"I hope you enjoy my 'Labor of Love' which has become a thriving business over the last six years!" Editor in Chief / Tom House editor@dinnerreviews.com
Over 7 Million READERS Served HOT each year!

2702 N. University Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33067
954-340-4533
website coming soon

Reviewed By: Tom House

hen you see the slogan, “The Complete Wine Experience”, it certainly peaks your curiosity. Well they are not kidding! Vino DeSantis is a wine boutique like none other I have ever seen in my life. Let’s start with the fact that it is a brand new store, filled with state of the art equipment, and features more than $200,000 worth of wines, champagne and port to choose from. In addition to being beautifully designed, Vino DeSantis offers an extensive collection of both highly allocated and everyday wines for tasting or for purchase. This is the perfect place to socialize with friends, while partaking in a multitude of tasty treats that compliment their incredible selection of wines.

Owner Damon DeSantis (center) entertaining guests at Vino DeSantis

Take one step inside, and you will be amazed at the organized displays of wines for your perusal, as well as more than fifty types of meats and cheeses to choose from too. There is even a variety of chocolate truffles and other desserts available for purchase. Owner Damon DeSantis and his partner Ron Barnhart always greet customers with a smile, and you can be confident in their knowledge about all the products they offer.

Yangarra and Kinton wines featured at recent wine tasting

One of the best things about Vino DeSantis is the ambiance. It is so inviting, that you will find yourself wanting to hang around for a while…and that is just what the owners planned on. Located in “The Walk” in Coral Springs, this atmospheric and Enomatic wine store and bar offers guests an enjoyable adventure into the world of wines like no other. Wine neophytes and aficionados alike will be astounded by the concept, and will be eager to participate. By now you have probably read about the Enomatic machines that allow wine to be placed on tap while perfectly preserving the integrity of the wine for an indefinite period of time. At Vino DeSantis you can experience this Italian-made phenomenon for yourself! These imported, patented machines allow wine lovers to taste over 72 different wines nightly, and the selections are always changing. This concept is guaranteed to keep the interest of South Florida’s well educated wine buying audience, as well as the casual shopper with little or no experience.

Beautiful display of cheeses, meats and truffles, super fresh and all so good!

The store's purpose is to allow visitors the unusual opportunity to taste dozens of wines of their choice, in a one, two or four ounce pours, and then to purchase bottles of wines once they have decided which ones are perfect for them.  Want to learn more about the Enomatic Experience? Here's how it works at Vino DeSantis:  You purchase a $3.50 debit-like card that can be charged up with any amount you would like to spend.  Check this out! If you put $30.00 or more on the card, the card is free and Vino DeSantis adds another $5.00 on the card. If you place $50.00 or more on the card, the card is free and Vino DeSantis adds $10.00 more on your card. Then, using your card, you can enjoy sampling the selections throughout the store at your leisure. Remember, all the wines you taste are available for sale, and with over 600 different types of wines, ports, and champagnes available for purchase, you could spend quite a bit of time deciding and tasting!  The available white wines are all chilled and ready to take home, or feel free enjoy them at Vino DeSantis while relaxing with friends.

Winemaker Peter Fraser and Damon DeSantis, all smiles!

Mt first visit to Vino DeSantis was for a wine tasting, which they have typically have twice weekly. As of this writing, tastings are being held on Thursdays at 7pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm, featuring the finest wines in the world.  The tastings are $15 per person.  Gourmet cheeses and artisan breads are served during each tasting, and each guest gets a gift of a Riedel glass. You will also be able to apply the $15.00 you paid for the wine tasting toward purchasing a bottle from that tasting! Damon recommends that you call ahead to make reservations, or better yet stop by and sign up at the store. Space is limited so be sure to plan ahead. RSVP: 954-340-4533 and ask for wine tasting information.

Peter Fraser and Tom House

The featured wines during my visit were from Yangarra Estate, a single vineyard located on the northern edge of McLaren Vale, South Australia, very near Adelaide in Southern Australia.  The climate is Mediterranean, generally warm and dry but gets cooler at high elevations.  Yangarra is American owned by Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke.  They purchased the estate in 2000, and it now consists of 250 acres of vines planted in the sandy soils of an ancient mountain range. In total, the estate is a 420-acre sanctuary of vines, wild pastures, narrow creeks, red gum trees and natural corridors mostly devoted to growing Rhone variety grapes. Making our visit even more interesting and authentic, Peter Fraser, the actual winemaker from Yangarra and Kinton Vineyards. Peter has the wonderful Aussie accent, and lots of passion for what he does so it was enjoyable listening to him. While Peter explained the wine making processes, we tasted a bone dry Rose’ by a process called saignee (from the juice drained off just-crushed fruit). This excellent Rose’ is vinified from Shiraz and Grenache, giving it crisp, strawberry nuances, and very refreshing indeed.

VIP Guests, PEr Jacobsen and his wife, owners of Vienna Cafe

In addition, we also tasted Yangarra 2007 Chardonnay, 2007 Rousanne, 2007 Viogner, 2007 Shiraz, 2006 Old vine Grenache and 2006 Cadenzia.  Bottles purchased at the tasting were signed by Yangarra Estate Vineyard’s Winemaker Peter Fraser.  These rare wine discoveries capture the true essence of where they are grown, and are truly pleasurable wines to drink right now. Most retail between $20 to $30 a bottle, and I am sure if you stop by Vino DeSantis, Damon and Ron will be happy to get you started on tasting these and many other wines utilizing their Enomatic Experience! When you get to Vino DeSantis, make sure you tell them that Tom House from DInnerreviews.com© sent you! 

I am dreaming of visiting Vino DeSantis...it sounds so good!

Important Note: Advertising on www.dinnerreviews.com web site will in no way influence or affect, positively or negatively, dinner reviews written about a particular establishment at any time prior to, during, or after the culmination of an Advertising Agreement between Dinner Reviews Internet Magazine© and prospective or existing Clients.

_______________________________________________________________


Hospitality Hot News

Starbucks in the market for rent breaks
Starbucks is looking to reduce rents in some locations by as much as 25% amid falling profits. At least one expert is advising landlords to give the chain a break. "In this recession, compared with the last one, we do see developers and owners being much more willing to work with the operators to make sure the restaurant remains where it is," a National Restaurant Association executive said. "It's much more of a partnership than it used to be." Bloomberg (6/1)
How to keep existing customers from exiting
Failing to pay attention to a valued customer can sacrifice revenue when it is most needed, USA TODAY columnist Rhonda Abrams writes. "Whether you call it customer retention, account management, relationship management, or just staying in touch, developing a strategy so that you don't lose the customers or clients you have is vital to the success of any business -- especially now," she says. USA TODAY (5/29)
Will Champagne screw tops cause corks to fizz out?
Champagne corks might become a thing of the past thanks to screw tops that have replaced them on bottles. The maestro preserves the fun of fizz while still producing the signature pop that starts off celebrations. But traditionalists might not embrace the new topper.
The Independent (London) (5/7)
Chef takes shark fins out of rotation
After buying shark fins from environmentally friendly sources for years, chef Philippe Chow is taking them off the menu. He is urging other Asian restaurants to do the same.
The Miami Herald (6/2)
Per Se's kitchen stays busy
Reservations are down 10% at New York's Per Se, but the huge kitchen remains busy and people are still willing to spend money at the restaurant. "People are still going out to eat," said the chef de cuisine, who noted that fewer reservations can mean more opportunity for last-minute diners. The New York Times (6/2)
...Info posted here in Hospitality Hot News is changing constantly...
______________________________________________________________
"Long life to the grape! ...for when summer is flown, the age of our nectar shall gladden our own…" -- Lord Byron, English poet

Have You Seen Our Other Spectacular Internet Magazine Yet?



Celebrity Service Seminars
Get Your Restaurant or Nightclub Service Staff in Top Shape
Guaranteed to Improve Sales and Service
954-677-DINE / thehouse@abetterhouse.biz
"There are laws governing the proper handling of food and liquor, but there are no laws governing restaurant service, and the art of dealing with people. If "bad service" were illegal, I'd be a millionaire already!" -- Tom House.
_______________________________________________________________

"I learned more from the one restaurant that didn't work than from all the ones that were successes." -- Wolfgang Puck "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." -- Ann Landers "Listen, or your tongue will make you deaf." -- Native American Proverb "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." --Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." -- Leo Tolstoy