After teasing locals for months with a simple sign out front and a bare-bones Web site, de vinos — a wine shop at the strategically located intersection of 18th Street, U Street, and Florida Avenue NW in Adams Morgan — finally popped its cork last week with a very soft opening. How soft? “We really decided to open early because so many people were knocking on the door,” said Ernesto Martinez, a wine distributor from Guatemala who owns and operates the new spot along with mortgage broker Jorge Aguilar and real estate professional Lorena Wharff.

Indeed, de vinos is clearly a work in progress. On Monday afternoon while a few customers browsed, a carpenter worked to install additional racks and build a tasting area in the wood-dominated space. And although the small beer selection featured respectable microbrewery options, the wine selection was heavy on run-of-the-mill (though fairly cheap) major labels at the expense of reasonably priced “finds.” But that may change in the days leading up to a grand opening in two months, as de vinos expands its selection to between 600-700 wines — and, beginning as early as next week, sells cheeses and offers wine tastings. An indication of future promise, Martinez showed off his favorite wine in the store — the solidly made 2002 Lost Canyon Pinot Noir Las Brisas Vineyard ($34.99) from Sonoma County’s Los Carneros, ground zero for pinot noir.

In an interesting twist of fate at the heavily trafficked corner, de vinos replaces Juanita’s grocery store, which — as a Class B Alcohol Beverage Control licensee — had unsuccessfully sought later hours for retail wine and beer sales back in October of 2005 before it closed its doors for good. Making the most of its allotted hours, de vinos will stay open until 10 p.m. each day.

de vinos
2001 18th Street NW
(202) 986-5002