In the latest in a series of articles going behind the scenes at some of the winners of the 2024 World’s Best Wine Lists Awards, Vino Bar sommelier Jeanette Bohinen explains how she and her team put together the World’s Best Wine Bar List.
What does Winning a WBWL award mean to you at Vino Bar?
This means a lot to a small, independent wine bar like us. We spend all our time and financial resources on giving our guests a memorable experience and building a wine cellar that we can be proud of. This award gives us fantastic marketing but also confidence that the job we do in terms of wine is more than good enough.
What are you trying to achieve with your list at Vino Bar?
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We naturally want to have a well-curated wine list with wines that suit everyone. Both for the wallet and the taste. We want to reach out to those who want a good glass of wine in social settings with friends and family, but also have a good selection for the “wine nerd” who is looking for bottles that are difficult to buy elsewhere.
What do you feel is the biggest strength of your list at Vino Bar?
The parent company of Vino Bar has deep roots in Piedmont where we own 11ha [27 acres] of vineyards and produce our own wine under the name Vinory. So, we are not just a simple wine bar, but we are also involved in our own production in Piedmont. That is why we are quite strong on wine from Piedmont and have probably one of Norway’s largest selections here.
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What are three wines on your list that you feel best represent what you’re trying to do at Vino Bar?
First I have to mention Vinory again. Because Vinory and Vino Bar go hand in hand. And a personal favorite here is Vinory Nizza Moncucco-Cavino. It is a powerful and full-bodied red wine that fits perfectly here in the north with the polar nights, wintertime and stormy weather.
Secondly, I would like to mention our American wine list, which is now starting to become quite comprehensive. I have personally been very fond of American wine for many years and it has been a joy to build a wine list that has a large selection of this. This is of course thanks to a generous owner who has agreed to spend money on this. A favourite here has to be the Pinot Noirs from Occidental, they are truly exquisite.
Lastly, I would like to mention our part of the wine list which is from Nizza and Barbaresco. Since we have many friends and acquaintances of wine producers from this area, a few years ago we imported all Nizza and Barbaresco wines from here. For those who like to delve into these wines, there are guaranteed wines here that you have never heard of or seen before. And thus some very good bargains.
What is your favourite wine and food pairing at Vino Bar?
Vino Bar imports San Daniele ham, various types of salamis and cheeses directly from Italy every month. We serve this with homemade sourdough bread and good olive oil. And what grows together, goes together. This year we were particularly pleased with our own Vinory Barbaresco Serragrilli. An elegant and red berry-dominated Barbaresco made in a modern style, perfect to drink with a careful selection of Piedmontese delicacies.
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