If we’ve learned anything over the past year, it would be that almost anything can be delivered to your home without much effort. From the tried-and-true regulars such as pizza and Thai food to newbies like groceries and now alcohol, the gig economy continues to conveniently bring us our creature comforts that we can enjoy without even putting on pants!
Wine lovers of South Florida can explore a wide range of regions and grapes simply by placing an order through their computers or smartphones, and voilà! – bottles arrive at their doorstep. Really, we should consider this a great advancement of modern times.
One of the companies leading the charge on making sure wine enthusiasts and those who are simply curious have options to explore is Vinya, our very own Miami-homegrown, sommelier-driven wine subscription company.
Some may recognize the wine expertise behind Vinya as acclaimed sommelier Allegra Angelo, who most recently served as sommelier at La Mar restaurant at the iconic Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key.
Though originally from the northeast, Angelo is no stranger to Miami. In fact, many may remember her as the wine director at Michelle Bernstein’s restaurant Michy, where she worked her way up from server under the leadership of Bernstein and her partner, David Martinez, or as beverage director with the restaurant group 50 Eggs, where she managed three beverage programs across its varied concepts.
In 2012, Angelo made her way out to San Francisco after earning her Advanced Sommelier Certificate, an honor that is only one step away from a master sommelier designation in the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers Americas. After developing more than 20 unique wine and spirits programs across the country, Angelo moved back to the Magic City and eventually met her future partner and Vinya CEO, Nicolas Garcia. The company has evolved quickly into what it is today, with a wine subscription service and two brick-and-mortar locations at the start of this year.
The concept of Vinya centers around providing customers with an assortment of traditional and harder-to-find bottles, specially sourced by Angelo, that can be purchased individually through Vinya Market online or in one of the Vinya stores, located at the former Stefano’s Wine & Liquor on Key Biscayne and also a new pop-up space on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. There is also a monthly wine club subscription with two distinct tiers. The higher tier is the themed “Vinya Box,” which retails for $95 each and includes four bottles of wine. Customers can choose whether they want an all-white, all-red or mixed box. The smaller “Juice Box” contains two bottles for $45, and has less customization. Vinya’s range of wine selection, carefully crafted tasting notes and in-home tasting guidance led by Angelo make it a unique company that caters to a wide array of wine drinkers from complete novices to the more experienced oenophile.
One of the saving graces over the past year for wine enthusiasts who suddenly found themselves forced to imbibe on the couch at home and not at their favorite swanky wine bars was the move online to the virtual tasting. Vinya’s version of this activity, “Sip with a Somm,” takes place weekly on its Instagram Live (@getvinya). Angelo showcases a featured wine and sometimes another local wine professional, and talks viewers through sight, smell and taste while also providing valuable insights about the region, producer and grape.
An added delight for more advanced wine-os has been the “mystery wine” feature that allows those who choose to participate the chance to order a wine to taste blind and test their own skills. The mystery wines arrive in small bottles with no information related to what is contained inside. It is up to the drinker, guided by Angelo, to figure out which wine he or she is tasting. Truly a fun activity for the at-home vino-curious!
Those who have wine lovers in their circle of friends and family know that it can be a challenge to find a gift for that person, especially if the gift-giver is not as experienced in sourcing bottles. Vinya offers these weary shoppers a reprieve from the stress of picking out producers by letting them rely on perfectly curated boxes, which are themed each month.
For the month of love this February, Angelo has put together a “Pinot Crush” box, which means this box is all about pinot noir. The all-red box will include August Kesseler Spätburgunder (pinot noir) from Germany, Dominique Gruhier Bourgogne Rouge from France, Meadowcroft Pinot Noir out of California, and Better Half Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand. The mixed box will feature a little more variety with these bottles: Venica & Venica Pinot Grigio from Italy, Zorzal Rosé Pinot Noir from Argentina, as well as the August Kesseler Spätburgunder and Dominique Gruhier Bourgogne Rouge.
For information on Vinya Box subscriptions, visit vinyawine.com.