In a city where the goal is usually “see and be seen,” it can be surprising to find hidden gems in Miami where the clientele prefer a quiet place to flex their exquisite tastes. But there are a few wine shops around town where the region’s top sommeliers and fine wine collectors can be found regularly perusing a selection of hard-to-find bottles and rare collectables.
One of these spots can even boast being in possession of the only bottle of 1982 Cristal Rosé in the United States, available as a “special occasion” purchase for a discerning wine lover. This exceptional boutique is Wine by the Bay, where owner Stefano Campanini knows exactly what his regular customers are looking for, and where he maintains a steady supply of some of the best wines in the world to quench their thirst for acquiring bottles of distinction from domestic and international producers.
Campanini opened Wine by the Bay in 2011 in its original location on Biscayne Boulevard in the heart of downtown Miami, and the shop quickly became a hub for high-end tastings and educational events for Miami’s wine community. However, it is the shop’s newest location in a warehouse space off the railroad tracks in the Little River Business District that gives the shop its undeniable mysterious charm.
Originally from Parma, Italy, in the northern Emilia-Romagna region, home of Parma ham (prosciutto) and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Campanini grew up submerged in a rich food and wine culture. At only 23 years old his adventurous spirit took him far from home into the remote environs of Mongolia with an organization called Raleigh International, where he spent three months submerged in a completely foreign land.
Campanini credits that time with bringing him valuable skills on how to travel well and enjoy nature. After spending the next three-and-a-half years living in Asia, he made his way to North America, first sailing from Connecticut to Colombia on his own, and then settling in New York City. It was in New York that he became an art dealer, which would lead him to relocate to Miami several years later after a trip to Art Basel in the early 2000s.
While art is what brought Campanini to Miami, it is the combination of art and wine that has become his signature business. He was initially attracted to the Magic City as an art center, where he opened gallery Etra Fine Art in 2004. The gallery still exists today as part of his warehouse in Little River, along with his boutique wine shop.
Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times
Etra Fine Art was established by Stefano Campanini in 2004; the gallery is run through his warehouse in Little River.
Campanini’s art, much like his wine, focuses on true artisans – artists and producers that are dedicated to the high-quality production of their work over the commercialization of it. Collectors of fine wine and fine art often have similar goals of discovering pieces of work from regions and producers that pour heart and soul into their craftmanship without regard for mass consumption. In many ways, Etra Fine Art and Wine by the Bay exemplify this, both in the excellence of the art and wine available for purchase, and also for the exclusivity of the experience of being a client.
When you step off the beaten path of the glitz and glamour Miami can offer, you’ll find a hidden door into a world where you may run into one of Miami’s most revered beverage professionals, as Wine by the Bay is arguably one of the top shops frequented by those “in the know” about the best wines in the world. With a focus on Italy, Germany and France, Campanini’s store is full of bottles you won’t be able to find at just your average big box wine shop. He specifically looks for wines that perfectly reflect the grapes and the land where they are grown. It’s not about the label or the distributor, but about the precision of the winemaking and the quality of the vintage year in that region.
Jacqueline Coleman for Biscayne Times
Wine by the Bay is a premier shop for top wines from around the world located in Miami's Little River Business District.
Most of Wine by the Bay’s customers are very loyal, even throughout the past year’s global pandemic. Campanini has been able to offer customized service and door-to-door deliveries – as well as private virtual tastings – on top of his regular personalized wine buying assistance.
Prior to the pandemic, groups could reserve a tasting in his shop-showroom and enjoy bottles of the world’s best wines surrounded by works of great artists. At one 50th birthday event, Campanini partnered with a chef and paired six courses with six wines, each a different vintage that corresponded with important dates in the birthday girl’s life. A true once-in-a-lifetime food and wine experience, but a regular day in the office for Campanini.
Whether looking for a bottle of 2016 Barolo (a fantastic year for that region) or a $5,000 bottle of Vintage 1979 Champagne, Wine by the Bay is sure to have something to satisfy the desire of any Miami wine lover.
Discover more by visiting WineBTB.com or making an appointment to visit Wine by the Bay by calling 305.455.9791.