Squalo Vino Wine Bar
Squalo Vino Wine Bar
Business of the Month - Squalo Vino Wine Bar
Tiburon Tasting Trio has finally opened the highly anticipated Squalo Vino Wine Bar in downtown Tiburon. Located at 34 Main Street, the aptly named Squalo Vino (it means “Wine Shark” in Italian!) is a boutique wine bar and tasting lounge offering an extensive selection of artisan wines and craft beers paired with locally-sourced small bites. Kelly Barrett, who joined the Squalo Vino team in May as general manager, has years of experience in the wine industry, and has sold small production California wine for the past decade.
Designed by San Francisco’s award-winning Quezada Architecture, the 670 sq. ft. space fronts Main Street with both indoor and outdoor seating. The intimate wine lounge and tasting bar is equal parts sleek design, serious upscale wine shop and comfortable neighborhood pub. Guests can choose between bar seating, velvet club chairs, cushioned window banquets or sidewalk bistro tables. A dramatic “wine wall” displays many of Squalo Vino’s rare wine finds, while a perimeter drinks shelf provides convenience for standing customers. Cleverly hidden behind the specials’ chalk-board on the opposite wall is a flat screen TV for local sporting event viewing. Squalo Vino’s instantly iconic Wine Shark logo adorns signage, menus, wearables and gifts.
Whether interested in tasting, collecting, socializing, or all three, Squalo Vino is staffed by wine professionals ready to guide guests through a variety of wine experiences including “old world” and “new world” tasting flights, rotating wine-by-the-glass offerings and a list of more than 90 wines by the bottle, including a cadre of grower Champagnes. The thoughtfully curated selections focus on insider and hard-to--find wines from new and established producers in California and beyond. The hope is to offer wines that will excite a range of palates and wine knowledge, with a particular focus on provenance and rarity. There are phenomenal wines from our own backyard in Napa and Sonoma as well as a large contingent of Bordeaux and other imports from France and Italy. Those wishing to continue their Squalo Vino experience at home can sign up for one of the members-only wine clubs to receive quarterly wine shipments tailored to their individual preferences. Wine club members will also have preferred access to seating reservations at Squalo Vino.
Beyond wine, Squalo Vino offers a wonderful selection of local specialty beers, along with food pairings including charcuterie plates and small bites sourced from local purveyors including The Caviar Company, Rustic Bakery, Cowgirl Creamery and Tomales Bay Foods. Future plans call for small chef-prepared plates from Tiburon’s soon to open Malibu Farm and Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina.
Wines by the bottle, gift packs and wine club memberships are available for purchase onsite as are a selection of Wine Shark logo’d wearables, wine accessories and home goods. Come for the wine, stay for the merch!
Looking ahead, Squalo Vino is working on a calendar of special food and wine events in keeping with their goal to become a downtown social hub. The team aims to get its sea legs during the first couple of months and will eventually begin adding new events, including a “local’s night”, winemaker tastings, chef hosted food pairings, and intimate live music performances. Kelly and her team are excited about making Squalo Vino a welcoming gathering spot for locals and visitors alike!
Squalo Vino is open Wednesday - Thursday from 11am to 7pm. Friday - Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.
www.squalovino.com
415-889-5585