The East Bank of the Flats will welcome its first wine bar when Cherie Wine Bar and Lounge opens around Thanksgiving. The project, some two years in the making, is being piloted by Merrick Wolstein and Amanda Chamoun.
“We’ve both been very fortunate enough to travel a lot, so we took a lot of inspiration from places in Europe and all over the world,” Wolstein explains.
Cherie, aka “Sweetheart,” will be a “chic, romantic and intimate space,” says Wolstein, with an interior taking its cues from plush European spots. There will be velvet lounge-style seating, banquettes, chandeliers and rich fixtures and finishes, but also whimsical touches like swinging seats.
The 3,000-square-foot space (including the patio) is situated near Lindey’s Lake House and faces the river. A garage door will open to create an indoor-outdoor bar. To eat, there will be a selection of small plates and shareables like charcuterie, flatbreads, shrimp cocktail, tuna tartar and beef carpaccio. But the main focus will be squarely on the wine, adds Wolstein.
“I’ve always thought that there was something needed here that wasn’t here before, something unique and different from anything you would find here,” he says. “There are no wine bars down here at all.”
The wine menu will be curated by Wine Access out of California. Expect a wide range of styles available in flights, glasses and bottles. The booklet will provide in-depth information about the wine, winemaker, region and tasting notes.
“Even though it’s a French-inspired lounge, we really want people to have the chance to learn about different wines and expand their palate,” Wolstein says.
A full bar serving craft cocktails will open up the lounge to more than oenophiles.
“We wanted to create a spot that is a good place to go for happy hour, date night or a nightcap,” notes Wolstein. “I wanted a place where people could network and feel like they’ve been transported to somewhere in Europe.”
This article appears in Sep 8-21, 2021.