Winter Park’s Vinia Wine & Kitchen Changes Owners Committed to Keeping the Vinia Way of Life

- Michelle Snow

Vinia

VINIA Wine & Kitchen owners Fabio Perricelli and Paula Gamba are excited to announce they have passed the torch of “Orlando’s Most Romantic Wine Bar” to husband and wife Rafael and Marina Lima, who have taken over ownership of the Winter Park restaurant.

But if you’re already a fan of the restaurant,  everything will remain the same. Guests can expect the same intimate ambiance, seasonal menu of thoughtfully prepared European-style dishes, boutique wine list, wine-paired prix-fixe menus, happy hour, Live Music Thursdays, unique chef’s table dinners, and warm service.

The existing kitchen and service team will also remain on board to ensure the seamless continuation of the VINIA experience.

“It has been Paula’s and my dream for some time to return home to Italy to raise our kids, and we felt this was the right time for us as a family. We were in no rush to sell and were waiting to find a buyer who shared our passion for the area and would take care of our loyal guests. We are so happy Rafael and Marina are continuing ‘The VINIA Way of Life’ and our traditions. We worked very hard to create this special place over the past seven years, and are so thrilled that our legacy will continue,” says Fabio Perricelli.

Vinia Wine + Kitchen - housemade Gnocchi topped with 24-hour braised Oxtail with au jus

VINIA’s seasonal menu features a variety of tapas-style shareable dishes, appetizers, entrées, and desserts accommodating all dietary preferences. A selection of flatbreads, cheeses, and charcuterie, seasonal “fatti-a-mano” handmade pasta, and the legendary “Rabo de Toro de Temporada” 24-hour braised oxtail, named “favorite dish in Orlando” by local foodies (including myself) year after year, are all staying on the menu permanently.

VINIA’s plant-based offerings have long been a favorite of Orlando’s vegan and plant-based dining community, earning nods for Critic’s Choice “Best Vegan/Vegetarian in Orlando” by the Orlando Sentinel and Top 3 “Best Veggie Forward Eats” by Orlando Magazine readers.

Vinia Wine + Kitchen - Zucchini and Yellow Squash Ratatouille

The new owners remain committed to offering creative dishes that plant-based diners and omnivores alike will enjoy, such as the popular “Veg’Cargot” alla Bourguignonne featuring mushrooms, black figs, squash, and plantain in a delicious beurre pasille, which was first introduced for Magical Dining and has since been added to the year-round menu.

The “VINIA Favorites” 3-Course Prix-Fixe wine-pairing menu and “THE VINIA TABLE” special 5-course wine dinner experiences will always include plant-based options for each course so that friends may always dine together at VINIA, regardless of dietary preferences, and is a great way to sample the menu.

Vinia Wine + Kitchen - Brazilian cheese bread

Plus, Every Tuesday through Friday, from 5–7pm, guests can enjoy Happy Hour with $3 off wines by the glass, $4 beers, and $5 off shareable dishes, including the popular Pão de Queijo with guava cream, Flatbread Margherita, and burrata with sundried tomato pesto. The Featured Wine of the Month is also 50% off by the bottle. Happy Hour is available at the bar and at any table in the restaurant.

As a special subscriber perk, email subscribers enjoy all-night Happy Hour pricing every Tuesday and Wednesday. Sign up for the VINIA newsletter at ViniaWineBar.com to unlock all-night Happy Hour every Tuesday and be the first to learn of new specials.

Plus Live Music Thursdays continue where local musicians perform a rotating selection of bossa nova, Spanish guitar, and jazz every Thursday from 7–9pm. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome, based on availability.

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Special Dinner Event

This month, The VINIA team invites you to THE VINIA TABLE: Springtime in Europe, bringing back fan-favorite dishes presented at Fabio’s Table over the years, along
with a few new touches, all highlighting flavors of the season from across Europe.

  • Saturday, April 25 & Saturday, May 2
  • Seatings starting at 5:45pm
  • $125 per person, including wine pairings, $85 excluding wines (plus tax and gratuity)
  • Reservations required in advance via OpenTable. Seating is limited.

More details at ViniaWineBar.com.

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We’ll miss Fabio and Paula, but welcome Rafael and Marina to the Vinia family!

VINIA Wine & Kitchen is located at 444 West New England Avenue, Suite 119, in Winter Park.

About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida, and was head editor/writer at TheDisneyBlog.com for 10 years. She's lived in Orlando near Walt Disney World since 1995, and still finds there's so much fun to be had in Central Florida.
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