‘Unpretentious and approachable, with reasonable prices’: New wine bar opens in KC area
Right around the time Big Mood was closing up shop in the Crossroads last month, another wine bar and retail shop was uncorking across town.
Vintner opened a few weeks ago at 4711 Rainbow Blvd. in Westwood, just a few doors down from Blue Sushi Sake Grill. The 1,100-square-foot space focuses on organic, biodynamic and sustainably farmed wines. It’s owner Tony Marin’s attempt to give guests a California-style tasting room experience.
“The idea is: come in, try a couple of glasses, experiment a little, and if you like what you try, you can take home a bottle of it,” Marin said.
Marin spent 25 years in the advertising industry, a career that took him from Kansas City to Las Vegas, Chicago and Charleston. He and his wife have been back in KC for a few years now, living in Westwood. A longtime wine enthusiast, Marin thought there was room in the area for a place like Vintner — “a neighborhood wine bar that was unpretentious and approachable, with reasonable prices,” he said.
The prices by the glass are indeed lower than what one might expect to find in Johnson County. Nothing on the current list tops $14. That includes a $12 Six Hats pinotage from South Africa, a $10 Melea tempranillo from Spain, and a $12 Dashe Chenin Blanc from California. Marin also keeps about 80 bottles from across the globe stocked for retail purchase.
“I’ve tried to fill out the portfolio with a mix of standard wines and other types of wines people might not be as familiar with,” Marin said. “So if you come in and say you like chardonnay or pinot noir, I’ve got some wines that are pretty close if you’re interested in trying something new.”
While wine is the star of the show, Vintner also has a full bar with spirits and seven beers, including a few nonalcoholic options. Limited food — cheese plates, charcuterie, olives — are coming soon, Marin said.
Vintner’s hours cater to both daytime sippers and evening crowds: Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 p.m., with $2 off glasses of wine and discounted beers.
