It isn't every day that two young sommeliers open a wine bar in Downtown Las Vegas, one reason Garagiste should be on your radar. "A big complaint was that there was no great place [in Las Vegas] to go enjoy the wines that we wanted to drink, let alone buy them retail," co-founder Mario Enriquez explains. So he and partner Eric Prato began mapping out their dream after years of working on the Strip.
Located next to CraftHaus' new outpost just off Main Street, Garagiste sprung up seemingly overnight. The only thing revealing its existence: a simple black sign that reads "Wine Room | Merchant." The interior feels relaxed and modern, intimate yet approachable, with an extensive wine list and petite charcuterie offerings.
"[Wine] can be a super-intimidating product," Prato says. "If you have a conversation with us, we can guide you in the right direction. We'll take you down a rabbit hole, or we'll just brush the surface if you want."
Many of Garagiste's wines have never been in the Las Vegas market before, like Cruse Wine Co.'s "Monkey Jacket" red blend and Commune of Buttons' naturally sparkling Pet Nat Pinot Gris.
Enriquez and Prato say they hope to elevate Las Vegas wine culture, offer lesser-known bottles from smaller wineries at affordable prices and inspire folks to learn more about low-intervention—or natural—wines. "There's never a point where you'll know everything about wine," Prato says. "That's what's great about it. There's always something new to learn."
GARAGISTE WINE ROOM | MERCHANT 197 E. California Ave. # 140, 702-954-3658. Monday, 3 p.m-1 a.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 3-11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 1-11 p.m.
