New Wine Bar Opens Downtown

RIDGWAY – Ridgway’s old downtown district at the crossroads of Clinton and Cora streets is experiencing a revitalization as of late. With the opening of a brewery, an outdoor gear shop and shows at the Sherbino Theatre, the location is hot.

And now, longtime Ridgway resident Randy Gregory has opened a wine bar inside the hallowed walls of the long-standing Independence Building.

“It is a little watering hole different than what’s going on in other places,” Gregory said last week, standing behind the quaint bar at Randy’s Independence Café. “This is a spot to hang out in and chat, listen to some good music and enjoy a glass of wine.”

When Gregory is not pouring at the bar, he is selling real estate at Cimarron Realty – something he has done for 19 years in the area. While the wine bar is not intended to replace his real estate career, he said the opportunity to open the establishment fell in his lap and has had to “dust off some old skills.”

Gregory said he is pouring a “good cross sampling” of red and white wines that he has selected with the help of John Hollrah and friends who work in Aspen’s restaurant business. Those looking for reds can find California merlots, cabernets and pinot noirs as well as a malbec from Argentina. Most are available by the glass, ranging in price from $4.50 to $9.50. For those looking to share a bottle, the prices range from $14 (Century Cellars 05 Merlot by BV) to $34 (06 Newton Claret, Napa Valley).

Those in the mood for a white will find the wine bar has glasses ranging from $4.50 to $8.50 that include an 07 Century Cellars Chardonnay to an 06 Rosenblum Chateau La Paws. Bottles of white range from $14 (Century Cellars Chardonnay) to $26 (Trimbach Reisling, France).

“I wanted to keep some affordable wines on the menu,” Gregory said. “In this day and age, people can come here and get a good value for a glass of wine. Just come in, sit and have a glass of wine. There are no restaurants around here that really encourage people to go in and just have a good glass of wine.”

The café’s kitchen area is limited in space, and Gregory said he is still working on a food menu but is offering up cheese and appetizers to complement his wine menu. He has a variety of international cheeses that range from $5 to $7, including Brie, Jarlsberg, Dubliner, and Manchego cheeses. (Try the Manchego, $7, with a drop of honey.)

“The space is very limited with cooking space,” he said, “but I am doing some interesting, tasty cheeses that aren’t offered elsewhere in town. I want to get just a few items that are really unique to get people excited about coming in.”

For a variety of flavors try the antipasto brochettes (two for $6), which include skewered mozzarella balls, artichoke hearts, Greek olives, salami, and tomatoes. And for something that probably no wine bar in the country offers, Gregory also has boxes of Junior Mints ($2) for those looking for that well-known chocolate-mint combination.

The wine bar is currently open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10 p.m., but Gregory is considering opening on Sunday evenings as well during the summer months. He said he also hopes to have live music at the wine bar, which could possibly include in the near future hometown band Shed Nuisance.

“Having them here would fill the place,” he said, adding that he is not opposed to opening the doors for private parties on off nights.

“This is a great space, people love how agreeable it is,” he said.