There is a unique wine shop in Sarasota that I am embarrassed to say we had never been to until last week.  It is  Sarasota Fine Wine & Tastings.  It offers tastings on Thursday and Friday evenings so, at the urging of a good friend, we accepted an invitation to go with him on a Friday evening.

The shop is small and well stocked with racked wines.  There is a bar, with possibly eight barstools, that is the center of the tasting and the wonderful conversation. The patrons on Friday evening were repeat customers who seemed very comfortable with each other and welcoming to us newcomers!

We had the opportunity to try wines that had been opened specifically for the evening, or to purchase a bottle to taste or drink there.

Steve, the proprietor, was very accommodating.  He poured us a taste of Michael David Zinfandel from Lodi.  Our friend purchased a bottle of Machette from Orin Swift that we enjoyed tasting together.

Later we dined just blocks up the road, for the first time, at Marcello Ristorante Italiano.  They have a menu posted online but the only menu we saw was a blackboard wheeled tableside and explained by our server.  We had heard raves about the veal chop and that was the choice all round.  We paired our entrees with a  bottle of Saxum 2009 Bone Rock  that we brought with us.  Heaven, honestly heaven!  The stuffed veal chop with polenta was a great match with the wine. 

Friday night brought us two new places we will gladly revisit.

Salud!  Debbe