In 2017, he viewed the previously derelict two-room property on the corner of Partridge Lane. “There was nothing here. No floor, no bathroom. It was a gamble,” he says. But with savings and encouragement from his wife Valeria – “the driving force behind my well-being” – they transformed the space.
Vino is part wine shop, part bar and, in the mornings, a purveyor of fine coffee!
“I didn’t invent the formula, I don’t claim that,” he jokes. “It’s a little bar, which is also a shop, so you can buy bottles at a retail price. And obviously if you drink one of the bottles in, you pay a little bit of corkage.”
He is being modest: patrons from near and far head to Vino and stay for hours – it’s a very social place. The seating area at the back, the bar and the tables out on the cobbles are always busy.
There are 400 bottles that Fabio has chosen personally to choose from, while the blackboard at the entrance shows off the 15 wines that you can order by the glass.
“We change those quite often – every couple of days, depending on how busy we are,” he says. “Also, we offer platters of nice cheeses and meats. It’s very, very simple.”
A coffee in the morning and the occasional top-shelf Negroni in the evening, there’s a reason to go to Vino throughout the day.
Beyond the bar, Vino hosts monthly tastings. “We have different types”, Fabio says. “One focused on Portugal and its different regions, another on ‘One Makers Wine’ where we choose all the wines from one maker, and then a festive one at the end of November to pick out those nice wines for the table. We showcase everything from Champagne to Napa, Rieslings from Alsace and Burgundian whites.”
His collaborations with JD Catering add culinary depth. “If we’re doing Argentina, they’ll serve regional dishes to match. It makes the whole evening immersive.”
Dining and Cooking