“At The Cask Room in downtown's East Village, owner Mike Kallay delights in finding interesting winemakers, especially the ones who produce 500 cases or less of a particular varietal.
“I look for wines that have a story behind them and that will never make mass distribution just so I can tell my customers, 'You are going to be the only ones who ever get to taste this, because it's going to be gone that fast.'”
Kallay operates from a two-room, ground-level storefront in a new condominium complex perched alongside the Park Boulevard trolley station. He appointed the airy space with leather sofas and armchairs to achieve the feel of a sleek living room, yet he attached the faces of 64 wooden barrels to the walls for a wine-centric ambience.
“I'll pour samples to anyone at no charge before they buy a glass or bottle simply to break people out of their comfort zones from what they are already familiar with,” Kallay said.”
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The Cask Room is a family-owned wine bar/bistro located in downtown San Diego, right around the corner from Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team.
We strive to be the premier cozy gathering spot in the exciting East Village/Ballpark neighborhood of San Diego. Our goal is to provide a relaxed extension of one’s living space where new and exciting wines can be enjoyed amongst friends, new and old. An inviting space reminiscent of a winery cask room, the bar attracts a diverse crowd with comfortable club chairs, sofas, and coffee tables. Subtle lighting, candles, and the sounds of jazz legends like Coltrane, Vaughn, and Rollins help to set the mood for interesting conversation. Complimentary WiFi Internet connectivity attracts people out of their homes to commune with good wines and great friends, while surfing the web or finishing up some work. Our hope is to provide a space that sets the stage to celebrate the joys of wine, art, music, and friendship.
The wines we select are from historic and revered regions, but with a truly unique and boutique flair. We strive to showcase the smaller family wineries and the off-the-beaten path offerings. The wines will be outstanding in both taste and value. You’ll know the regions -- Napa, Santa Ynez, McLaren Vale, Bordeaux -- but the wineries we work with will be truly unique and noteworthy. Our goal is to bring the best wines to you in a very value oriented manner. Anyone can select a good bottle of wine for $50 -- the challenge is to find those wines rated as “good to excellent” in the lower to middle price range that are true values and worthy examples of the best the World has to offer. Of course, we didn’t forget beer lovers either. Each week, we’ll offer a handpicked selection of smaller craft beers to enjoy.
Of course, a great glass of wine is made even more wonderful when paired with interesting foods. Our selection of artisan cheeses from Venissimo, desserts from Extraordinary Desserts, gourmet olives and other tapas will make your visit to The Cask Room a truly decadant experience.
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