Enoteca

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Enoteca (plural: Enoteche) is an Italian word which literally means ”wine library” (prefix Oeno/Eno- for wine, and biblioteca for (book) library), which is used to describe a special type of local or regional wine shop which originated in Italy^[1], but which has also spread to some other countries. A genuine enoteca is primarily directed at visitors/tourists which have the possibility to buy local wines and to taste these wines at a reasonable fee.^[2] An enoteca is often run in collaboration with growers or growers' or tourism organisations in the village or region. The reason such establishments were named after ”wine libraries” was that they were intended as a hands-on source of information on local wines rather than as regular outlets for larger quantities of each wine, or primarily intended for established customers. Often, an enoteca stocks rather small amounts of each wine, and customers who wish to purchase large quantities after tasting are referred directly to the producers. In some cases, an enoteca will also sell other local foodstuff or serve small snacks to go with the wines.

A long-standing tradition that precedes the new coinage, is the wine shop in Palazzo Antinori, Florence, where Antinori wines have been available by the glass for more than a century.

Enoteche have spread north of the Alps to Austria under the German name Vinothek and from Austria to Germany.

Being associated with an enoteca is likely more beneficial to smaller, not too well-known producers than to large or well-established ones. Casual visitors will have an easier time discovering an enoteca, and the producer will not have to keep an outlet open in his winery just in case someone passes by to purchase a few bottles. On the other hand, having many wines are available side-by-side for tasting, comparison and competition, will be better for well-performing wineries.

Contents 1 Other uses of the term 1.1 Wine shops and restaurants 1.2 Wine libraries 2 References

[edit] Other uses of the term

[edit] Wine shops and restaurants

Because of the popularity of the enoteca concept in some locations, "regular high-end" wine shops sometimes also call themselves enoteca or Vinothek, without focusing on local wines or catering to visitor's information need. Otherwise, a wine shop are often called Bottiglieria in Italian.

Since some enoteche serve snacks with the wine, enoteca has also been used as the name of some wine bars or restaurants, especially bistro-style restaurants with Italian food.

[edit] Wine libraries

Enoteca, Vinothek or Oenothèque (the corresponding French term) may also be used to denote "wine libraries" in two additional meanings of the word:

• An information repository about wine.
• A storage of actual wines. As an example, Champagne producer Moët & Chandon produces a late-disgorged version of their prestige cuvée Dom Perignon called ’’Dom Perignon Oenothèque’’ which spends a number of extra years in Moët & Chandon’s cellar before being released.

[edit] References

• This article also includes information from two articles in German Wikipedia: Enoteca, version from September 22, 2007 and Vinothek, version from January 11, 2008.