I was lucky enough to make it to the grand opening of The Wine Cellar here in Fayetteville and I couldn't be happier. I suppose it helped that opening day was the same day I found out I passed the bar exam so my mood was already elevated.
I was mostly correct on my earlier description of the place. I can add that the exact brand of wine dispenser is the Enomatic, a custom-made Italian model. When you first walk in the door, the first thing you see is the Enomatic dominating the left wall just in front of you. 16 reds and 8 whites can be featured at any one time. The machine itself sets the mood with its sleek metal and wood construction. According to the staff, the supplier sent the wrong model for dispensing the red wines because customers are unable to select the glass size.
The whites are encased in a refrigerated compartment behind clear glass so the view of the bottles is unobstructed. With the whites, customers are able to select the 1 oz tasting size, 2.5 oz half glass or 5 oz full glass. Since I'm not a huge fan of the whites, I was pretty disappointed not to be able to get smaller glasses of the reds. The Italian manufacturer should arrive in the States before long to correct the problem.
The Wine Cellar does offer some appetizers. Cheese plates, served with all the fixin's, a wonderful red pepper hummus - which will be available only occasionally - and my personal favorite, the smoked salmon plate. Some others I've not had a chance to try, but the Bruschetta ordered by a neighboring table looked great!Finally, the staff has to be mentioned. They are knowledgeable, friendly and there to make sure your visit is absolutely perfect. Barb, the Cellar's wine afficionado, has been self-educating in wine for ten years. Aleks, a certified sommelier, is a wonderful host and educator as well. A visit to their website shows a 12-month calendar of wine appreciation. Each month will focus on certain varietals or certain regions, and will be sure to expand the knowledge of customers.
I hear from Aleks that he will soon be leading some wine education/tasting classes. You can count on me to be there and I hope many more will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. I encourage you to join their email list at the website (link at the top of this post) and they'll keep you up to date!
