La Vid Fine Wines & Vinoteca Quenches Thirst For Local Independent Wine Shop and Bar in Carrollwood By Deborah Bostock-Kelley
Victor said the personal attention he gives to every Trying to decide what customer and the carefully determines a good wine curated selection makes La brand can be overwhelming Vid stand out from other wine in a big box shopping store or concepts. liquor chain. When Certified “We are a smaller Sommelier Victor Manuel operation, so it permits us to and mother/business partner, have that one-on-one with Rosa Quintela opened La the customers. We also are Vid Fine Wines & Vinoteca in willing to order anything that November 2020, they wanted they want,” he said. “We are to create an intimate shop and glad to cater to their needs. make the process a personal Customers can shop with one. confidence. I bring in products La Vid offers only the that are classic examples of best-in-class Spanish and what textbook Iberian wines Portuguese wines, beers, and are all about.” vermouths, as well as other Having worked regularly global wines of distinction and with wine in the hospitality specialty food products from industry, his interest was the Mediterranean. furthered when he was given a “We specialize in Iberian book about wine. wines (Spain and Portugal) “I wanted to try all the and vermouths. We do sell wines featured in the book,” other European and new world he explained. “I wanted to wines. We also carry food know more.” products like tuna, Sardines, Once he experienced the anchovies, high-end vinegar, different wines, a seed was chestnuts, almonds, oils from planted and began to cultivate. Spain and Portugal,” said Victor went through Victor. “We were excited rigorous training and exams to to share our wine culture become a Certified Sommelier. with Carrollwood and offer An idea for opening his own something different because shop formed. people were- pun intended“I had my own perspective thirsty for a local non-franchise and, with my experience, the concept.” tools to establish a successful The dark garnet walls are business, learning from great adorned with Spanish portraits people who’ve been in the of bullfighters and dancers. A business for years,” he said. “I guitar sits alone, waiting for don’t have this knowledge to someone to strum next to the want to keep to myself. I want long bar covered in Portuguese to share with people. I want cork. With walls dressed in this to hub for people to learn rows and rows of wine, food about wine. I want to reach and wine displays decorated anybody who’s willing to taste with Spanish pottery, set up something new and exciting.” conveniently throughout the With ancestors from Spain, shop, the specialized retail and he said the idea to specialize in wine bar in Carrollwood feels Iberian wines came easily. welcoming, warm, and inviting. “Maybe it’s
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preprogrammed in my DNA because of my Hispanic heritage. It’s two parts – a personal side and a cultural one. Both great grandparents came from Spain, and the crest that we use here is actually an adaption of our family’s coat of arms. On the cultural side, Spain is a country that produces wines that can rival any kind of style of wine that exists in the world, and Portugal has such a vast variety has wines that there is no typical style. It’s a very exciting
time in wine across the board, but especially in the Iberian peninsula. The quality of wines we are getting is punching way above its weight.” Victor explained that the wines aren’t made in huge, mass qualities. “It’s more of a finite product. A lot are unfiltered and unrefined. Though not always listed on the label, many are organic or biodynamically grown. I try to source the most talented producers to offer the best
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