Ben Tortora of Grand Vin Fine Wine, Fine Spirits
Ben Tortora is a New Haven wine merchant and the proprietor of Grand Vin – a purveyor of fine wines and spirits. Tortora, has had a long love affair with wines and wine making. It all began when he was a young man growing up in New Haven, where his grandfather made wine. “I was first a collector of cabernets,” says Tortora. “My collection reached almost 800 bottles and then I decided it was time to share it with others by opening a store.”
Tortora’s home as a child was on the corner of Chapel and Poplar, and he always had confidence in the area where Grand Vin is located – 28 East Grand Avenue, right at the foot of the Grand Avenue Bridge. The area has obviously inspired confidence in others, as well, because it has undergone a wonderfully transformational revival.
“I saw this building go through many changes, from a hardware store to a florist shop,” recalls Tortora, who first undertaking was to lovingly and thoroughly restore it to vintage condition. The aging floor tiles were ripped up to unveil original hardwood planks, and florescent lights and old acoustic ceiling tiles were removed, exposing large and impressive wooden beams and piping that now adds to the character and ambiance of the store.
Today the 2,000 square foot space is meticulous and inviting, with shelves upon shelves of bottles that are all arranged and organized to make it easy for patrons to browse and shop to their hearts’ content. Grand Vin boasts a vast inventory of fine wines and spirits, including 2,000 wine labels, about 100 premium vodkas, nearly 70 single malts, and at least 50 tequilas. For those who enjoy beer, the store stocks 167 different kinds, mostly from micro-breweries.
Just putting on fresh facade and stocking the shelves does not make for a successful wine shop, says Tortora. He believes it takes experience, patience, knowledge, a personal love of wines and spirits, and a sincere dedication to the business. By doing what he enjoys most – and doing it enthusiastically – Tortora even managed to show increases in his volume last year and contract to build a second location directly across from famous Bishop Orchards in Guilford despite the severely depressed economy.
“Business grew because I did not wait for it to come to me” says Tortora. “I reached out through wine tastings, wine dinners, wine clubs, a fresh Web site, and timely fliers announcing new arrivals that include information on which wines are gaining in popularity.” Part of reaching out includes looking across the ocean for fresh ideas.
Tortora passionately sources rare quality wines and premium spirits for his loyal clientele. In the spring of 2007 he and his wife made a voyage to Venice, Italy, and visited the world renowned watering hole – Harry’s Bar. The establishment’s fame is due in large part to the fact that many famous people have visited it over the years. Notables including Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Truman Capote, Orson Welles, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Princess Aspasia of Greece, Aristotle Onassis, Barbara Hutton, Peggy Guggenheim, and Woody Allen have all stopped by for cocktails in the historic bar and eatery.
Harry’s is also a popular tourist attraction thanks to being credited with the invention of the renowned Bellini cocktail, which is made with puréed white peaches and sparkling Italian Prosseco. And Harry’s introduced the world to Carpaccio, a dish made from slices of raw filet migon sliced as thin as tissue. Carpaccio is typically drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served as a primo piatti or “first plate” appetizer as the Italians would say.
While at Harry’s Bar Tortora met the owner, Lorenzo Carnella, who also bottles and distributes the Bellini. Tortora and Carnella hit it off, and when Carnella mentioned his newest concoction of strawberries and Prosseco – which he calls the Carnella Rossini – Tortora jumped at the chance to become one of the first American retailers to feature the sparkling bottled elixir. Grand Vin now sells a disproportionately high volume of the tasty mixture. Last year, in fact, Tortora was the second-highest volume retailer of Carnella Rossini in the USA.
Tortora’s establishment has quickly evolved into an oasis for anyone who appreciates fine spirits and wines and wants to ask questions, learn more, share ideas, talk about products, or just walk in and make a satisfying purchase. Tortora is always on hand, and he never hesitates to take time to advice customers and help them understand more about what they are drinking or planning to bestow as a gift.
Grand VIN’s interactive Web site is full of interesting formation and useful links, plus it has an especially clever feature that updates the store’s current inventory minute-by-minute. Each time the store rings up a sale, the inventory is instantly adjusted online. So visitors to the site are never disappointed and are always assured that everything they find is guaranteed to be in stock.
Grand Vin is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Their Web site is located at http://www.GrandVinOnline.com, and the store’s phone number is 203-468-7494.
Writers note. My last name is now Ross but my roots trace back to the name Raggucci in Florance Italy and subsequently it was changed to by Rossini by hurried government clerks in charge of checking in the hoards of immigrants arriving on Ellis Island USA every day. My Grandfather settled in Norwalk and his brother in New Jersey. My Grandfather decided that Rossini sounded to Italian (of course we were Italian) so he cut it down further to Ross while his brother kept the name but eventually cut it down further too to Rossi. So imagine my excitement when I interviewed Ben Torta. Maybe I have a rich heritage connected to the beverage business in Italy. So far my internet searches do not agree. Oh well, I bought a couple of bottles of Rossini and am hooked. Try it you will love it.
Andy Ross Articles 