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A wine shop in downtown Boston has opened its doors and will soon be joined by a wine bar and cafe. Common Vines is now in business at 100 Summer St., and Taste Wine Bar & Cafe will follow suit, opening across the street soon at 101 Summer St.
The shop, wine bar, and cafe are the work of wife-and-husband team Jennifer Scott and Chris Hsi. Common Vines opened in mid-May and stocks wine, beer, and cheese and will funnel supplies to Taste when it opens. The forthcoming wine bar and cafe will offer wines by the glass, bottle, or flight, along with beer, cheese, and charcuterie. Taste is currently under construction (get a sneak peek on Instagram) and will open sometime this summer.
The concept was born of a desire to help people explore wine in an approachable way, Scott told Eater.
“What we love about wine is that there is always something new to discover, learn and enjoy — but because it is also complex, many people never explore,” she said. “We want to provide an experience that makes exploring wine fun, approachable, and memorable.”
That experience translates into Taste Wine Bar & Cafe: a place for people to sample new wine regions or grape varieties, which they’ll be able to order in “discovery flights” that will guide tasters through things like climatic factors that impact taste.
“At its core, it’s a wine bar that is designed to let our customers use the space how they choose,” Scott said. “We’ll offer wines by the bottle, glass, or flight. We’ll recommend pairing with a light menu of cheese and charcuterie, tapas-style small plates, and snacks to complement the wines.”
There will also be port and sweeter wines available for pairing with dessert items, as well as a reserve list of wines, local craft beer, and cheese. There will be seating and places to work, a counter area, and an event space for private parties, meetings, and tasting seminars. Once construction is complete, the wine bar and cafe will open at 9 a.m. with coffee and breakfast options to start the day.
Scott and Hsi have lived in downtown Boston for 10 years, and Scott said they are “excited to be a part of that growth and the community of other great local businesses that have seen the potential in the area.”
• Taste Wine Bar & Cafe Will Bring Tastings and Classes to Downtown Boston [EBOS]
• Taste Wine Bar & Cafe [Official Site]
