Very cool. I was only vaguely aware of the term "enoteca" before this article - I can't speak for most of America, but at least here in California, many (maybe even most) wine bars are also retail shops. We don't have a word for these types of wine bars vs. non-retail wine bars, as least not colloquially, but it's the more popular version of the wine bar here in Cali. Some of them advertise as wine bars that then happen to have a retail element to them, while others advertise more as wine shops that happen to have wine bars in them. (Our Trader Joe's grocery stores even just evolved to include a wine bar as part of their wine section!)
I know the license is specific to each place, but it seems like this hybid "enoteca" style is the one most go for - it definitely makes the most sense, if you're going to get an alcohol license at all, might as well make it a retail/wine bar hybrid. (That said, it can still get complicate with additional elements like: who is allowed to sell online and ship? Locally or to otherr States? Who can pour off premises? Etc.)
How interesting! I've spent quite a bit of time in the States and never really noticed this. Then again, I'm usually visiting my in-laws so we're not going out to a whole lot of bars full stop.
I'm wondering though: how do these hybrid places deal with the markup? Do they also charge more to drink a bottle in the bar than to take the same bottle home? Is it a significant difference? My abiding memory of drinking wine in bars in the States is that it always seems incredibly expensive. If I was in a wine bar and had to pay that much to buy a bottle to take away (or even close to that price), I don't think I'd buy it. I'd just look for the same bottle from a regular retailer. So I'm curious if they vary their prices for retail vs bar?
It depends on the establishment, and whether they treat their markups more like a restaurant (which are insane markups) or a retail shop (which are reasonable.) The liquor license is generally the same, but the business model can change from place to place.
That said, the places I frequent are the reasonable ones - usully 2x wholesale price markups. So if the shop got the bottle for $13, it'll be $26 for the customer. Basically a standard retail/grocery store markup. There is usually no difference between buying it to drink there or taking it home. Then you can do a flight of different wines for ~$25 (pre-selected each week.)
The places that act more like restaurants (and they usually do have full food service with a full kitchen, whereas the more retail-oriented wine bars are just small bites) will do the typical, insane 3-4x markups, which yeah, I never buy those. And frankly rarely ever go to them.
I like the sound of these retail-oriented wine bars serving flights! Next time I'm in the US (which at this rate might be after the revolution), I'll have to seek some out... Let's hope it's not only a Californian thing because my in-laws live near Knoxville 😅
Of course the Spanish have got their act together when it comes to wine! Do you know what the markup difference is (roughly) between bottles to drink in the bar and bottles to take away?
I fully support a campaign to bring enoteca’s to the Netherlands! Love learning about this concept.
Shall we petition the Dutch government?!
Love this! Reminds me of the Mortadella Focaccia sandwich recipe I adapted from L.A.-based Roman cuisine restaurant Mother Wolf for easy home cooking!
check it out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com/p/recreating-evan-funkes-la-mortazza
Very cool. I was only vaguely aware of the term "enoteca" before this article - I can't speak for most of America, but at least here in California, many (maybe even most) wine bars are also retail shops. We don't have a word for these types of wine bars vs. non-retail wine bars, as least not colloquially, but it's the more popular version of the wine bar here in Cali. Some of them advertise as wine bars that then happen to have a retail element to them, while others advertise more as wine shops that happen to have wine bars in them. (Our Trader Joe's grocery stores even just evolved to include a wine bar as part of their wine section!)
I know the license is specific to each place, but it seems like this hybid "enoteca" style is the one most go for - it definitely makes the most sense, if you're going to get an alcohol license at all, might as well make it a retail/wine bar hybrid. (That said, it can still get complicate with additional elements like: who is allowed to sell online and ship? Locally or to otherr States? Who can pour off premises? Etc.)
How interesting! I've spent quite a bit of time in the States and never really noticed this. Then again, I'm usually visiting my in-laws so we're not going out to a whole lot of bars full stop.
I'm wondering though: how do these hybrid places deal with the markup? Do they also charge more to drink a bottle in the bar than to take the same bottle home? Is it a significant difference? My abiding memory of drinking wine in bars in the States is that it always seems incredibly expensive. If I was in a wine bar and had to pay that much to buy a bottle to take away (or even close to that price), I don't think I'd buy it. I'd just look for the same bottle from a regular retailer. So I'm curious if they vary their prices for retail vs bar?
It depends on the establishment, and whether they treat their markups more like a restaurant (which are insane markups) or a retail shop (which are reasonable.) The liquor license is generally the same, but the business model can change from place to place.
That said, the places I frequent are the reasonable ones - usully 2x wholesale price markups. So if the shop got the bottle for $13, it'll be $26 for the customer. Basically a standard retail/grocery store markup. There is usually no difference between buying it to drink there or taking it home. Then you can do a flight of different wines for ~$25 (pre-selected each week.)
The places that act more like restaurants (and they usually do have full food service with a full kitchen, whereas the more retail-oriented wine bars are just small bites) will do the typical, insane 3-4x markups, which yeah, I never buy those. And frankly rarely ever go to them.
I like the sound of these retail-oriented wine bars serving flights! Next time I'm in the US (which at this rate might be after the revolution), I'll have to seek some out... Let's hope it's not only a Californian thing because my in-laws live near Knoxville 😅
You can find enotecas (vinoteca in Spanish
or ardoteka in Basque) in the Basque Country too! I imagine in Spain in general.
Of course the Spanish have got their act together when it comes to wine! Do you know what the markup difference is (roughly) between bottles to drink in the bar and bottles to take away?
Unfortunately I don’t. But I think we should go and find out! 😃
I agree! We still need to organise our Basque cider house trip!