gastro & gusto
LIBATIONS
A FUN PLACE TO GATHER Poco Vino has enlivened Downtown Tallahassee by ROCHELLE KOFF
A
manda Morrison and Agustin “Gus” Corbella are passionate about wine — and each other. A perfect pairing. So it seemed only fitting that when the opportunity arose, the power couple would become life and business partners. In October, Morrison and Corbella, both certified sommeliers, opened Poco Vino Wine Shop & Event Space in Downtown Tallahassee. They’ve transformed a littleknown setting inside the historic Gallie Hall building, built in the late 1800s, into an intimate, multipurpose destination. The cozy space exudes charm with its brick walls, lovely arches and an actual greenhouse, which Morrison calls a “gorgeous magical space” perfect for private dinners. “We’re not just one thing,” said Morrison. “We wanted to bring food and
↑ Certified sommeliers — and power couple — Agustin “Gus” Corbella and Amanda Morrison have combined to convert the historic, 19thcentury Gallie Hall building into the Poco Vino Wine Shop & Event Space.
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March-April 2022
drink together and offer special events. We wanted to have retail and showcase local talent. And we wanted to build a reputation as one of the best wine shops in the Southeast.” In just a short time, the shop has gained a following for acquiring much soughtafter bottles. The focus is on about 100 labels, “small production wines that are 10,000 cases a year or less produced,” said Morrison. “Everything is grown responsibly with some form of sustainable or organic or biodynamic farming, so it’s really great, high-quality wine.” Corbella noted that “even the bigger houses of wine you may be familiar with are moving toward responsible farming and winemaking. People want to drink wine, and wine is grape juice. It shouldn’t be chemicals; it shouldn’t be pesticides or additives. We’re excited to be featuring real wine here.” Yet, the shop is special for another reason. “It’s a really, really big deal,” said Elizabeth Emmanuel, CEO of the Downtown Improvement Authority in Tallahassee. “There was a 10-year slump when no retail was opening.” “I think it’s hugely significant when we look at what people ask for,” she said, explaining that downtown residents and visitors often want a nearby place to grab a gift, a birthday card or a snack. More than 5,000 people live downtown in what’s officially labeled the city’s Community Redevelopment Area, but during the peak of the legislative session, more than 40,000 people are utilizing the downtown area, Emmanuel said. City leaders are hopeful that Poco Vino can help demonstrate to property owners downtown that it’s possible to have first-
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floor retail space with offices upstairs. For decades, this spot on Adams Street was occupied by Barnett Fronczak Barlowe Architects. “It’s one of the coolest buildings architecturally that we have,” Emmanuel said. One historic and quirky feature is a safe in a large wooden case. It’s expected the safe is empty, but despite past efforts to open it, even by safecrackers, the contents remain a mystery. “We hired six guys to move it five feet,” said Morrison. “It’s been in the building since the early 1900s.” While city leaders are eager for more downtown retail, preserving history is an important factor in all renovations, and there are plenty of them. Adams Street has had well over $9 million of private investment over the past year,” Emmanuel noted at the October opening of Poco Vino. “There’s a great potential to add more ground-floor retail.” photography by THE WORKMANS