tour the Tasting Room at The Rio, home to an stunning, public wine collection that includes an 1800 Madeira from the cellar of Thomas Jefferson. Or you can lounge in Napoleon's Champagne Bar at the Paris Casino, sampling from more than 100 champagnes and sparkling wines by the bottle and the glass.

But your best bet, when you're out for wine, is to begin at Bellagio, which has established the record for the most Master Sommeliers at a single property anywhere in the world. The resort currently has four.

What better way to sip through the list than at Le Cirque under the guidance of resident sommelier William Moss. The restaurant's whimsical theme and stunning window views of the Bellagio fountains complement a wine list of 900 international selections, with French vintages galore.

•  Details: Located in the Bellagio Casino; www.bellagio.com/restaurants/le-cirque.aspx; 866-259-7111.

•  Fun Fact: 87 professionals hold the title Master Sommelier in North America. With 18, Las Vegas has more Master Sommeliers than any other U.S. city.

Las Vegas is all about spectacle, and an after-dinner drink at Aureole at Mandalay Bay includes a free show. A large assortment of Aureole's 55,000 bottles are displayed in a four-story wine tower with climate-controlled racks. A ``wine angel,'' suspended from cables, scales the tower to select each bottle as it is ordered.

•  Details: Located in Mandalay Bay Casino; www.charliepalmer.com/Properties/Aureole; 702-632-7401.

•  Fun Fact: The most expensive bottle in Aureole's collection is a $42,000 bottle of 1900 Petrus.

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