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Combination bottle shop, wine bar, and deli, Grana brings a taste of Europe to Brunswick East. By Caoimhe Hanrahan-Lawrence
Melbourne bottle shop and wine bar Grana has been recognised for its stunning interiors with a nomination for Best Retail Design in the 2023 Eat Drink Design Awards. The Eat Drink Design Awards recognise exemplary design in the hospitality space, and winners will be announced on 29 November. The nomination follows its recent redesign by design firm Ewart Leaf. Owner Luke Skidmore, part of the team behind Tipo 00 and Osteria Illaria, explained the unique concept behind Grana. “Grana is a taste of Europe in Australia. It’s a delicatessen, casual wine bar and bottle shop. We make our own cheeses inhouse, have a selection of ethical meats and cheeses/deli items and showcase a unique selection of wines from across the globe,” he said. Wine is the star of the offering at Grana, with a particular focus on European wines. “We’ve got a bit of an Italian concept, so people are always drawn to Italian wines. The venue has a European feel,” Skidmore explained. However, there is still a significant selection of Australian wines, with Grana offering mixed packs such as the Local Legend six-pack stocked with wines from local Victorian boutique wineries. “I do not know of anybody in the area with as extensive of a wine offering,” Skidmore added. Skidmore’s journey in the hospitality industry began in Melbourne cafés, and he began to study wine while working in Scotland. At Grana, Skidmore finds that he is especially drawn to energetic and unique wines. “We enjoy wines which have quite a lot of energy and vibrancy, which draws us to like biodynamics. We tend to find those wines are typically a lot more alive than wines that may see a lot of oak,” he said. There is a small spirits selection alongside the wines, mainly
40 | National Liquor News
