New wine bar uncorked in Dr. Phillips

DR. PHILLIPS  With more than 30 domestic and international wines in an automated pouring system and an array of specialty cocktails, Orlando’s newest bar and wine store in Dr. Phillips offers its guests a little taste of everything.

Named accordingly, the Tasting Room Orlando is a new-concept lounge bar — a place where owner Alfonso Blasini and marketing director Ksenia Makshanova hope to have guests go with friends to enjoy a cocktail, relax and listen to lounge music.

Blasini got the opportunity to buy a liquor store and then saw the space the Tasting Room currently occupies. The previous owner had used it for Napa machines, but Blasini saw beyond the machines. He decided to open the lounge bar as a place for guests to either relax after work or rent for private events and parties. 

“We treat cocktails as an art. The taste and the presentation is something you haven’t experienced in Orlando,” Makshanova said. “And as we are connected to a very big liquor store with a great choice of wines, you can purchase any bottle of wine and enjoy it at our bar. Here we don’t aim for quantity, we aim for quality. The customer-service experience is our top priority.”

The bar and lounge have a sleek and contemporary design, and all drinks will be have their own chic and unique presentation. Additionally, each day of the week will have its own themed happy hour, occasionally coupled with finger foods.

Skilled bartenders are tasked with the creation and presentation of cocktails and classy food pairings. 

“Our guests will be able to enjoy comprehensive customer experience, and by that I mean service where you interact with our staff and learn something from them,” Makshanova said. “For example, we have a gin maestro, who introduces you to very rare types of gin 

and knows exactly what garnishes go best with it. (We also have) wine classes where you can learn from a sommelier everything about your favorite wines and spirits.”

Another unique feature the Tasting Room is set to offer is an electronic menu. Customers will be able to view their options on an iPad, and from there can watch cocktail videos straight from the menu so they have an idea of what they are having and what it’s going to look like, Makshanova said.

Although no date has been set for the grand-opening event so far, Makshanova anticipates it to take place around the end of February. However, the grand opening will be an exclusive event. Anyone who wants to win tickets can enter Tasting Room’s ongoing social-media contest. Entrants must try one of the bar’s cocktails and post a photo with the hashtag “#tastingroomorlando” to enter the lucky draw for an invitation to the grand opening.

But, in the meantime, Tasting Room Orlando is open and ready to welcome customers and serve great cocktails.

“In this place everything is special and unique,” Makshanova siad. “Our team welcomes you to join the wine-and-dine journey in a style only Tasting Room can offer.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].