A new wine ‘meeting place’ opens at Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
After owning a 550-seat restaurant in Toronto, working almost a decade for a wine magazine, and retiring from his lengthy career as an orthopedic surgeon, Jim Shortt is going back to his first love — wine.
Shortt is hoping to help his son, Scott Shortt, do it right with the opening of Fine Wine and Tastings on Main, which opens its doors March 31 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.
The Shortts wanted to make sure their establishment was more than a wine bar and wine store. They wanted to provide people with a “meeting place” where they could discuss current events and their travels over a terrific glass of wine.
They provided a proper backdrop by hiring Teresa Tincher of Classic Design Group of North Carolina to do the decor with help from Jim’s wife, Leslie.
The Shortts gave a lot of thought to every aspect of their new business, even their hours.
Scott Shortt, who is the owner, quit his job at the Sarasota Yacht Club to take on the new business.
He said, with a laugh, that he knows more about wine than yachts, and he believes his interest in wine goes back to all of the traveling he did growing up. Living in a “wine-friendly” home didn’t hurt.
Fine Wine and Tastings on Main will sell over 400 different wines.
The wine bar demonstrates a rustic, industrial feel with an Edison bulb chandelier hanging in the middle of the store, open ductwork lining the ceilings, old wine barrels scattered around and large sliding barn doors in the back.
More than 400 wines will be sold in the store, bought from regions all across the globe. However, the Shortts have access to thousands of wines if their customers want to order something.
At the wine bar, customers may purchase a bottle of wine to take home, or can buy a bottle and pay a corkage fee to enjoy it right there. The wine bar will offer 30 wines by the glass with the types rotating to serve the customers’ desires.
Their wine bar also will be available to those hosting special events, such as birthdays or meetings.
The Shortts attended a First Friday on Main Street hoping to network with local clubs and organizations.
Fine Wine and Tastings on Main will offer monthly wine tastings.
Education will be part of their business.
The Shortts have many wine-related stories themselves, and Jim Shortt said he can talk about wine all day.
His favorite part about wine might be the extensive history behind wine culture and how it has grown. Jim Shortt can barely wait to share his passion for wine.