Retail wine shop with tasting bar headed to Woodward

David Armin-Parcells, armed with 18 years of experience in the wine business, had a hunch that Greater Downtown residents were hungry for some good grape. His stint managing Zaccaro's, where he handled beer and wine orders, proved the hypothesis. "It was the most successful department there," he says. "This gave me some hard numbers."

Bolstered by the facts, Armin-Parcells will open Motor City Wine at 608 Woodward's second floor suite. His wine shop and tasting bar will be located above what is currently Eph's (but will soon be Foran's Deluxe Diner -- more on that in a future issue) with a separate front entrance. The space will seat approximately 45, with some two-tops as well as a large community table. The north wall will be lined with product shelved in hanging wooden wine crates -- approximately 120 different varieties of wine will be stocked -- as well as rotating works of art.

Motor City Wine will focus on "quality for value," says Armin-Parcells, who estimates that 90% of the bottles will be priced under $20. "This will be a pretty unpretentious, welcoming spot -- as much as possible when you are dealing with wine," he says. "It's the fastest growing (segment of) the beverage industry in the world, but it still has this air of mystery." There will be no big-name brands on the shelves; there will be local, organic and biodynamic offerings.

The bar will offer six to ten wines by the glass and for tastings and bottles may be purchased to drink on the premises for a $5 bottle fee. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, with limited Saturday hours. Motor City Wine will deliver as far away as Ann Arbor, with low delivery rates for the inner ring of Downtown, Corktown, Midtown and Lafayette Park. Besides targeting these residents, Armin-Parcells plans to market to downtown workers as well. "People want convenience, they want good prices," he says. "They want to be able to try stuff before they buy it."

While the final steps of the permitting process are completed, there will be a Motor City preview tasting on November 17: $20 to taste 15 wines, with cheeses, olives and music in the mix. To reserve a spot for the tasting, email Armin-Parcells via his website.

Source: David Armin-Parcells, Motor City Wine
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh