In general, Sullivan prioritizes sustainable, organic, and biodynamically produced wines, mostly from small producers who lean toward minimal intervention practices. She also plans to expand into Eastern European bottles down the line. She previously worked front of house at Chez Panisse, before becoming Alice Waters’ assistant and then transitioning into a role at Waters’ nonprofit, Edible Schoolyard Project.Įxpect an emphasis on French wines, plus Italian, Spanish, Mexican, and South African selections, along with some domestic options. But with exciting bars and breweries blooming in the nearby cities of Albany and Richmond, it feels like a new El Cerrito spot is overdue.Ī post shared by Banter Wine whose parents Sylvie and Michael Sullivan have owned and operated the wine import company Beaune Imports since 1991, is bringing her experience and know-how to the table. El Cerrito is not (yet) well known for its bar scene, though there are outstanding bars in and around the city, such as Little Hill Lounge and Hotsy Totsy Club. The opening of a wine bar in El Cerrito, a city of about 25,000 residents, is an exciting prospect. But that being said, we’re feeling really excited.” “We basically just can’t believe that we’re past all that. Throw in a car crash ( no, really, a literal car crashed into the building), as well as a new baby and it’s easy to understand Sullivan describing the feeling of finally opening Banter on Thursday, April 20 as “unbelievable.” “I feel like we’re still at every moment waiting for the other shoe to drop, just because there were so many surprises,” Sullivan says. After signing a lease back in September 2021, Sullivan and Hohler worked to flip a former art studio building into a full-fledged wine bar, navigating all the complexities of converting a commercial building into a food space. Consider this opening tale of El Cerrito’s Banter Wine a modern-day, bar owner version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - but stretch it into a year-plus narrative that saw owners and partners Claire Sullivan and Devin Hohler encounter just about every type of delay you can imagine.
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