|
Story by Debralee Santos and Adrian Cabreja
On the eve of its grand opening, the Inwood Hills Spirits and Wine Room, owner Rafael Toribio paused between opening, organizing, and shelving dozens and dozens of boxes of many of the finest wines from around the world to take stock of the wood panels and intricate wirework around him.
“I am definitely excited,” he said, as he surveyed his two-story storefront shop, Inwood Hills Spirits and Wine Room, on West 216th Street and Broadway, just hours before its grand opening on Saturday, July 30th.
He, and his partner and cousin, Norberto Duran, had long entertained the notion of opening up a wine shop in northern Manhattan.
After all, they each brought a wealth of experience in the world of spirits and commerce, having launched TOMA Vodka, a popular local vodka.
But the devil, they quickly learned, were in the details. The 1,100 square-foot retail space was once but an empty space of drab concrete walls, with little to indicate that it would soon become a destination for fine wine tastings, complete with sommeliers and savory hors d'oeuvres.
But they were determined to make it so.
They invested untold amounts of capital and sweat equity, postponing other business enterprises, to make everything come together as it should.
“We needed for this to be different,” explained Duran. “For this to work, and to be of real value to this community, we had to be different from the beginning.”
And so the site of a former speakeasy in Inwood, as Toribio and Duran report, now boasts a distinct wine selection that ranges from eminently affordable to extravagant.
It all depends on your mood, and your taste.
The grand opening proved a testament to the cousins’ commitment and passion, as local residents crowded around platters of fresh fruit and cheese, and toasted each other, and the new owners, from sipping samples provided by sommeliers and wine representatives. There were the lilting sounds of a jazz trio upstairs whose music matched the festive mood.
And two happy men, together with their families, nattily dressed, and beaming as they chatted and posed for pictures.
They were elated, said both men.
And exhausted.
Photo: QPhotoNYC
Q&A with Rafael Toribio, Owner and Partner, Inwood Hills Spirits and Wine Room
Manhattan Times: What made you decide to open a wine shop here in Inwood?
Rafael Toribio: It’s only thing that’s missing in this neighborhood. The difference between a store and a shop is that in a shop you have personal service. We will be able to provide that.
MT: What is your history with wine?
RT: Aside for being an avid consumer, I’ve been surrounded by wine experts for about 20 years. I’ve been able to travel around the world and experience different wines.
MT: Do you consider yourself a wine expert?
RT: Not at all. Someone like me continues tasting different wines, experimenting. Therefore I will always be a student.
MT: What makes you different from other wine shops?
RT: Being located in a historical place, certainly. Also, our wine shop is very inviting, where people can come here to educate themselves about wine and to interact with other wine lovers.
MT: What, for you, makes wine different from other alcoholic beverages?
RT: Wine stands on its own because people personalize it. Wine is very varied. Somebody can personalize themselves because they like a wine from a certain country or they like the taste, etc.
MT: What would a typical visit be like at your shop?
RT: There is no real typical visit, because we will have something new going on all the time. We will have wine tastings hosted by wine producers, and a wine club. But we will provide good service, no matter the occasion – that will be typical.
MT: Feelings as you open?
RT: Excited, nervous, happy. There are a lot of emotions that are invested into the opening of a new business. We’re all about a good experience, and being useful to the Inwood community.
Inwood Hills Spirits and Wine Room
5057 Broadway, near 216th Street
New York, New York 10034
646.490. 6666
|
