HOT DISH: Paradise Wine Wows

After months of anticipation, the wait is over for Southwest Florida's—and the nation’s, we feel it’s safe to say—first concierge liquor store and swanky lounge, all wrapped up in one very pretty package. The blond wood, metal beams and slate brick accent walls are pleasing to the eye, but the real test of taste comes from what’s stocked on the rows and rows of shelves. That work from a team of certified sommeliers, which encompasses 12,000 bottles of wine, spirits and beer, delivers on its promise.

In addition to always having at least one “somm” on the floor, the store is also hosting educational seminars and regular visits from wine-world bigwigs (click here for a current roster). Before the store even opened, guests who preregistered on Paradise Wine’s website were led through a champagne tasting by Andrew McNamara, the 10th winner of the Krug Cup and current chair of the Court of Master Sommeliers. On the schedule for opening day? The CEO of Merryvale Family of Wines signing bottles and sampling his vintages from a vineyard that has made headlines since when Cesare Mondavi (father of Robert and Peter) led it in the 1930s.

We predict it may be hard to just quickly pop in to pick up some bubbly, vino or brewskis because an intimate tasting bar and the large, sleek indoor-outdoor "Shaken" (the bar was affectionately dubbed this in honor of 007's preferred martini) will both be an irresistible draw.

So we’ll be pulling up a seat—and then browsing the aisles.

For more on Paradise Wine, see the November issue of Gulfshore Life.

To plan a visit:

Paradise Wine

(239) 687-3155

Pavilion Shopping Center

8965 Tamiami Trail N., Naples