Jordan Stasinowsky didn’t spend his 21st birthday doing shots at a crowded bar; he sampled fine wines inside The Cellar Restaurant in Daytona Beach, Fla., the historic home of President Warren G. Harding.
Even as a child, he was fascinated by the aesthetics of wine: the bottles, the labels, the tiny sips his parents let him take on occasion.
Stasinowsky,25, is now a wine sommelier and co-owner of Mary’s Vine restaurant. Located in a former church on Kenmawr Avenue in Rankin, it houses an enormous collection of vino from around the world in two, temperature-controlled cellars. Most offerings are unavailable at your local liquor store.
There are more than 376 wines sold by the bottle and 77 by the glass. Customers can order flights, which include three or four three-ounce pours, some familiar, some unexpected. Folks might start with an American cabernet and finish with a nice Portuguese red. The selection changes every two months, giving regulars a new taste experience during each visit.
Stasinowsky, who opened the business with his parents Walter and Cheryl Stasinowsky, and his sister and brother-in-law Amber and Daniel Smith, in August, says Mary’s Vine provides an approachable way to try wines.
In other words, it’s a no-snob zone.
There’s always a knowledgeable staff member circulating around the dining room and each guest gets their own iPad equipped an exclusive “Somm in Your Palm” app that gives detailed information on each available beverage. There are different filters, such as region and varietal, and patrons can keep track of their favorites.
“It’s like curating your own wine cellar,” Jordan says.
Mary’s Vine will soon offer 64 member lockers and a cigar and whiskey lounge in the basement of the old Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church.
The clientele is a mix of wine novices and aficionados. No matter what their level of expertise, each visit to Mary’s Vine is divine.
